On 9 April 1903 the first message received from a ship at sea to an Australian wireless station was transmitted by the Queensland gunboat, Gayundah, to a receiving station in Brisbane.
The historic message read: 'Gun drill continued this afternoon and was fairly successful - blowing squally and raining - prize firing tomorrow. Marconi insulators were interfered with by rain but easily rectified and communication since has been good. Good night.'
The ship's aerial was a tall bamboo
pole lashed to the mast.
The cover of the 1986 Brisbane White Pages phone book features an artist's impression of the ship moored below the Kangaroo Point cliffs during these trials. The grey buildings are the old naval stores.