Philip Billingsley Walker

Philip Billingsley Walker (1841 – 5 August 1903) was a senior public servant with the New South Wales Post and Telegraph Department. He was heavily involved in the development of New South Wales' telegraphy and telephony networks. Notable for conducting one of the earliest wireless telegraphy experiments in Australia.

Early life and family Walker was born at Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, 28 February 1840. His father, the Rev. James B. Walker (born 1794), Samuel Billingsley (born 1831), later of Queensland;

He married Louisa née Mitchell (born 1839) on 26 October 1861. They had six children: Isabelle Louisa (born 14 September 1863); Alice Victoria Walker (born 1865); Eliza Gertrude Walker (born 1867); Francis Billingsley ("Frank") Walker (born 4 September 1868), later with the Commercial Bank, Sydney; Phillip Stanley Billingsley Walker (born 27 March 1878), predeceased his father; While con-nected with the Telegraph Department Colonel Walker introduced many needed reforms, and proved himself an efficient and painstaking ad-ministrator. When the Pacific cable agreement was being drawn up he was the officer to whom the Minister looked for advice. The late chief was held in the highest esteem, not only by the officers and employees of the department, but by all branches of the public service, and by a large circle of friends.

Development of Telegraphy

Development of Telephony

Wireless experiments On 10 August 1899, the Postmaster-General, one or two officers of the Department and representatives of the press, were invited to a demonstration of wireless under the supervision of P. B. Walker, Engineer-in-Chief of Telegraphs. The transmitting and receiving aerial wires were suspended on the corners of the roof of the Post Office building with the equipment itself in the laboratory below. The demonstration was entirely a success, though interference was present from adjacent tram lines. Walker stated that he felt there was presently limited commercial application, but nevertheless advised that further experiments would be conducted, with sea trials still to be decided upon. The transmitting was undertaken by Walker and the receiving by Watkin Wynne. All the equipment was manufactured by staff of the Government electrician, principally Mr. Nelson. A 12-inch induction coil was used for transmission and a two-inch coherer for reception. An amount of 150 pounds was stated to have been reserved for purchase of equipment from the Marconi Telegraph Company, with further experiments to proceed upon receipt. However Walker fell ill towards the end of 1899 and died in August 1900; with his death wireless telegraphy seems to have fallen dormant for many years.

Personal life Colonel Walker was a member of the Institute of Civil Engineers, a justice of the peace, an associate of several electrical societies. He was a noted chess player, and was vice-president or the Sydney Chess Club.

Late life and legacy Walker died of diabetes and pneumonia at Bligh Street, Sydney, on 13 June 1903 and was buried in the Waverley cemetery. His estate was sworn for probate at £4885.