Balwyn North.

The Post Office - possibly including telegraph facilities - was opened in May 1937. Money Order facilities were extended to the Office in March 1938.

Between the Heidelberg and Lilydale lines.

Two rubber TELEGRAPH OFFICE date stamps were issued to the office:

1. RO2-TO

Size: 29 × 47½ mm (e = 0.79).

Used: 11 October 1976 to 17 July 1984.

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 3.

2. RC2-TO

Size: 37 mm diameter.

Used: 2 August 1988 (only recorded date).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

The Post Office changed name from Macauley on 17 December 1889.

2. in violet ink.

Used: 12 August 1988 (only recorded date).

Size: 37½ × 67 mm.

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

12 August 1988.

Boronia.

The Post Office at Boronia opened as a Receiving Office on 1 October 1920 and was reclassified as a Post Office on 15 May 1922.

Used: 26 January 1977 to September 1981.

Size: 21½ × 29 mm.

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

Box Hill.
(Lilydale Branch).

The Telegraph Office opened at the Railway Station in December 1882.

Used on a telegram: 2 July 1985.

Size: 31 × 56 mm (e = 0.83).

Rated on a telegram: RRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

Bundoora.

Located about 7 km NE of Preston.

Two formats of date stamps were used for the TELEGRAPH OFFICE at Bundoora:

1. a circular date stamp with no side arcs - used in red.

Size: 39 mm diameter.

Used: 17 March 1982.

Rated: RRR.

2. a circular date stamp with no side arcs.

Size: 38 mm diameter.

Used: 8 August 1988.

Rated: RRR.

The Clifton Hill Post Office opened in December 1883.

The Telegraph Office was issued with a Belt & Buckle date stamp which was used in black. Previously, the only recorded date had been 23 February 1894 but now it is known it was used in black from 21 February 1893 to 23 February 1894.

The Office was also issued with a double circle TELEGRAPH OFFICE date stamp (RC2 - TO).

Clifton Hill 1 hole Belt & Buckle date stamp in black.
21 February 1893.

Earliest recorded date.

Rated: RRRR.

Coldstream is about 4 km NE of Lilydale and the general area around was formerly referred to as The Lodge.

The Post Office opened on 7 February 1889 - soon after the railway arrived in 1888.

The office was issued with T.O. steel date stamps as follows:

1. T.O. Coldstream/Vic.
   Date stamp correct.

Used 1915 to 1917.

Diameter 27.5 mm.

Previously unrecorded.

13 March 1915 - only recorded date.

Mossgreen November 2016 Lot 894.

2. T. O. Coldstream/Vic.
   Decade wheel inverted.

Diameter: 27.5 mm.

Used: 18 December 1917 to
14 November 1922.

Rated: RR.

Cover sent by Dame Nellie Melba to Prime Minister Rt. Hon. W. M. Hughes.

Phoenix Auctions April 2015, Lot 1428.

Apparently she was good friends over a long period with Billy Hughes - Prime Minister of Australia.

3. T. O. Coldstream/Vic.
   The decade wheel has been corrected.
   5 mm side arcs.

Used: 28 September 1923 to 16 August 1939;

Diameter: 27 mm.

Rated: RR.

4. T.O. Coldstream/Vic Aust.
   1.5 mm side arcs.

Used: 14 October 1940 to 17 April 1954 .

Diameter: 30 mm.

Rated: R.

5. T.O. removed - Coldstream/VIC AUST.
   Long date line.
   There appears to have been two date stamps with the T.O. removed - one removal being not as well done.

Used: 1 January 1957 to 20 December 1968.

 

Diameter: 30 mm.

Rated: R.

6. T.O. removed - Coldstream/VIC AUST.
   Short date line.
   Nylon date wheels.

Used in black: 23 June 1969 to 13 May 1987.
Used in violet: 5 July 1984.

Size: 30 mm.

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

Collingwood.

The Telegraph Office opened on 15 November 1865.

Both the Whittlesea Branch and the Kangaroo Ground branches of the Melbourne NE line were constructed from Collingwood.

In the Legislative Assembly of 31 July 1867, an interesting development, introduced by Mr. Higginbotham, occurred in relation the location of the Post and Telegraph office and others:

"The measure he asked leave to introduce was a private bill, and he would explain the circumstances which made it necessary to introduce it at this late period of the session.

