in september 1912, john graeme balsillie was at the perth coastal station to confirm performance of vip and stated that esperance was to be included in the coastal network and would be commissioned before june 1913. the albany chamber of commerce had been seeking the installation of a coastal station at albany, but in january 1913 the pmg department advised that esperance was the chosen location and as the range of that station would be 350 miles, an albany station would not be required. the oversight of construction of the station was to have been entirely by mr. cox. the western mail of 24 january 1913 reported: "work has commenced on the wireless station. mr. cox is the officer in charge and mr. mason the operator. the site chosen is on dempster's head, and has an elevation of about 300ft. with an uninterrupted view of the southern ocean, except for a few islands." however at the end of january 1913, cox was relieved in order to proceed to wyndham and select a site there and to overcome other difficulties with that station. a detailed progress report on the installation at the end of march 1913 also sheds light on the process of erecting a typical mast of the medium power stations: the work is progressing (says a correspondent) at the wireless on radio telegraph station at esperance, and the mast, one of the principal items of a station, is erected to enable the aerial wires to be suspended at a suitable height, so that intervening obstacles will not obstruct the message. the mast has been built on the site where the station is erected, and is 160 feet in length, having about 5880 superficial feet of oregon, bolted and coach screwed together, and is 21 in. square, its approximate weight being 25 tons. three thousand bolts have been used in the putting of the mast together. the planning and construction of the mast has been carried out under the supervision of mr. mason, of melbourne, and the work compares favourably with any of the similar masts that have been erected on the australian coast. the raising of this lengthy and weighty mast is a work requiring skill and experience. mr. j. johnson of melbourne, had this part of the work entrusted to him, of which he is an expert. a derrick, 40 feet in height, was erected first and by means of this derrick the jury mast, which was built on top of the mast as it lay on the ground, was raised to an upright position. this jury mast, 75 feet in height, was built up of oregon planks, to a width of 21 in. square and it weighs about 10 tons. the heel of the jury mast was fixed with stout iron plates and bolted on top at the heels of the mast, and five banjo stays from the top of the jury mast were fixed to the main mast at 25 feet apart. these stays hold the mast all along its length and prevents its buckling. an 8-inch manila rope, through purchase blocks, was fixed to the top of the jury mast, and to a powerful winch. the winch is geared at 32 to 1, and with this eight men were able to raise the mast from the ground, a lift which is estimated to have a pull equal to a 90-ton load, and in pulling down the jury mast the mast slowly but surely ascended to its height of 160 feet. the time taken in raising the mast occupied five and a half hours, and the mast now stands in the proper position and is quite a landmark, and can be seen for miles around. the mast is erected on an ebbwater position. the surface is of concrete. the foundation on which the mast stands is about 250 feet above sea level. the mast is guyed by 12 wire stays at the four corners of the compass. on top of the mast is a 20 ft. gaff, from which the aerial wires are suspended, and that on which the messages are received and conveyed. the electrical parts of the wireless station are entrusted to mr. m. l. lloyd, who has had experience in wireless telegraphy. the buildings in which the engines and receiving stations are to be are in course of construction. the walls are of concrete, and this part of the work is carried out under the supervision of mr. g. riley, and with the gang of men under him he will soon, have the buildings completed. the station, when in working order, will be lit up by electric light, generated on the station. the esperance radio telegraph station will undoubtedly be one of the sights of esperance. vie formally commenced operation 21 july 1913. after the commencement of ww1, a brigade of 20 men was despatched to esperance for the purpose of guarding the wireless station. the albany advertiser reported: "on wednesday morning 20 men of the 88th infantry brigade arrived at albany by train, en route for esperance. upon arrival lieut. morris, who is in charge, formed the men up outside the station. after being inspected by major meeks they were marched to the steamer eucla, lying at the town jetty. the squad are going to esperance for the purpose of guarding the wireless station." in early 1916, charles albert sandell one of the wireless operators at the macquarie island station of the australasian antarctic expedition was stationed at esperance and gave a lecture there about his antarctic experiences.