Barfold.

Located about 25 kilometres east of Castlemaine. The Office was created by renaming the office at Emberton in 1867. A Post Office was opened at Emberton on 4 January 1867 with Mr. Hugh McLennon in charge.

A Telegraph Office was established at the Railway Station about 1910. That office was reclassified as a Post Office about 1915 but was (allegedly) closed in 1917. Clearly the telegraph duties were maintained for some time.

Used: 13 February 1913 to
1 October 1947.

Size: 27 mm diameter.
Has 4 and 4.5 mm side arcs for separation.

Rated: RR.

Number in the Census: 3.

Cowan's Tank.

Opened as a Post Office on 17 October 1927 and was reclassified as a Telegraph Office on 1 December 1942.

The Office was closed on 10 June 1949.

A steel circular date stamp for postal and telegraphic use is reported to have been used between 3 March 1933 and 30 June 1941. It is rated as RR.

Used in black: 4 December 1929.

Diameter: 30 mm.
4 mm side arcs.

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

Durham Ox.

The Telegraph Office opened in June 1876.

Eddington.

The town was situated at the crossing of the Loddon River between Dunnolly and Maldon. A bridge was constructed in 1861 and that replaced a punt which had operated for a number of years. The bridge was used frequently by the Cobb & Co coaches. In 1863, floods nearly destroyed the Eddington Bridge and caused considerable loss of life.

Gold mining in the region spurred growth of the township and a variety of stores, hotels and manufacturing enterprises were established to support the increasing number of people attracted to the mining in the general area. One of the main enterprises was the Eddington Cheese and Butter factory. The Eddington Race Meetings and Ploughing competitions were always well-attended

The Post Office - opened on 1 November 1861 - was situated on McCoy Street. The Bendigo Advertiser of 19 November 1884 proudly announced that "At last, after a deal of agitating, we have a telegraph ofiice opened here which will be a great convenience to our residents. Miss Ryan, daughter to Mr. T. Ryan, has been appointed postmistress, etc.".

A collection of interesting photos of the town in the late 1800s and in the 2000's are included in an excellent local history website.

The Telegraph Office opened on 7 August 1863.

The post-1884 Post & Telegraph Office at Kerang.

Kerang Post & Telegraph Office in 1910.

The Bendigo Advertiser of 25 June 1868 carried the important story that:

"A deputation from the Swan Hill District Road Board was introduced to the Chief Secretary this morning by the Hon N. Fitzgerald, M.L.C. and Mr Thomas, M.L.A. The object of the deputation was to protest against the removal of the Post Office from Kerang to a place about three miles distant from the township. The gentlemen present stated that at present the Post Office and Telegraph Office were under one roof in the heart of the township, but it was proposed to move the Post Office to a store about three miles distant where it would only benefit one person. The Chief Secretary said he would look over the papers and inquire into the affair and the deputation then withdrew".

On 2 July, the Advertiser published a follow-up story:

"A Kerang correspondent writing to the Age contradicts the statement made by a recent deputation to the Chief Secretary, that it was proposed to remove the local Post Oflice from the township to a store three miles distant. On the contrary, he says the inhabitants of Kerang seek to have the Post Office removed to the surveyed township, from the property of a storekeeper three miles distant. The Post Office has been continued in its present position only in consequence of the Telegraph Department having leased for five years the building that now serves both as Post and Telegraph offices, but now the lease is nearly expired".

On 27 July 1868, the arguments waged on in the Advertiser involving also the Court House - see page 3 elsewhere.

The Riverine Herald of 13 March 1869 relates the following story:

"Our telegraph office has been closed for the last five days, owing to some departmental changes ... But to return to the closing of the telegraph office: In the name of electricity, let us have one or none at all so that people from a distance may know whether they can send a message or not.

The day after our telegraph master, in obedience to his instructions, had put the key of his office into his pocket and, without beat of drum, drove off to the Serpentine then came a gentleman post haste to send an important telegram about some travelling sheep he had under his charge. It was some time before he could realise the fact that the office had been closed without any public notice being given. When, however, he found that it was impossible to send the message, he got upon his already nearly tired horse and rode forty miles into Swan Hill.