In 1850 Parliament voted a sum of £500 for the purpose of establishing a Mechanics' Institute and public library in Collingwood. In the following year, a piece of land was purchased and conveyed to trustees, the late Hon. J. Hodgson, the Hon. J. P. Fawkner and Sir Francis Murphy.

There was not sufficient money to erect buildings on the land and the borough council had recently proposed that the land should be transferred to them on condition that they erected a Mechanics' Imstitute and public library. At the same time, the council asked the Government for assistance, on condition that they gave up a portion of the building for use as a Post Office and Telegraph Office.

It was finally arranged that a portion of the land should be vested in the Government and a portion in the council, and that the original design should be carried out on Parliament's voting a sum towards the erection of the Post Office and Telegraph Office. This was an arrangement satisfactory to all parties but difficulties arose in consequence of the death of one of the trustees and the loss of the trust deed and hence the arrangement could not be carried out without the passing of an Act of Parliament.

The bill would not have been brought before the House at this late period of the session but for the danger there was of the Borough Council's becoming involved in pecuniary embarrassment unless the land were transferred before the end of the present session in consequence of their having entered into a contract for the erection of a Mechanics' Institute.

The bill had been considered by the examiners, Messrs. P. Lalor and J. Barker, who had reported that there could be no objection to the standing orders being suspended".

On a totally different subject, The Herald of 25 January reported that "An ordinnry meeting of the East Collingwood Council was held last evening. Permission was granted to the Collingwood Gold Mining Company to drive under the streets in any direction which the leads might run, subject to the company repairing any damage which might be occasioned by the operations".

The Office was issued with a 1 hole Belt and Buckle date stamp.

Used in black: 11 June 1880 (2nd earliest strike for a Belt & Buckle) to 25 February 1899.

Size: 27 × 38 mm (the only example seen complete).

Rated: RRR.

Two complete strikes (the only complete strikes recorded) for Collingwood.
2 September 1897.

Doncaster.

The office was issued with a rubber TELEGRAPH date stamp
(RRH1 - T).

Size: 29 × 48 mm.

Used: 15 February 1985 to 24 January 1986.

Rated: RRR.

The Telegraph Office opened on 1 June 1877.

The Post Office at Eltham and its surrounds.

The postcard sent to England (indecipherable date) reads"
"Does this look very primitive? Eltham in Vic. is a dear little old world place".

Early form.

The earliest indication of the operation of the Eltham Telegraph Office is a message on a telegram delivery form (VC-DO-11C) received at Richmond on 25 July 1888 from Eltham.

Eltham to Richmond with a Belt & Buckle date stamp of 25 July 1888.

The Telegraph Office was issued with a rubber circular TELEGRAPH OFFICE date stamp (RO2-TO) used in violet.

Size: 32 mm diameter.

Used: 21 December 1978 (only recorded date).

Size: 32 mm diameter.

Rated: RRRR
(unlisted in WWW).

21 December 1978.

Used on AT-DO-14A

The Telegraph Office opened on

A rubber rectangular TELEGRAPH SECTION date stamp (RRH1-TS) was used at the office in violet.

Size: 25 × 50½ mm.

Used: 22 July 1985 to 16 September 1988.

Rated: RR.

Number in the Census: 3.

19 February 1988.
Used on AT-DO-15Ca.

The Post Office at Glen Waverley replaced that at Glen Waverley North on 4 December 1963.

Prior to that, a Glen Waverley Post Office had replaced Black Flat Post Office on 10 January 1921 until it was renamed Glen Waverley South on 4 December 1963.

The Office was issued with two rubber oval TELEGRAPH date stamps: (RO6-T).

1. Used: 6 January 1973.

Size: 33 × 54 (e = 0.79).

Rated: RRRR.

Number recorded: 1.

2. Used: 1 June 1990.
   Has Telephone number above the date.
   At least from 1990, TELEGRAPH is mostly removed.

Size: 29½ × 50 (e = 0.81).

Rated: RRRR.

Number recorded: 1 (see WWW p. G-29).

The Telegraph Office

The Office was first issued with a rubber ovalr TELEGRAPH OFFICE date stamp (RO2-TO) for use on telegrams.

Used: 8 April 1974.

Size: 32 × 51 mm (e = 0.78).

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

The Office was later issued with a rubber rectangular TELEGRAPH OFFICE date stamp (RRH1-TO) for use on telegrams.

Used: 24 February 1982.

Size: 31.5 × 42 mm.

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 3 (same date).

