Narooma payphone receives heritage status for role in bushfires

A payphone in Narooma, New South Wales, has been granted heritage status by the National Trust of Australia NSW for its critical role during the Black Summer bushfires. Located outside Narooma Plaza on the Princes Highway, the phone served as a vital lifeline for residents and tourists when power grids and mobile networks failed during the 2020 disaster.

Historian Dr. Naomi Parry Duncan led the nomination for the heritage listing, noting that nearly 1,000 calls were made from the device in the two months following the fires. During the crisis, the community relied on the phone to contact family, check on neighbors, and seek emergency assistance. The phone also provided a free Wi-Fi signal, allowing people to send messages despite the lack of mobile reception.

The payphone is now commemorated with a bronze plaque featuring gum leaf designs. While this is the first public telephone in Australia to receive such status, efforts are reportedly being made to seek similar landmark status for other payphones in regions such as Queensland and Melbourne.