The Paterson Telegraph Station (later known as The Cape York Telegraph Station) was a telegraph station in Queensland, Australia. It was the original location for the end of the Cape York Telegraph Line. It was the landing point for the undersea cable Telegraph Cable between Cape York Peninsula and Thursday Island. History The Telegraph Station was named after the Postmaster-General, The Honourable Thomas Macdonald-Paterson and was originally located in the area of the Paterson Creek Mouth (The original ruins can still be seen). The Building was completed before the beginning of the wet season in November 1886 and was opened on 25 August 1887. In 1894 the station was relocated from Peak Point to the north eastern end of Punsand Bay near Bay Point on the West Coast of Cape York, approximately two miles from the North most point on the Australian Continent. The Cape York Telegraph Line Connection To the South: McDonnell Telegraph Station The next station to the south of Paterson was the McDonnell Telegraph Station and was completed before work stopped for the wet season in November 1886. McDonnell was named after John McDonnell, Under Secretary and Superintendent of Telegraphs of the Post and Telegraph Department. The same John McDonnell was also an uncle of J . R . Bradford . To the North: Undersea Cable to Thursday Island The undersea armoured cable that connected Patterson to Thursday Island consisted of 18 sea miles of underwater cable was laid by the Cable Ship "Recorder" and crossed Horn Island. The line formed part of the Cape York Telegraph Line. The laying work was completed in November 1886. Station Transferred In 1894 the station was relocated from Peak Point to Punsand Bay on the West Coast of Cape York, approximately two miles from the North most point on the Australian Continent. It is not known why the station was transferred and it is inherent that the Telegraph Line and undersea cable were also relocated as part of this process. It is fact that it was relocated, as ruins exist at both locations, but no references to support the reason have been located. At Punsand Bay, the station was built high up on a Sandy Plateau overlooking the sea. The tip of Cape York was clearly visible to the North East, with lovely sandy beaches drawing the eye to the tip and Peak Point was visible to the South West.