Before the war Senatore Marconi proposed personally to visit Australia, and so adapt the apparatus embodying the Fleming valve as to establish direct communication.

This was rendered impossible by the war, but Mr. Ernest T. Fisk, a member of the Institute of Radio Engineers and managing director of the Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia), Limited, who happened to be in England at the time, undertook the task.

Ernest Fisk and former PM Billy Hughes unveiling the monument in Wahroonga which commemorates the first wireless message, 1935. Credit:State Library of NSW

After extensive experiments Mr. Fisk has succeeded in designing the necessary apparatus, and the receipt of the messages yesterday crowned his efforts with success. The messages were despatched from the Marconi company's new Transatlantic station, at Carnarvon (Wales), and received by Mr. Fisk on his experimental instruments at Wahroonga.

Mr. Fisk is of opinion that, whereas the present full rate for cables is 3/- per word, there is no reason why direct wireless communication should not be established at 1/- per word at the most.