The Government have treated us in a very off-hand and cavalier manner in this respect. If the office does not pay it is surely worth their while to ascertain whether private subscriptions could not be raised to guarantee a portion of the working expenses. I suppose that, since the office has been open, the value of the messages sent has been greater than in most country telegraph offices for they nearly all refer to the sale of stations and the market price of stock of which the sender has, perhaps, £2,000 worth under his charge — sudden sickness, criminal information to the police and the like.

The telegraph wires, like the Post Offices, are not supposed to be a source of revenue, but when an office that has been built by private enterprise, placed in the hands of the Government at a nominal rent and kept open for several years, is abruptly closed for a week without the least notice being given to the public, it is high time to ask the Government for a precedent which I suspect would puzzle them to find". 

The Kerang Times of 19 August 1884 reported on the condition of the Post and Telegraph Office as follows:

"Any time during the past five years, the people of Kerang have been expecting to see a post office built in the town. Before the lease of the building originally held had expired, steps were taken to induce the Government to build a place of their own; but, though the principle was agreed to, no action was taken. Finally, the department had a brief notice to quit. After some difficulty a place was obtained wherein to carry on the business - though at one time it was feared the shelter of a defunct blacksmith's shop was the only place available.

The accommodation in the present building is wretched in the extreme. A small room, about ten feet by twelve, is set apart for the transaction of the whole of the business under the charge of the postmaster - viz., postal, telegraph, money-order, savings bank, etc., while the accommodation for the public is simply intolerable.

The business transacted at the office is not small:

• every week 255 mails are received and despatched. This in itself is no small item;
• in addition, as may be gathered from the Post Office Report for 1883, during that year 3,465 telegraph messages were transmitted, giving a revenue of £209; the amount received during 1882 being £192;
• during last year 674 money orders - representing a value of £1,980 were issued; and, during the same period, 442 - value £1859 - were paid;
• there was also an increase of savings bank accounts - the total being 71; while the operations amounted to 191 deposits and withdrawals - being a money value of £1,892.

In every instance there is an increase of business compared with the previous year; and it is naturally expected, from the progress of the town, that business will show a much larger increase next year.

About two years since, a sheet of drawing paper was exhibited on which were sundry lines and squares. These were said to represent the plan of the proposed new building. Whether during the time that has elapsed since then anything has been done about making a drawing of the elevation is difficult to say, but the existence of the latter suggests the absence of the former. The time for shifts and subterfuges has past, and the department, without any further delay, should commence active operations with a new and suitable building".

June 1863: John L'Estage appointed Acting Operator of Electric Telegraph and Collector of Imposts, also to act as Postmaster at Kerang from 1st July, 1863. In April 1867, he was transferred to Gisborne.

April 1867: Mr. William Thomas Swann appointed line repairer in charge of Electric Telegraph and collector of imposts also to act as postmaster at Kerang from the 11th March, 1867 vice J. L'Estage".

February 1869: Frank O'Connell appointed line repairer in charge of electric telegraph and collector of imposts at Kerang from 1st January, 1869, vice W. T. Swann transferred.

The earliest indication of the operation of the Kerang Telegraph Office is a message on a telegram delivery form (VC-DO-11C) at Sandhurst on 12 November 1887 from Kerang.

Two formats for date stamps were issued th the Kerang Office for use with telegraphs.

A 1 hole Belt & Buckle date stamp was issued to the Post & Telegraph Office at Kerang.

Used in black: 1888 to 2 May 1893.

Size: 27 × 38 mm (e = 0.70).

Rated: RR.

Number in the Census: 7.

Cover to Poschiavo, Italy.
Provenance: Freeman, Johnstone.
B&B covers used to foreign destinations are rare - 3 exist (see also Beaufort and Prahran).

The Argus of 23 May 1864 reported on the honesty of the Telegraph Messenger as follows:

"it appears from the Kyneton papers, that a gentleman who dropped a pocket-book containing notes and cheques to the value of £70 in the middle of Mollison Street, opposite the post-office, was fortunate enough to recover his property not long after. The pocket-book, it appears, after lying for half an hour or so exposed in the street, was picked up by the telegraph messenger, and restored to the owner, on his calling at the post office, as the last place at which he had occasion to make use of the lost book. The fact that the tempting prize lay so long undisturbed, is a strong proof of the quietude of Kyneton streets".

