george phillip stevens western australia, was slow to engage in wireless telegraphy experiments, but there was public outcry in response to a number of marine disasters on the western australian coast in 1898. a need for communication between the rottnest island lighthouse and fremantle port (16 miles) was identified. in january 1899, w. j. hancock (government electrician) suggested that wireless telegraphy could be employed for the task at much lower cost than submarine cable and noted that greater distances had already been achieved in england. in may 1899, george phillip stevens (manager and electrician, general post-office) announced that preliminary tests had just been completed in a workshop environment and provided a comprehensive description of the equipment which was described as simple. two further marine disasters of the western australian coast in july 1899 forced the government to act immediately and an order for submarine cables was placed. nevertheless, wireless experiments continued. various difficulties were encountered in extending transmission distance, but in september 1899, stevens announced that reliable transmissions were now being achieved across 5 rooms in the basement of the telegraph office. it was further announced that attempts would now be made between the general post-office, perth and the windsor hotel, south perth (about 1 mile). in october 1899, successful tests were conducted between the perth yacht club and a police launch, out to a distance of 3/4 mile. stevens was limited by local workshop facilities and his coherer was not able to be evacuated, resulting in loss of sensitivity. he recommended acquisition of marconi apparatus, but this in turn led to excessive establishment costs and experiments ceased at this point. the submarine cable between rottnest island and the mainland was officially opened in march 1900. stevens continued to promote wireless telegraphy through public education activities, including practical demonstrations. as part of the federal government proposals in 1906, stevens made enquiries of the fremantle harbour trust as to their attitude to establishment of a station on rottnest island, which was supported.