(commenced 12 june 1913) vic was originally intended for construction after the vit townsville station, but there were difficulties with site acquisition at townsville and vic was brought forward. when, in november 1912, supervising engineer a. s. macdonald arrived at townsville to arrange onforwarding of the wireless apparatus to cooktown, there was concern in the town that townsville would be removed from the deployment programme. formal protest by the local chamber of commerce was made. in late november 1912 it was reported that: "during last week over 20 men were employed in making a passable road to bald hill, the site of the wireless station (says the cooktown "independent" of 26 november), and on friday a start was made by mr. t. e. thomas, with a team of five horses, in carting the material. on sunday afternoon quite a large number of people were to be seen climbing the hill out of curiosity to see the site on which the station is to be erected." the wooden mast was hauled into position 8 january 1913. the station commenced 12 june 1913. in early july 1913 it was reported: "the local wireless station has been sending and receiving messages for the past three weeks. the longest station so far communicated with was new zealand, a distance of about 2,800 miles."