During the years prior to the centre's opening, Telstra's network was managed from an astonishing 220-odd locations.  In a number of stages this was slowly reduced to the current one.  However, they do of course have contingency sites.  There is a duplicate centre "in the city" (can anyone spell 242 Lonsdale Street?) and two other lesser facilities that they refused to discuss.  We guess that's fair enough.

This centre manages some astonishing systems.  Eight million kilometres of fibre optic cable, 234,000 'network elements,' a combination of television, mobile phone calls, plain old-fashioned telephony services and an impressive array of data services.  Additionally the centre is responsible for the quality of service of television services to mobile phones.

The original driving force to create the centre was the Sydney Olympics, but since then it has found specific service with Telstra to manage base-load along with all kinds of special events.  Regular highlights include Christmas, New Year's and Mothers' Days.  In addition, it manages the communications needs of a variety of special events.  For instance, the recent Rugby World Cup, World Youth Day, Melbourne Commonwealth Games and other more regular events such as the Grand Prix and Spring Racing Carnival.

Opened on August 27th 1999 at a cost of $35M (estimated to be $110M if it was built today), the centre has seen some impressive service, being conscripted into service to manage the communications needs of every major 'incident' Australia has faced since then.  The only major upgrade being the installation of a front video wall measuring an amazing 24 x 2.5 metres – this display presents 30 sub-images ranging from world news TV channels through Australian weather maps to status indicators of all the major systems.  I'd love one for my own lounge-room (if I had a spare $1.5M!).

Based on comments from Telstra representatives, might I offer two "fan boy" observations?  Firstly, not long after the centre opened it was visited by a group of NASA representatives - they left VERY impressed with the facility (they're Rocket Scientists, right?).  Secondly, again, not long after opening, the centre was visited by representatives of a Chinese telecommunications organisation.  Oddly, when Telstra people visited the Chinese group some time later, they found an identical centre in Beijing – I guess it proves the old adage; 'imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!'