The humble stobie pole was invented by James Cyril Stobie, an engineer with Adelaide Electric Supply Company. The first pole appeared on the South Australian landscape in 1924. Made from concrete and steel in response to a shortage of timber for telegraph poles, plus the abundance of white ants in SA, they were designed to distribute electricity across the state.
They are now a popular canvas for artwork.
The first stobie pole was painted in Prospect by local artist Ann Newmarch in 1963.
The City of Charles Sturt are celebrating the 100 year anniversary of the stobie pole by creating a gallery of any stobie poles painted in 2024.
Leave a comment