From Laurie McIlree:
Hi Peter,
The attached website contains a photograph of a cable station on Fanning Island and I am wondering if anyone can tell me if it resembles the original cable station there or a building later on as the site does make mention of cable station staff working on the island.
http://www.janeresture.com/kiribati_line/fanning.htm
My daughter (google, Annie Frances) who does entertaining on passenger ships has visited Fanning Island and has been unable to find out any one who is aware of the old cable station building and I was hoping on her next visit this photograph may jog a memory.
Thanks
Regards
Laurie
2 Comments
Laurie & Peter,
Another photo taken from a radio mast on the Ocean side of the station. The cable station is under the differently roofed area on the RHS.
regards Keith
Peter& Lawrie,
The photos on the webb site are of the original 1902 cable station.
In the 1950’s before agreement was reached with the Americans for the
Compac route there was considerable money spent on Fanning to
accommodate Compac if necessary.
Attached a copy of the cable station building (taken from the lagoon
side) as of 1963 when we closed down. The cable station rooms were at
the left hand end along with the Manager’s office. Then the club and
billiard room, the library and the hospital at the right hand end.
The Manager’s residence was a little further to the right and the
other houses further right again on a road running down toward the
lagoon. The Single Mens Quarters were at the cable station end on
another road running down towards the lagoon.
Remember that this station is at Whaler Anchorage as marked on the map
whereas the ships call in at English Harbour and the tourists only get
to see Napia, where the Burns Philp Fanning Islands Plantation
headquarters were. To get to the cable station you have to go across
the main entrance channel and travel about 9 Kms along the road. I
believe they are usually so short on fuel it may be necessary to
borrow a bicycle to get there.
Some of those old photos were taken by a photographer named P. Nutt.
Great to see that WEB site.
Regards Keith