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Peter Thomson (1897-2001) - Hunter Valley Linesman. Recorded 18 February 1984. Part 1/2.

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SummaryPETER THOMSON
Recorded 18 February 1984
Part 1/2

Peter was an early linesman who ran electric power to Greta and Branxton. He worked at Maitland Electric Supply starting in 1923

1:03
Worked on contract reticulation construction. This began in Maitland on the 22nd February 1922.

1:22
Previous work history - on the Manning near Taree. Also at Willow Tree. He worked both on power and the telephone lines.

1:56
He was born in Muswellbrook in 1897.

2:15
Attended school at Holmeville, Telarah - his father was a fettler on the railway.

5:23
Attended Maitland Boy's High - Peter’s mother had a cattle run on the Manning - he went there and he worked there for 8 years. He got married while he was there and their first child arrived. It was hard for him because he wasn't "a part of the property". He began to take on contracts for himself.

7:54
Holmeville-Telarah-Rutherford line - he took on this line as a contract. Willow Tree line

8:32
Tendered for East Maitland area.

9:27
Tender given to Dunn and Vaughan who lost money on the contract.

10:06
Sam Turner was the chief and knew Peter through his contracting. Began work for Maitland City Council at the end of 1923.

12:01
33kV power line, Zaara St to Church St

12:18
11kV dual line, Church St substation to HVCC sub station

13:01
Harry Capper's house converted to a substation.

13:53
Branxton-Greta line finished in 1936. At the beginning of 1937 it ran off from Church Street up Simple Street, through Rockhampton across the river at Maitland Vale to Aberglasslyn, across to Hillsborough. The next heavy feeder was through Rutherford from Church Street on to Lochinvar - to Oswald, to Greta, to Branxton and then to Rothbury Collieries.

18:37
Surveyed and pegged his own line

19:05
Harry Fry was the Mayor

19:09
Ernie Williams was the Town Clerk

20:10
Newcastle Coal Mining Company was generating power at the Whitburn Colliery. They had the franchise to reticulate the power.

20:53
Recollection of early Lochinvar town - there were a few houses and a little school.

21:45
Recalls poor quality power line used. It was very primitive.

22:43
Supplied low voltage to Rothbury pit and the town. Power went to a substation on the road and then they supplied from there to the pit.

25:01
Noel Compton said "16 miles was put in, in 16 weeks" - that was the installation of the high voltage lines.

25:51
Method of "piece meal" construction - Street lighting came some months later. The street lighting cables were run under the low voltage cables.

27:12
Renewed all previous wiring and poles - old poles were sold for firewood or fencing posts. There was a mix of ironbarks, tallow wood and the most durable white mahogany. Grey ironbark is the strongest timber in Australia.

28:52
Type of timber used for power poles

29:01
Type of wire used for electrical wiring

29:50
Power "broken down" in substations

30:44
Ben Gilbert - the town electrician who covered the supply.

31:45
Retired in 1962, age 65

32:01
Dave McBeattie

34:10
Billy Pope - an engine driver during Jack's early days.

33:30
Brief summary of duties performed and his approach to handling his workers. He never treated them as the underdog. They respected him.

35:38
Alec Smith - took over the substations.

37:15
Recalls reading meters in Kurri Kurri. Testers Hollow.

40:10
Connected power to Ayrfield, East Greta

40:43
Reticulated electricity run to East Greta, 1929

41:18
Cliff Wyborn - announced the birth of Peter's twins whilst on the job in 1929.

41:32
Peter and Stuart - they're both "in power".

42:41
Les Tiedeman from Greta.

Tape duration: 44:11 Last edited by: Dave Trimble

SubjectMuswellbrook (N.S.W.) -- History.Maitland Boys' High School -- History.Electric power distribution -- New South Wales -- Newcastle -- History.Electric power distribution -- New South Wales -- Hunter Valley -- History.LinesmenElectric linesElectricityZaara Street Power StationMaitland (N.S.W.) -- HistoryNewcastle (N.S.W.)Thomson, Peter James, 1897-2001 Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

PersonJack Delaney Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Depicts or Relates ToLes Tiedeman Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Alec Smith Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

CreatorThomson, Peter James, 1897-2001Delaney, Jack, 1919-2010CollectionVoices of the Hunter Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Date Created18th February 1984Location^[1]Muswellbrook, NSW Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

^[2]Zaara St, Newcastle East, NSW Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

^[3]Maitland, NSW Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Identifier285A Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Job Identifier285A

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