Canberra-based researcher and writer David Dufty will present a talk on latest book, Charles Todd's Magnificent Obsession: The epic race to connect Australia to the world.

The construction of Australia's Overland Telegraph was an extraordinary feat of engineering and a wild gamble that nearly went terribly wrong. This is a tale of obsession, heroism, and tragedy and, above all, it's a totally compelling yarn! The year was 1870, and mail took six weeks to get to England by sea. Australians hungered for the speedy communication a telegraph connection would bring. Engineer Charles Todd promised that he could string up wires on poles from Adelaide over 3,000 km to an undersea cable in Darwin Harbour in just 18 months. It was a wild gamble that became an epic race against time.

David Dufty is an historian and researcher. He is the author of Nabbing Ned Kelly; The Secret Code Breakers of Central Bureau, winner of the 2017 Nib Military History Prize; and of Radio Girl, winner of the Best Non-fiction, 2020 ACT Notable Awards.

Cost: $8 Friends of Kiama Library and KDHS members / $10 Guests (includes afternoon tea). Everyone welcome.

Books available for purchase and signing.

This is a joint Friends of Kiama Library and Kiama and District Historical Society event.