Narooma Pay Phone: A Lifeline Saved From Flames

In late 2019, as wildfires engulfed eastern Australia, the town of Narooma experienced power and internet outages. A solitary pay phone emerged as the only connection to the outside world, with hundreds of residents and visitors queuing for hours to reach loved ones. This significant pay phone, which facilitated almost 1,000 calls during the crisis, has recently been added to the National Trust of Australia New South Wales Register. This marks the first heritage listing for a pay phone in the state. Lauren O'Brien Norris, who used the phone to contact her mother after being cut off for 24 hours, described it as a '100 percent a lifeline.'

Naomi Parry Duncan, a historian involved in the nomination, highlighted the pay phone's 'humble, modest' yet critical role, contrasting it with traditional heritage sites. Despite lacking legal protection, the listing acknowledges the pay phone's cultural and social importance during the fires. Australia's public phones have diminished with the rise of mobile technology, with approximately 14,000 remaining, all free to use. The heritage listing celebrates this 'old-school tech' that proved invaluable when modern communication failed.