Some of the Telegraph Offices constructed in the suburbs of Sydney are listed in the table below:
Annandale.
The Telegraph Office was opened on 6 April 1891.
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![]() Annandale Post & Telegraph Office about 1910. |
Arncliffe.
A Post Office was opened at Arncliffe on 1 April 1884. After three reclassifications, a Telegraph Office was opened at Arncliffe on 25 November 1889. On 15 February 1890, a combined Post & Telegraph Office was opened. No special date stamp was issued to Arncliffe for use with Telegraphs so the usual Postal date stamp was used. At some stage an unusual design was commissioned for a Post Office date stamp which was used on at least one telegram. |
![]() Arncliffe Post Office Date stamp. 9 December 1933. The design (RC4) is very scarce with only one other Office using it (see Hobart and Date Stamp Classification).
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The Post Office was opened on 1 January 1856 and then, on 1 January 1875, the office was removed to the Railway Station. The Telegraph Office was opened on 6 May 1874 and the two offices merged to became the Post & Telegraph Office on 1 June 1880. On 22 January 1890, the combined office was removed from the Railway Station. Personnel: February 1877: Miss Frances Elizabeth Skarratt, an automatic perforator in Head Office was appointed as Junior Operator in Ashfield. 6 June 1879: The Gazette announced that Mr. G. H. McGarrity, messenger at Ashfield was to become an operator at Rookwood.
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No special date stamp for use with telegraphs was used at Ashfield. Two TELEGRAM slogan cancellations are recorded as having been used at Ashfield:
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A Telephone Section was opened at Balgowlah on 24 May 1907 which also provided telegraphic services. |
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Two special date stamps were issued for use at Balgowlah for telegram related purposes. Both were rectangular (RRH1-TS) and headed TELEGRAPH SECTION. | ||
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![]() 3 May 1979. Used on AT-DO-15A. |
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![]() 27 April 1984. Used on AT-DO-15B. |
A Telephone office, which enabled telegraph business to be conducted, was opened at the Post Office on 20 August 1892. |
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A rubber circular TELEGRAPH OFFICE date stamp (RC1 - T) was issued to the Office:
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![]() 18 January 1982. |
A Telephone office, which enabled telegraph business to be conducted, was opened at the Post Office on 23 June 1911.
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A rubber circular TELEGRAPH OFFICE date stamp (RC1 - TO) was issued to the Office:
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![]() 9 October 1953. Used on AW-DO-10A (48 |
Bondi.
The Telegraph Office opened on 2 April 1890. The Post Office had opened on 1 October 1893 and the two offices were amalgamated on 1 August 1896.
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![]() Bondi Post & Telegraph Office about 1900. |
No special date stamp was made available for Telegraph usage to this office.
Usual date stamp also used for postal items. |
![]() 8 September 1915. |
The only TELEGRAPH slogan cancellation recorded as having been used at Bondi Junction is TELEGRAMS: SPEEDY, RELIABLE, EFFECTIVE. It is a PAID date stamp used in August 1956. | |
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Bondi Beach.
A Telegraph Office was opened at Bondi Beach through a change of name from the Post & Telegraph Office at Bondi North on 12 October 1922. No special date stamp was made available for Telegraph usage to this office. See the story about the Pacific Cable leaving from Bondi. |
![]() 17 March 1962. Used on AA-DO-13B. |
The Telegraph Office at Botany opened on 6 April 1881. Personnel: April 1883: Miss A. O'Halloran, Operator at Paddington, was promoted to Station Mistress at Botany. She replaced Mr. Frank Healy who was transferred to be Junior Operator at Paddington. |
A Post & Telegraph Office opened at Brookvale on 1 August 1899 with Annie Bloomfield in charge. |
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A rubber circular TELEGRAPH OFFICE date stamp (RC1 - TO) was issued to the Office:
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![]() 9 July 1981. |
Burwood.
The Telegraph Office opened on 6 May 1874 sometime after the Post Office on 1 October 1861. The two offices were merged on 1 July1875. Personnel: March 1890: Mr Claude McCullough Ireland was promoted from Telegraph Operator at Burwood to Postal Assistant and Telegraph Operator at Coonamble.
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A steel circular T.O. Burwood date stamp was issued top the Office - one of only two such formats recorded in NSW.
