The Telegraph Station in Melarnir (Loftskeytastöðin á Melunum) stands as a landmark of technological progress in Reykjavík. When it began operating in 1918, this facility marked Iceland’s formal entry into wireless communication, connecting the country with distant shores and transforming life for those at sea.
Waves across the ocean
Long before satellite communications and mobile phones, reliable exchange of information between Iceland and the outside world depended on a submarine cable. The Melarnir station was conceived as a backup to that cable but rapidly took on a new, vital role: providing radio telegraphy between ships and land. This innovation soon became essential for maritime safety, prompting Icelandic vessels to equip themselves with wireless technology.
Two masts, each standing 77 metres, rose above Brynjólfsgata in Reykjavík, making them the tallest structures in Iceland until 1930. These antennae enabled transmissions up to 750 kilometres during the day, enough to span the distance to the Faroe Islands, and up to 1,500 kilometres at night. Early communication was carried out using Morse code as crews at sea sent and received crucial updates. Power in the first years came from a diesel generator, with grid electricity not arriving until 1921.
From innovation to heritage site
The first director, Friðbjörn Aðalsteinsson, brought expertise honed in Norway to lead this pioneering effort in Reykjavík. The main building, designed by Einar Erlendsson, became the centre of Iceland’s wireless revolution. Over time, the site contributed further to Icelandic broadcast history: the country’s first radio service began there in 1926.
By the early 1950s, urban growth and the proximity of Reykjavík Airport caused interference, and the original masts were moved. Still, the station continued to operate from Melarnir until 1963, after which telecommunications moved elsewhere.
The structure itself has experienced several new chapters, from a university department to housing the national telecommunications museum, and later serving as offices and exhibition space for various institutions. After its renovation in 2024, the historic building entered a new era as a vibrant cultural centre managed by the University of Iceland, hosting exhibitions and events.
Sources
- Wikipedia
- Wikipedia (Icelandic) in Icelandic