Macedon.

Newspaper wrapper with Maldon Belt and Buckle date stamp of 10 March 1890.
Date confirmed by backstamps.

Cover with a 2d embossed image, a Maldon 2 hole Belt & Buckle date stamp of 4 January 1893
and an UNCLAIMED AT MALDON hand stamp.

Malmesbury.

The Telegraph Office opened in October 1865.

A Telegraph Office was also opened at the Railway Station in 1889 but later closed. It was reopened about 1910 and closed about 1916.

Merbein.

Merbein is next to Mildura.

Used: 14 March 1989.

Size:

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

Metcalfe and Metcalfe East.

A Post Office was opened on 13 December 1866.

Metcalfe East was a change of name from East Metcalfe about 1914 and closed on 21 September 1968.

The offices was issued with a circular steel date stamp some time after 1918.

Used: 2 March 1922.

Diameter: 27 mm.

Rated: RRRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

During May 1932, the year wheel on the date stamp was inverted but the problem was not corrected for nearly a month.

Used: May 1932.

Diameter: 27 mm.

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1
(other examples are claimed to be known but not seen).

In the 1940s, the year wheel was missing. It is not known when this occurred.

Used: 20 March 194(?).

Diameter: 27 mm.

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1

A Telegraph Office was opened at Mildura on 28 August 1888. Presumably that date was the date for line connection and the Office was opened in temporary premises.

The Weekly Times of 10 August 1889 revealed that "The plans for the new Post and Telegraph Office at Mildura have been completed. It will consist of offices and residence combined and will be a fine commodious structure, containing twelve rooms in all, including a Post Office, Telegraphic Operators' room, receipt and pay office and nine living rooms. The cost will exceed £2,000".

Mildura Post & Telegraph Office 1890.
The building announced by the Weekly Times.

The two signs in the middle of the verandah are for
LHS: Post and Telegraph Office;
RHS: Money Order Office.

The door at the right says PRIVATE - so it would lead to the residences.

Post and Telegraph Office at Mildura about 1900.

1. a rubber oval TELEGRAPH OFFICE date stamp (RO4-TO).
   It does not appear that the thick outer line is doubled.

Size: 28 × 48 mm (e = 0.81).

Used: 15 April 1931 - 9 September 1931.

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 3.

15 April 1931.
Used on AB-DO-5.

7. a rectangular rubber TELEGRAPH date stamp (RRH1-T).

Size: 29 × 50 mm.

Used: 6 November 1972 - 12 October 1981.

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 3.

21 March 1978.

Diameter: 26 mm.
Used on AE-DO-2C and AE-EO-1.

The Mincha Railway Station changed name to Mincha in 1902. The office closed on 1 April 1977.

Used: 27 May 1932 to 17 April 1959.

Diameter: 28 mm.

Rated: Scarce.

Number in the Census: 12+.

Newstead.

The Empire of 13 March 1869 reprinred an article from the Argus:

"The telegraph station at Newstead is to be continued. Miss Firman, the daughter of the Postmaster, is to act as electrician and Postmistress and thus, while saving expenditure to the Government, she will be able to meet the wants of Newstead in this matter.

We think it possible that female electricians could be more generally employed in the telegraph department as they are in England. They send messages as carefully and as efficiently as men do. In such a township, for instance, as Jerilderie, a female electrician could be employed and also perform the duties of postmistress. In England the system answers well and we cannot see why it should not be introduced in Australia".

Robinvale.

A Receiving Office was established at Bumbong about 1924.

It was renamed Robinvale on 1 August 1924. It was then upgraded to a Post Office on 14 July 1926.

It has Euston as its sister City which is located on the other side of the Murray River in New South Wales.

Unclear date - used in 1947.

The Telegraph Office opened on 12 January 1869 immediately after the telegraph line was connected. The Gazette of 19 February 1869 announced "Wm. T. Swan, to be line repairer in charge of Electric Telegraph and collector of imposts at Serpentine from the 1st of January, 1869". Mr. Swan had previously been at Kerang - and that is a story in itself.