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![]() 4 July 1959. |
The only slogan cancellation recorded as having been used at Burwood is TELEGRAMS: SPEEDY, RELIABLE, EFFECTIVE. It is a PAID date stamp used in August 1956. |
Chatswood.
The Telegraph Office opened on 27 May 1897. A telephone service enabling telegraphic communication also had previously opened at the Railway Station on 17 July 1893. The Post Office had had a checkered history before that time. |
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A rubber circular TELEGRAPHS date stamp (RC1 - T) was issued to the Office: One line date with year as '86.
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![]() 30 May 1986. |
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The usual postal date stamp was also applied to telegrams at Chatswood: Two line date - Month then day and year in four numerals.
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![]() 27 October 1922. Used on IAE-DC-2. |
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One slogan postmark advertising Telegrams is recorded as being used at Chatswood - TELEGRAMS: SPEEDY, RELIABLE, EFFECTIVE.
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![]() Used 7 May 1941. |
The Post & Telegraph Office opened on 2 July 1934. |
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A rubber circular TELEGRAPHS date stamp (RC1 - T) was issued to the office:
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![]() 17 October 1984 |
Opened on 1 October 1923 when Watersleigh changed name. Closed on 9 August 1971 when replaced by Neutral Bay Junction. The Office was not issued with a special date stamp for use with telegraph work. Instead the usual postal date stamp was used. Only a rubber date stamp is known on telegrams and this type is unrecorded in Hopson & Tobin. |
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RC1-PO (DD/MM/YYYY).
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![]() 25 March 1964. Used on AA-DO-13B. |
An Official Post Office named Cronulla opened when a previous office Cronulla Beach was renamed in the first quarter on 1930. It had opened on 1 January 1891 with a Telephone Office offering telegraphic services being included on 21 February 1907. |
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A rubber circular TELEGRAPHS date stamp (RC1 - T) was issued to the office:
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![]() 6 August 1969. Used on AA-EO-18B. |
A Post & Telegraph Office with a Money Order Office opened on 21 February 1898. |
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A rubber circular TELEGRAPHS date stamp (RC1 - T) was issued to the office:
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Used on an OTC International delivery form IAO-DO-2. |
Used on AA-DO-13A with an International Telegram label |
Double Bay was late being connected into the telegraph/telephone circuits. An automatic telephone exchange was opened there on 29 April 1933 but it was later transferred to Edgecliff on 17 April 1983. A Post and Telegraph Office was opened two days later on 1 May 1933. |
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No special date stamp was issued for use with Telegrams at Double Bay. Instead the usual postal date stamp was used. |
![]() 28 July 1956. Used on a Greetings Telegram form (AW-GSF-54D). |
Although not directly related to telegraphs, the following story is interesting:
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The Telegraph Office was opened on 6 August 1877. |
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A rubber circular TELEGRAPHS date stamp (RC1 - T) was issued to the Office. | |
Used: 21 September 1959. |
![]() 21 September 1959. Used on AA-DO-13B. |
The usual Post Office date stamp was also used on telegrams and delivery envelopes.
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The date stamp on the accompanying delivery envelope has only one arc centered on the middle of the E and has a time slug. This format was used on telegrams two days later. |
Also used on telegrams. |
A Post Office was opened on 1 January 1881 but changed name to Melrose Park on 23 July 1956. A new Official Post Office was then opened as Ermington at a different location on 3 September 1956. That office apparently also handled telegrams. |
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A rubber oval TELEGRAPHS date stamp (RO2-T) was issued to the office:
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![]() 30 June 1988. Used on an envelope sent to England. |
The Telegraph Office was opened on 6 August 1877. |
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The usual Post Office date stamp was also used on telegrams and delivery envelopes.
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![]() 22 October 1913. On NI-DO-6C from Tamworth. |
An office providing telegraph & telephone services was opened on 13 May 1940. |
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A rubber oval TELEGRAPH STATION/GARDEN ISLAND ?? date stamp (RO3 - TST) was used at Garden Island.
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![]() 3 May 1919. Used on AE-DO-1D. |
A Post & Telegraph Office was opened at Granville on 16 August 1880 when the name of the previous Parramatta Junction was changed. |
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The Australian Star of 18 July 1880 reported that "the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of Granville Post and Telegraph Office was postponed from July 19 owing to the seriousness of the Mayor Alban Gee. Mr. Gee is reported to be in a less serious condition than was first reported". |
Homebush.
