A walk with the visionary Charles Todd

A real opportunity to walk in the footsteps of this amazing man, Charles Todd (with credit to Keith Conlon and Richard Venus)..

Charles Todd, K.C.M.G (1826-1910) is one of the men featured in the North Terrace plaques, the topic of the Rare Books Group September 2024 Session. Todd’s plaque (which is opposite Pulteney Street) reads “Astronomer, meteorologist, telegraph and telephone engineer.”

Todd, as Superintendent of Telegraphs, was the planner, designer and driving force behind Australia’s greatest infrastructure project, the Overland Telegraph. To commemorate its 150th Anniversary in 2022, Keith Conlon and Richard Venus conducted a guided walk “from clock to clock” through Central Adelaide looking at heritage buildings, and revealing stories of his contribution to South Australia (Richard Venus (2002) A walk with Visionary Charles Todd. OT-150 Telegrams No 13,Adelaide).

In their walk, the first clock was the GPO; the last clock was in the in the Mortlock Chamber, occupying pride of place to everyone entering this most beautiful and amazing space. This session, will start in the Jervois room with a brief overview of Charles Todd’s contribution, revealing some of the special items from the RGSSA collection. Presenters Jill Kerby and Kate Buckley will then outline the walk in reverse order, finishing at the GPO. This will be a virtual walk (with photographs), and then, depending on the weather and other factors, participants can walk it themselves using the notes provided.

A real opportunity to walk in the footsteps of this amazing man, Charles Todd.