Customs House.

On 15 July 1872, a branch Telegraph Office was opened at the eastern end of Customs House to facilitate the access by merchants to telegraph and money order facilities after the removal of the Chief Telegraph Office to new premises on the corner of Elizabeth and Little Bourke Streets. Telegrams were still sent and received at the head office and messages were carried between offices on horseback. Two horses were used each way with a transit time of between five to seven minutes.

Almost immediately on the opening of the office, a deputation from the Melbourne Stock Exchange waited upon the Postmaster-General to ask him to erect a line to the Hall of Commerce in Collins Street, for the convenience of the brokers. "Mr. Langton remarked that he failed to see how a separate wire to such a branch would facilitate the despatch of business to the chief mining centres, as communications sent to the telegraph station at the Post Office, where there were seven wires to Ballarat and five to Sandhurst, stood a much better chance of being sent away without delay than if they had to wait their turn by a single wire at the branch office. The deputation then requested that private boxes, similar to those to be obtained at the Post Office, might be constructed at the Hall of Commerce, and that messages arriving for the brokers who possessed them might be dropped into the boxes by the telegraph messengers. Mr. Langton promised to consider the application.

In connexion with this matter, Mr. James, of the Telegraph Department, made a suggestion which, if adopted, would prove of great convenience to the brokers. It was that a pneumatic tube should be laid between the telegraph Office and the Hall of Commerce and that messages arriving for the brokers should be sent direct from the office by that means and deposited by a clerk at the hall in the private boxes before mentioned".

A pneumatic tube system was eventually laid down between the offices.

On 29 April 1876, the Deputy Postmaster-General Mr Turner announced that the Post Office and Electric Telegraph Office at the branch office in William Street was removed to the south-east corner of Customs House "where the letter receiving pillar is also placed".

Finally a wire linking the Chief Telegraph Office to Customs House was erected during 1879. It overcame the need to deliver messages using mounted messengers.

Early use.

The earliest evidence of the operation of the Customs House Telegraph Office is a telegram delivery form (VC-DO-9) used for a message transmitted from Customs House for a message to Richmond on 28 December 1880.

Degraves Street.

The Post & Telegraph Office was formerly Commerce House which had been opened on 8 July 1914. The change of name to Degraves Street was effected on 17 November 1956.

On 29 August 1986, the name changed again to Flinders Lane.

2. in violet.

Size: 32 mm diameter.

Used: 25 February 1986.

Rated: RRR.

Eastern Market.

On 8 January 1880, The Argus reported that "a branch Telegraph Office, Post Office, Receiving House, Money Order office and Savings Bank have been opened at the Eastern Market, corner of Bourke and Stephen streets. Telegraphic communication has also been extended to Morang, on the Plenty Road. These offices are now available to the public". 

Elizabeth Street North.

This branch Post & Telegraph Office was opened in August 1879 by erecting a building "on a portion of the reserve at the junction of Elizabeth Street North and Victoria Street occupied by the Department as a storeyard".

The Telegraph Office opened during 1861 or 1862.

On 5 June 1873, The Age reported

"The sum of £5,000 was voted to the Government last evening in the Assembly for the purpose of effecting the purchase of the building known as the Melbourne Exchange in Flinders Lane and lately used as the Telegraph Office. The building and site were found unsuitable for the purpose originally intended and, as under the tcrms of the grant, the ground could not be applied to any other purpose than that for which it had been given, the offer was made to sell it to the Government at what was considered a bargain. Some little opposition was manifested to the proposal but the necessity and advantage of the arrangement were pointed out by the Chief Secretary and the Treasurer and finally the vote was carried".

In December 1880, 2,661 messages with a value of £223 3s 6d were sent.

On 9 August 1881, the Argus reported that Mr. P. R. Challen, who represented the Post & Telegraph Department at the Melbourne International Exhibition had been appointed to be in charge of the Telegraph Branch at the Exchange, Collins Street West.

The Avoca Mail, on 1 November 1881, noted that " country residents may become members (of the Exchange) on payment of a guinea per annum and are therefore entitled to all privileges. It is the principal business rendezvous in Australia, has all latest telegrams posted in the hall and has over 300 papers filed daily. A special telegraph and complete telephonic system are at the disposal of members. Internal conveniences are a restaurant, billiard, room suites of apartments, offices, etc". In December, a branch Telegraph Office was opened at the Melbourne Exchange Building. All messages addressed Exchange - Hall of Commerce were to be delivered from the Exchange Office. The Office was open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except on Sundays when the closing hour was 1.30 p.m.

The Telegraph Office was reclassified as a Post Office about June 1891.

This office was in direct communication with the principal mining centres. It was renamed the Stock Exchange in 1893.

The earliest evidence of the operation of the Exchange Telegraph Office is a telegram delivery form (VC-DO-9) recording a message transmitted from the Exchange to Richmond on 8 July 1880.

No special date stamp inscribed TELEGRAPH was issued the this office. Instead a duplex was used. It has MELBOURNE in the right half rather than the usual numeral.

Size: 22 mm diameter.

Used: 10 April 1891 - 25 October 1892.

