mulga wire

Meanings

1. An informal gossip network, especially in a rural area such as the outback; also, a component in the network (either a person or an imagined wire).
2. A message or story transmitted through such an informal network, especially one containing false information.
3. A system for long-distance communication used by Aboriginal Australians, chiefly using smoke signals; also, a message or signal sent using such a system.

Etymology

From mulga (“any of a number of small acacia trees, especially Acacia aneura, forming dense scrub in dry inland areas of Australia; (by extension) the outback”) + wire (“telecommunication wire or cable”), possibly modelled after bush telegraph.