24 February 1982.

The Telegraph Office was opened in July 1872.

A new Post and Telegraph Office was opened about 19 May 1909 although the telephone exchange was not transferred.

Early form.

The earliest indication of the operation of the Hawthorn Telegraph Office is a telegram delivery form used at Richmond for a message from Hawthorn on 28 February 1878.

VC-DO-8B - Used for a message from Hawthorn to Richmond on 28 February 1878.

Date stamps.

The Telegraph Office was issued with at least six types of date stamp for use with telegrams:

1. a 2-hole Belt and Buckle;
2. two RO6 - TO formats of an oval Telegraph Office date stamp used in violet;
3. two RO7 - TO formats of an oval Telegraph Office date stamp used in violet;
4. a circular Telegraph Office date stamp used in violet and in blue between 1984 and 1987.

1. a 2 hole Belt & Buckle date stamp.

Used in black: 21 June 1890 and 1894.

Size: ??

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 2 (both incompete).

2. A rubber oval TELEGRAPH OFFICE date stamp (RO6-TO)
   - presumably with VIC but no postcode.

Used in violet: 10 June 1966 to 3 July 1968.

Size: 30 × 50 mm (e = 0.80).

Rated: RRR.

Nimber in the Census: 1.

3. A rubber oval TELEGRAPH OFFICE date stamp (RO6-TO)
   - with VIC and postcode.

Used in violet: 10 June 1966 to 3 July 1968.

Size: 30 × 50 mm (e = 0.80).

Rated: RRR.

Nimber in the Census: 1.

4. A rubber oval TELEGRAPH OFFICE date stamp (RO7-TO).

Used in violet: 1 May 1969.

Size: 30.0 × 51.0 mm (e = 0.81).

Rated: RRRR.

Nimber in the Census: 1.

4. A rubber oval TELEGRAPH OFFICE date stamp (RO7-TO).

Used in violet: 4 August 1971.

Size: 35.0 × 54.0 mm (e = 0.76).

Rated: RRRR.

Nimber in the Census: 1.

6. A circular TELEGRAPH OFFICE date stamp (RC1-TO).

Used in violet: 27 January 1984.

Diameter: 31.5 mm.

Rated: Scarce.

Nimber in the Census: 1.

Used in blue: 26 February 1987.

Diameter: 31.5 mm.

Rated: R.

Number in the Census: 1.

A Post Office opened at Heidelberg on 19 October 1853 as Warringal and was renamed Heidelberg in 1865. The area was proclaimed as the Shire of Heidelberg in 1871.

The Telegraph Office was opened in August 1876.

Heidelberg Post and Telegraph taken from a Post Card posted in 1907.

Early form.

The earliest indication of the operation of the Heidelberg Telegraph Office is a telegram delivery form used at Northcote for a message from Heidleberg on 11 October 1894.

Date stamps.

The Heidleberg Telegraph Office was issued with an oval rubber date stamp (RO2-TO).

Used in violet: 25 May 1970.

Size: 30 × 52 mm (e = 0.82).

Rated (used on a telegram: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

Used in violet: 27 Ovtober 1961.

Size: 23 × 35 mm.

Rated (used on a telegram: RRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

Ivanhoe.
(Kangaroo Ground Branch).

The Telegraph Office was opened from Monday 28 August 1876. It was closed in 1880 (according to the 1880 Report by the Superintendent).

It appears to have been merged with the Post Office in 1889.

Used: 24 March 1951 to 13 January 1960.

Size: 27 × 41 mm.

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 2.

Used on AW-DO-10Ab (49).

Used on AA-DO-13B.

At the Eltham Shire Council meeting of 8 January 1883, "Cr. Cameron reported that the proposed extension of a telegraph line to Yarra Flats had been postponed until the question of the railway to that district is settled. It had been decided, however, to open the line to Kangaroo Ground and, in the event of the present postmaster of that place objecting to take the office, to appoint some one else in his place".

A Telegraph Office opened in early February 1884 as a "two-thirds" office.

Launching Place.

The Post Office at Launching Place was opened on 12 July 1865 when Warburton PO was renamed.

On 13 September 1869, it was renamed Hoddle's Creek PO.

Another Post Office was opened at Launching Place on 1 September 1880 and it was closed on 28 July 1994.

Launching Place PO about 1900.

29 March 1955.
Diameter: 30 mm.

Used on AW-DO-10E (Aug 1952).