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

10 April 1891 - earliest recorded date.

"Having heard that the Electric Telegraphs Department contemplated new arrangements for offices, your directors at once placed themselves in communication with the Hon. the Commissioner of Public Works on the subject and finally agreed to let the two front offices (ground floor), four offices in the basement and a partition from the reading room at the rate of £450 per annum, for one year certain, with the option of renewal, at the same rate, for one or two years longer. By this arrangement a telegraphic messenger will be dispensed with and a saving effected of £60 per annum".

The Ballarat Star of 23 June 1863 reported that

"an extraordinary General Meeting of the shareholders of the Melbourne Exchange Company was held on the previous day with J. Graham, Esq., in the chair. The Report of the Directors was read and was to the following effect: That the meeting should let to the Government the present premises of the Exchange for telegraphic purposes for three years, at an annual rent of £800".

See the above discussion on Customs House and the later developments after the Exchange was renamed the Stock Exchange in 1893.

Exhibition

The Telegraph Office at the Exhibition Building was opened on 18 August 1880 with the Post Office opening on 20th. The two offices closed on 30 April 1881.

The Post Office for the second Exhibition operated from 16 July 1888 to 1889. The Telegraph and Post Offices continued to operate in the premises without the major exhibitions.

The Geelong Advertiser reported on 28 January 1899 that "Acting under instructions from the Geelong Town Council, Mr H. F. Richardson, as agent for the lessee of the Exhibition buildings, has given the Postal Department notice to give up possession of the office they occupy in the buildings, and the Department has accepted same, and will close the office from and after the 19th proximo. The Telegraph Office in the Exhibition Buildings in the past has been a great convenience to a large section of the business people, and to those in a hurry to catch the steamers and train and yet, without any sense or reason, the office is objected to by a clique who have closed the Exhibition Theatre".

Used in black: 23 October 1888 to 31 December 1888.

Size:

Rated: RR.

Number in the Census: 2.

Flinders Street Station.

Flinders Street was the first railway station in an Australian City - opened on 12 September 1854 as the Melbourne Terminus. The imposing and well-known structure was finally completed in 1909.

After a second platform was added in 1877, a Telegraph Office was opened in 1879. Nothing further

The Telegraph Office opened about 1898 but was reclassified as a Post Office about 1915. It closed the following year.

The Office was issued with two formats of a circular steel FLINDERS ST TEL OFFICE V-R:

• diameter 27.5 and used in blue from 6 April 1898 to 1 March 1902 which was used in blue (rated RRRR);
• with a small superscript T of 'ST" and diameter 28.5 mm used in violet on4 November 1914 (rated RRRR).

Hobsons Bay Railway Station
(cnr Swanston & Flinders Streets).

This Branch Telegraph Office was fitted up and opened in April 1879.

Early use.

The earliest evidence of the operation of the Hobson's Bay Rail Telegraph Office is a telegram delivery form (VC-DO-11A) used for a message transmitted from Hobson's Bay to Richmond on 31 January 1883.

Built in 1878 at the corner of Lonsdale and William Street. The building was renamed the Supreme Court.

Two types of date stamps were used in relation to telegraphs:

1. a 2 hole Belt & Buckle date stamp.

Used in black: 1891 to 6 April 1894.

Size: 28 × 41 mm (e = 0.73).

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 2.

2. a rubber oval TELEGRAPH OFFICE date stamp (RO2-TO) was used in violet:

Size: 32 × 50 mm (e = 0.77).

Used: 14 August 1975 (only recorded date).

Rated: RR.

Number in the Census: 2.

The Telegraph Office opened in August 1872.

The Advocate of 6 May 1871 reported "There is a possibility that, if accommodation can be found in the Post Office, the Electric Telegraph station in Market Square will be removed there and the building be given up to the Melbourne Exchange Company, who are its owners. A saving of between £300 and £400 a year would be effected by the change".

Use: 24 July 1888 to 20 June 1894.

Size: 27 × 39 mm (e = 0.72).

Rated: RR.

Provenance: Hugh Freeman.

12 March 1894 on a registered cover to Birmingham, England with 8d r3e-rose on pink Naish.
Prestige Philately, October 2010, Lot 337.
Corinphila Sale 29 November 2022 Lot 10413.
Provenance: DUBOIS Collection, Johnstone.
One of three covers with a Belt & Buckle sent to an overseas destination - see also Horsham and Law Courts above.

Parliament House.

On 20 October 1856, The Argus reported that "Arrangements have been made for the extension of the electric telegraph to the New Houses of Parliament". Given the development below, this extension must not have involved opening a formal telegraph office.

"In the Legislative Assembly of 20 March 1862, Mr. B. G. Davies asked the Hon. the Postmaster-General what would be the cost of extending a branch of the telegraph office to the Parliament Houses if the Government deemed such extension desirable, and if they contemplated doing so?

Dr. Evans said the matter had been considered, and such an extension had been deemed by himself and colleagues to be most desirable. He had ascertained that the actual cost would be between £300 and £400; and if Parliament would provide that amount and the salaries of the necessary officials and also appropriate several rooms in the Parliamentary buildings, the branch telegraph office desired could be erected within three weeks".