On 3 February 1870 the office was closed (Annual Report, p. 8). "In the East Loddon district, the Road Board in the first instance negotiated with the Government for the purpose of having a telegraph station established at the Serpentine within the district After a considerable amount of correspondence, the Government agreed on condition that a bond was signed by any responsible persons in the district to reimburse the department for any deficiency that might accrue. This bond was signed by all the members of the board and three persons besides (ratepayers). At the end of the year, on petition to the department, the office was closed, and an account of the deficiency forwarded. The board now consists of different persons to what it did at the time of the negotiation. The ratepayers do not object to the board's paying the amount due, instead of getting it from private individuals. As the office was established for the benefit of the district, cannot the present board relieve the signers to the bond of their liability? Certainly. This case is a fair sample of many where a public benefit is sought to be conferred by the members becoming personally liable. The public body should always pay the debt so incurred where, as in this instance, it is straightforward and bond fide".
The Australasian, 11 February 1871.

The Office was re-opened on 16 September 1873 (Annual Report, p. 8).

The town was established as Serpentine Creek in 1863 and the Post Office was opened in 1868.

In 1917, the name was changed to Serpentine.

The Telegraph Office was opened in April 1863. The Geelong Advertiser had added to that announcement "Castle Donnington is the official name for Swan Hill but we prefer the old designation".

Personnel:

April 1863: Alfred Lionel Krone to be Manager of Electric Telegraph and Collector of Imposts, also to act as Postmaster at Swan Hill from 1st April, 1863.

Early forms:

The earliest telegram for Swan Hill is a Reply-Paid message received at Sandhurst on 23 May1887 from Sean Hill and copied onto a telegram delivery form (VC-DO-11C). This date stamp for Sandhurst is rare because it is stamped in blue.

Two date stamps were issued to Swan Hill for use with telegraphic matters:

1. A 1 hole Belt & Buckle date stamp.

Used: 1893.

Size:

Rated: RRRR.

2. A rectangular rubber TELEGRAPH OFFICE date stamp (RRH1-TO).

   Used in violet: 5 September 1984 (only recorded date).

   Size: 29 × 41 mm.

   Rated: RRR.

Taradale.

The Telegraph Office opened on 30 November 1861.

Henry Ellis was appointed Operator in Charge of the Electric Telegraph at Taradale and also to act as Postmaster from 27 Decenber 1861. The Gazette of 20 March 1866 announced the appointment of James B. Matthews to be acting manager of the Electric Telegraph and Collector of Imposts also Postmaster at Taradale from 1st March 1866 vice Mr. W. H. Hollick.

Tragowel is south of Kerang. The Telegraph Office was opened in May 1878 while the Post Office was opened in June 1878. It closed on 3 November 1976.

Used: 29 August 1910 to 22 August 1960.

Diameter: 27 mm.

Rated: RR.

Number in the Census: 7.

17 February 1930.
On 5d brown KGV.

The Telegraph Office opened in October 1861 at the Railway Station. On 1 October 1861, Charles Henry Lay was appointed operator in charge of the new Telegraph Office at Woodend.

The Age of 20 December 1877 reported that, two days prior

"The people of Woodend were much startled yesterday morning by two loud reports, quickly following each other. On inquiry it was found that a lightning flash had struck the telegraph wire near the station. The wire was broken in two places and two or three telegraph poles, in close proximity to the two offices at the station, were split down the centre. No important damage was done to the instruments although the operators next to them were rather startled by the noise".

On 26 July 1897, the Argus reported on a public meeting at Woodend protesting the transfer of the Post Office to the Railway Station. The meeting also asked that a Post & Telegraph Office be opened at Woodend. The Chairman of the meeting sarcastically remarked that "the Government should also remove the police quarters to the railway station and the public would have but one locality to visit on any business".

On 10 December 1897, the Woodend Railway Station was burnt to the ground. The fire started in the refreshment room. Presumably this event was independent of the July meeting.

The Woodend Post & Telegraph Office.