Why is it named Telegraph Harbour?
Saturday, May 18, 2024 at 7:42AM Further research into the naming of Telegraph Harbour has revealed that the name Preedy Harbour is possibly associated with the naming of the adjacent harbour.
Preedy Harbour was named by the Admiralty hydrographic office in 1853 after George William Preedy who served in HMS Constance under Captain Richard Courtney, on the Pacific Station, 1846-1849.
Preedy was made a CB ( Companion of the Order of the Bath ) in 1858; as when captain of HMS Agamemnon he helped to lay the first trans-Atlantic telegraph cable; a project that was completed in 1858.
The first known chart with the name Telegraph Harbour by Captain G H Richards is dated 1858-1860. Richards would have had on board all charts that had been drawn up by surveyors that had preceded his position on station.
As Richards was most likely aware Preedy had been on the Pacific Station prior to his own time; 1857-1862, and most likely aware of his involvement in laying the trans-Atlantic telegraph cable, it’s likely he named Telegraph Harbour in honour of his fellow officer.
David Avery