Living in the Patch part 2: big backyards and active social lives

The previous post described the cottages in the village – known as the Patch – at the Belconnen Naval Transmitting Station, and the challenges of keeping them warm in Canberra winters.  This time, former residents talk about their memories of Read More …

Living in the Patch: the village at Belconnen Naval Transmitting Station

The Belconnen Naval Transmitting Station operated for 66 years, from 1939 to 2005.  Back in 1939 the suburb of Belconnen did not exist, and the naval base was set in an open landscape remote from the centre of Canberra. The Read More …

Communicating with submarines

Belconnen Radio Transmitting Station in Canberra was established in 1939 so that the Royal Australian Navy could transmit radio signals to ships in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Radio communication became very important between the First and Second World Wars Read More …

Fifteen excellent reasons to use oral history – part 2

In my previous post, I presented five reasons to record and use oral history. Here are the next five reasons. Oral history is an excellent way to: 6. Learn about old processes The way we do many, if not most, Read More …

The ghosts of Belconnen

Some places are more likely than others to elicit ghostly experiences.  The former Belconnen Naval Transmitting Station, or Bels, in Canberra was one such place. Bels was the most powerful radio transmitting station in the southern hemisphere.  It operated 24 Read More …