Hi Gary
Yes we have a reasonable copper line but only about 1 in 2 of the local lines will handle ADSL we are about 4 KM from the exchange. It is not the first time I have lost the line. I have had many 2/3 hour drop outs and one 3 day. But I have a bigpond wireless that I use at Wiruna. It normally gets switched on as soon as I lose ADSL. I just pull the LAN cable out of the one and plug it into the other. It is almost a no break system.
We used to have a phone on the local exchange near you. Mt Kuringai 16
The local manual exchange was manned by the local general store man a Mr. Hamilton (if you could raise him). I learnt to use the phone there as Cub. I had to pass a message to pass a test. (circa 1944). There were about 8 lines on your side of the line. You probably have one of them
Barry
PS The message was "The plane will leave Essendon at 8 PM" short and sweet. I did not even know where Essendon was in those days.