Mr. H. Perrin was the first postmaster at Lilydale from 1861 and held that position for 27 years. His son succeeded him for many years until the Government erected a Post & Telegraph Office at Lilydale and appointed an official staff member to the position (see Lilydale history elsewhere).

Mr Perrin (the 1st) took part in an acoustic experiment communicating with Kew in 1878.

Telegraph facilities were also made available to the public at the Railway Station from 23 December 1882 - the Railway from Hawthorn having been opened on 1 December 1882.

The new Lilydale Post & Telegraph Office about 1930.

The Argus of 5 August 1876 reported that, just after the first Telegraph Office opened at Lilydale:

"the extension of the electric telegraph to the township of Lilydale was celebrated at the local Rechabite-hall by a dinner to which the members of the Ministry were invited ... There was a large attendance of the people of the district, the guests numbering over 150. The proceedings were marked throughout by an evident expression of favour towards the members of the Government present ...

(the Hon. Geoege Harker) commented upon the claims of the district and said that he was glad to see that one claim of theirs, at all events, had been recognised viz., the necessity of a telegraph wire to Melbourne. This line placed them in communication with the civilised world ...

Mr. Ramsay, who was very warmly received, replied. He said that he felt on this occasion he was asked to respond to a toast which he could drink most heartily. Little more than a year ago he had, in company with Mr. Kerferd, paid a visit to this district, when he was waited upon by a deputation, who particularly pointed out the want of telegraphic communication with the metropolis. He had then only promised to give consideration to the request but the result was that, on his next visit to Lilydale now, he was present at the celebration of telegraphic communication with Melbourne. (Loud cheers.)

This district only required to be better known. It abounded in grand mountains, beautiful valleys and sparkling streams and, when it became better known, there would unfailingly be a large accession of persons who wanted to leave the busy town for the cooler retreats which were here presented.

In connexion with the subject with which their present celebration was most closely connected - that of electric telegraph extension - he thought it would be of interest to give the following information in connexion with the telegraphic system of the Colony. At the present moment, the number of miles of telegraph line poled was 2,629. The number of miles of wire was 21,510. The number of Post Office telegraph stations was 138 and there were 33 railway telegraph stations in the colony.

During the time he had held office as Postmaster-General, he had taken considerable trouble to initiate a system which, he might say, had been very successful and that had had the effect of extending telegraphic communication to several rural districts which, under the old system, were altogether deprived of that means of communication. Under the old system, when the telegraph was extended to any place, the department had to send an operator there, involving altogether an expense of £500 to start with,and then an annual expenditure of about £300 a year. Under what he might call the two thirds system, however, which he had introduced, the department simply extended the telegraph line to a township and the local postmaster received two-thirds of the receipts. By that system, the Government saved a large annual expenditure Besides, this system enabled them to give telegraphic communication to districts which, under the old system, could not have hoped for the blessings of the telegraph at present. There were 29 stations under the two thirds system during the last year.

The revenue from telegraphs, he might state, was £17,000, exclusive of Government telegrams, and the number of telegrams sent last year was 732,869, At that late hour, he would not detain them with any lengthened remarks, but he might state that, whether in the Government or in Opposition, he should always co-operate with their member, Mr. Cameron (who he hoped would remain so for a very long time) in promoting the interests of the district (Cheers.) The post-office, the telegraph and the school-house, were the precursors and leaders of civilisation, and there could be no doubt that this district would receive its due share of the benefits of all these agencies".

Two rubber vertical rectangular TELEGRAPH OFFICE date stamps, in slightly different formats, were used at Lilydale.

1. RRV1-TO in violet with broken verticals.

Size: 31 × 32 mm.

Used: 21 October 1968.

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Cnsus: 3

21 October 1968.

Used on AA-DO-13D.

2. RRV1-TO in violet with broken verticals.

Size: 36 × 33 mm.

Used: 7 December 1972.

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 3.

7 December 1972.

Used on AA-EO-18E.

Mooroolbark.
(Lilydale Branch).

The Telegraph

The railway line to Lilydale - and hence almost certainly the telegraph line - was washed away at Mooroolbark in the July 1891 floods.

Size: 32½ × 49 mm (e = 0.75).

Used: 30 November 1979 in red.

Rated: RRR.

Number recorded: 2.

The Morang Telegraph Office was opened in January 1880.

In February 1884, the Shire Council had written to the Postmaster-General requesting that the Morang telegraph office be available at hours the same as other offices throughout the colony.