The Argus, 21 March 1862.

Public Offices (Spring Gardens).

The Age of 31 December 1878 reported that "The Postmaster-General has determined to open a telegraph office at the Public Offices for the convenience of the numerous persons attending there daily on business. The office will be situated on the left hand side of the main entrance".

Early use.

The earliest evidence of the operation of the Public Offices Telegraph Office is a telegram delivery form (VC-DO-9) used for a message transmitted from the Public Offices to Richmond on 21 June 1880.

This 1-hole Belt & Buckle date stamp in black is the earliest strike at Richmond and the third earliest stike at any Office.

Date stamps.

The Public Office was issued with a one hole Belt & Buckle date stamp. No other date stamp was issued for use with telegraphic work.

Used: 12 September 1890.

Size:??

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

"The Rialto" was opened in 1891 as a Receiving Office with telegraph facilities.

The name changed to "Rialto" in 1902 and was again renamed - as King Street - on 19 November 1965.

Three formats of TELEGRAPH or TO date stamps were used at the Office:

1. Telegraph Office/
   Rialto.

Characteristics:

• a two line date;
• 2 digits for the year;
• a dot before RIALTO and a 1 mm side arc following. Both are level with the center of the letters.
  

Used: 4 March 1892 to
2 November 1914.

Diameter: 24 mm.

Rated: common;

Number in the Census: 50+

1 August 1894.

10 December 1894.

14 January 1908.

2. Telegraph Office Rialto/
   VIC.

Characteristic: a one line date.

Used: 31 March 1919 to 22 March 1920.

Diameter: 29 mm.

Rated: common.

3. T.O. Rialto/
   VIC-AUST.

Characteristics:

• a one line date;
• 3 mm side arcs.

Used: 1 July 1943.

Diameter: 30 mm.

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 3.

 

The Station was opened in 1859. The Telegraph Office opened in October 1861 while the Post Office opened about 1886. The offices were closed on 31 August 1977.

1 October 1861: Frederick Vincent Corbet was appointed operator in charge of the Spencer Street station.

December 1882: Mr James D. Doyle, for many years manager of the Electric Telegraph office at Spencer Street Station, received the well merited promotion to sub-inspectorship of that branch in the Railway Department and had "entered upon his duties".

Early use.

The earliest evidence of the operation of the Spencer St Railway Telegraph Office is a telegram delivery form (VC-DO-10A) used for a message transmitted from Spencer Street to Richmond on 13 March 1882.

20 June 1906.
Used on VI-DO-1D.
Provenanve: Gary Watson.

2. Spencer St. Tel. Office./VR.
   
   2 mm arcs centered around the letters V.R.

Used: 26 November 1954 to
8 September 1956.

Diameter: 29 mm.

Rated: RRR.

No. in the Census: 2.

26 Novwmber 1954.
Used on AW-TO-10.

8 September 1956.
Cancelling 3½d King George VI punctured VG.

3. Spencer St. Tel. Office./VR.
   
   1 mm arcs centered around the letters V.R.

Used: 24 October 1966
to 9 January 1968.

Diameter: 33 mm.

Rated: RRR.

No. in the Census: 3.

Railways Telegram cancelled with the previous Spencer Street date stamp on 24 October 1966.

The Sydney Morning Herald of 30 December 1899 reported that:

"The underground pneumatic service, by which telegrams are transmitted from the Stock Exchange to the Central Telegraph Office, has proved so successful that the Postmaster-General has authorised the extension of the system to the Rialto Telegraph Office in Collins Street and to the Spencer Street Railway Station office. At present a large volume of telegraphic business is transacted at both these places".

Stock Exchange.

The Exchange Telegraph Office was opened in December 1880.

The Stock Exchange Telegraph Office was created when the Exchange was renamed about 1893. In 1901, the office became a Receiving Office and then (in June) a Post Office. It reverted to its original status as a Telegraph Office on 1 September 1925.

The office was closed on 11 October 1968.

Treasury.

Construction of the first Treasury building commenced in 1858 and was completed in 1862. It soon became a major Government Office - it included the Offices of the Governor, the Chief Secretary, the Treasurer and the Auditor General. It addition to housing important people, the building was also designed to store gold coming from the new goldfields. It was clearly critical that a Telegraph Office was opened in that building as soon as possible.

The 1862 building is regarded as being one of the finest public buildings in Australia. It was designed by 19 year old architect J. J. Clark.

In 1878, the Treasury was moved to the Government Offices at 2 Treasury Place. The name of the beautiful building was then changed to the "Old Treasury".

There is a reference which indicates the telegraph connection was made to the Treasury in July 1884.

Early usage.

The earliest evidence of telegraphic communication with the Treasury is a delivery form (VC-DO-11B) sent from the Treasury to the Town Clerk at Richmond on 8 March 1886. No Belt & Buckle date stamp was issued to the Treasury.

This is actually the only Colonial telegraphic item recorded with a TREASURY indication -
clearly Accountants like to keep things in balance.