Philip Billingsley Walker was a senior public servant with the New South WalesPost and Telegraph Department. He was heavily involved in the development of New South Wales' telegraphy and telephony networks. Notable for conducting one of the earliest wireless telegraphy experiments in Australia.
Early life and family
Walker was born at Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, 28 February 1840. His father, the Rev. James B. Walker, became headmaster of King's School, Parramatta. His mother was Fanny Billingsley. They married at Eynsham, Oxfordshire, England on 22 December 1824 and had a large family there, Philip Billingsley Walker being the sixth son. They emigrated to Australia in 1841, arriving at Launceston, Tasmania on 27 August 1841 on board the Arabian. They relocated to Sydney a few years later. The ten children of the marriage were as follows:
Fanny Hannah Waldo Walker ;
Billingsley Edmonds Walker ;
James Charles Walker, later of Melbourne;
Samuel Billingsley, later of Queensland;
Robert Cooper Walker, later principal librarian of the Sydney Free Library;
Llyssye Walker ;
Fanny Elizabeth Walker ;
Frederick Walker ;
Philip Billingsley Walker ; and
Richard Cornelius Crichett Walker, later Principal Under-Secretary.
Phillip Stanley Billingsley Walker, predeceased his father; and
Fanny Rosalie Walker ;
Phillip Billingsley Walker received his education at the King's School, Parramatta where his father was the headmaster.
Professional career
Shortly after leaving school he entered the public service as a clerk in the Works Department, but shortly afterwards transferred to the Telegraph Office, where he secured a position as operator. He rose rapidly in the service, by dint of sheer merit, and became secretary to the department during Colonel Cracknell's administration, when the telegraphs and post-offices were united under one permanent head. For many years he was assistant superintendent of telegraphs, and in the late 1890s was appointed by the Public Service Board to the position of Engineer-in-Chief to the department, an appointment he held until his death. He was a colonel on the staff, and director of telegraphs, and was in possession of the long-service medal. While con-nected with the Telegraph Department Colonel Walker introduced many needed reforms, and proved himself an efficient and painstaking ad-ministrator. When the Pacific cable agreement was being drawn up he was the officer to whom the Minister looked for advice. The late chief was held in the highest esteem, not only by the officers and employees of the department, but by all branches of the public service, and by a large circle of friends.
Development of Telegraphy
Development of Telephony
Wireless experiments
On 10 August 1899, the Postmaster-General, one or two officers of the Department and representatives of the press, were invited to a demonstration of wireless under the supervision of P. B. Walker, Engineer-in-Chief of Telegraphs. The transmitting and receiving aerial wires were suspended on the corners of the roof of the Post Office building with the equipment itself in the laboratory below. The demonstration was entirely a success, though interference was present from adjacent tram lines. Walker stated that he felt there was presently limited commercial application, but nevertheless advised that further experiments would be conducted, with sea trials still to be decided upon. The transmitting was undertaken by Walker and the receiving by Watkin Wynne. All the equipment was manufactured by staff of the Government electrician, principally Mr. Nelson. A 12-inch induction coil was used for transmission and a two-inch coherer for reception. An amount of 150 pounds was stated to have been reserved for purchase of equipment from the Marconi Telegraph Company, with further experiments to proceed upon receipt. However Walker fell ill towards the end of 1899, passed August 1900 and with his passing wireless telegraphy seems to have fallen dormant for many years.