The Telegraph Office was opened in August 1876.

Early usage.

Used at Bendigo 20 January 1893.

The Telegraph office was issued with three types of date stamp for use with telegraphic work:

1. one hole Belt and Buckle;
2. an oval RO2-TO rubber date stamp;
3. a circular rubber TELEGRAPH date stamp (RC1-T)

1. a one-hole Belt & Buckle date stamp.

Used in black: 8 August 1889 to
6 September 1893.

Size: 27 × 38 mm (e = 0.70).

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 4.

26 March 1890.
The compete cover with a double strike of the Northcote 1 hole Belt & Buckle in black.
(previously described as no complete strike had been recorded).

2. a double oval rubber Telegraph Office date stamp
   (RO2-TO).

Used: 22 April 1949.

Size: 32 × 50 mm (e = 0.77).

Rated: RRR.

3. a single circle rubber TELEGRAPH date stamp (RC1-T).

Used: 2 May 1984.

Diameter: 31 mm.

Rated: RRR.

Has dots for separators.

Used on VC-DO-.15A.

Has dashes for separation markers.

Used on VC-DO-16B.

Pheasant Creek.
(Whittlesea Branch).

The Telegraph Office was opened in August 1876.

The Office was issued with a circular Post & Telegraph rubber date stamp (RC2-P&TO) with a scarce design and size.

Used in violet: 4 March 1935.

Diameter: 37 mm.

Rated: RRRR.

Number recorded: 1.

4 March 1935.
Only recorded example.

Preston postal date stamp.
20 October 1938.

Letters occupy more of the circumference.

Preston postal date stamp.
17 October 1953.

Used on AW-DO-13A.

"inconveniences and losses to which residents were at present subjected in consequence of the defective arrangements under which the services are now carried out ... (for example) a telegram of a certain date was lodged in Melbourne for transmission to a gentleman living within half-a-mile of the telegraph office at Preston by Robert Harper, Esq., M.L.A. at 5.30 p.m.; it promptly reached the Preston office at 7.40 p.m.; and was, with marvellous alacrity, delivered to its proper address, within half-a-mile of the receiving office, between 10 a.m. and 10.30 p.m. Now the Preston telegraph office is between six and seven miles from the Central Post Office, Melbourne and the message in question took more time to reach its destination than a cablegram requires to come from the London office to the office in Melbourne".

Ringwood.
(Lilydale Branch).

It has not yet been determined when the Ringwood Telegraph Office opened. In 1890, the Post Office did not handle telegrams but the Telegraph Office at the Railway Station transmitted 1,385 messages and received 1,172. Neither were open in 1894.

The Telegraph Office was issued with one format of a rubber oval TELEGRAPH date stamp (RO6-T) which was used in violet.

Size: 30 × 60 mm (e = 0.87).

Used: 12 September 1980.

Rated: RRR.

12 September 1980.

Used on AT-DO-15A.

The Telegraph Office

The Office was issued with a rubber rectangular TELEGRAPH date stamp (RRH1-T).

Size:

Use: 7 November 1988.

Rated: RRR.

Used on AT-DO-15B.

Warburton.

A Post Office was opened at Warburton on 1 October 1863.

On 12 July 1865, Warburton was renamed Launching Place.

On 1 November 1874, a Post Office at Hoddle's Creek was then renamed Warburton PO but it was then renamed back to Hoddle's Creek on 1 January 1879.

A Post Office was then established at Warburton in about 1884.

Whittlesea.
(Whittlesea Branch).

The Herald of 4 September 1878 reported

"A deputation from Whittlesea, introduced by the hon. Mr. Buchanan, M.L.C. and Mr. Ramsay, M.L.A., waited upon the Postmaster-General this morning to represent to him the desirability of extending telegraphic communication to that place. Mr. Patterson said that, in his capacity of Minister of Public Works, he had urged on the Postal department the desirability of a wire to the Yan Yean which would be found of great service in the case of an accident to the source of our water supply, such as occurred some time ago. The distance of Whittlesea from the Yan Yean being only about three miles, the extension would cost but little, and he promised that the asked for line, via the Yan Yean, would be commenced shortly".

The Telegraph Office was opened in June 1879.

Yan Yean.
(Whittlesea Branch).

The Yan Yeaan reservoir is Melbourne's oldest water supply. When it was completed in 1857, it was the biggest artificial water supply in the world.

The Telegraph Office was opened in August 1879.