The Telegraph Office was opened on 13 December 1877. It was converted to a Post & Telegraph Office on 1 January 1878. Homebush was :
Personnel: Mr. Preston Argall, a Junior Operator at Homebush was promoted to be Telegraph Operator and Postal Assistant at Burwood. |
![]() Homebush P&T Office. Two telegram messengers on their bikes out the front. Of the central windows, the 2nd from the right is ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH OFFICE. |
A rubber circular TELEGRAPHS date stamp (RC3 - T) was issued to the office.
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![]() 12 February 1940. Used on AB-GCF-34. |
The usual postal date stamp was also used on telegrams. No stop after W. Side arcs from top of N and W.
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![]() 23 June 1924. Used on AE-DO-2A. |
On 13 February 1886, the Sydney Globe reported the following about the Homebush Telegraph Office:
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A Post Office was opened at the Homebush Bay Abattoirs on 19 April 1915 and it seems that it changed status to a Telegraph Office on 21 June 1915. This Office was closed on 31 December 1932. The postal date stamp was used throughout.
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![]() 22 May 1931. |
The Post & Telegraph Office opened at Hornsby on 1 May 1900 when the office was renamed from Hornsby Junction. |
![]() The new Hornsby Post & Telegraph about 1905. |
A circular TELEGRAPH SECTION date stamp (RC1-TS) was issued to the Office.
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On 26 February 1875, a deputation met with the Postmaster-General to request an extension of the telegraph line to Hunters Hill. Personnel: July 1976: Miss Lilla Twentyman was appointed as a Junior Operator. |
Hurstville.
The Post & Telegraph Office opened on 1 December 1889 with a change of name from Hurstville Railway Station. The office at the railway station had only opened on 17 September 1889.
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![]() Hurstville Post & Telegraph Office about 1910. |
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Two types of date stamp were used for telegraphic work at Hurstville: | ||
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![]() 7 January 1956. Used on AB-GSF-54A. |
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![]() 11 February 1985. |
Mr. John Wheeler, M.L. A., has been informed by the Postal Department that tenders will be called for within the next few days for the erection of the new Post and Telegraph office at Kogarah.
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Lane Cove.
A Telegraph Office was opened at the Post Office in 1875. These offices changed name to Gordon on 1 June 1879. A second Post & Telegraph office was opened at Lane Cove on 21 June 1920. A special Telegraph Office was opened on 13 November 1940. |
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A rubber circular TELEGRAPH date stamp was used at Lane Cove. This inscription is unique.
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![]() 11 August 1971. |
A Telegraph Office was opened on 1 January 1883. Tenders were called for the lease of suitable premises for a Post & Telegraph Office in October 1885. On 15 January 1900, the Sydney Morning Herald announced that "The new (Leichardt) Post and Telegraph offices, situated on the Parramatta Road, have been completed and are to be open to-day. Inquiries were made by the member for the district (Mr. J. S. Hawthorne) relative to the delay in the opening of the offices, and he has been informed that it was the result of some error. Mrs. Young, a lady of considerable experience, has been appointed to take charge over the office". |
Manly.
In July 1875, £600 had been included in the Estimates to construct a telegraph line from St. Leonards to Manly (route unknown). The Post & Telegraph Office opened on 1 March 1876 at a location not now known. The Sydney Mail of 4 March 1876 reported that "A banquet had been held Braun's Pier Hotel, Manly to celebrate the extension of telegraphic communication to Manly Beach". The Gazette of 25 November 1891 indicated that Mr. A. Mercer and Son had been awarded the tender to erect the Post and Telegraph Office at Manly (Beach). See also the 1918 Mirror report on urgent telegrams. An interesting case was heard in the Criminal Court in November 1870 involving the possible abduction or killing of a heifer in the Manly area near Little Reef Hill (near Bungan Beach). Telegraph poles were specially marked to provide evidence. In an aside, the SMH noted on 10 February 1883 that the telegraph line from North Head via Manly to Watson's Bay had been repaired as had a cable between North Head and Watson's Bay and both were in working order. Personnel: June 1881: Mr. C. Monkhouse, messenger at the Head Office was transferred to Manly as a Junior Operator to Replace Mr. Farquharson. |
![]() extensions and renovations in 1905. |
A circular rubber TELEGRAPHS date stamp (RRH1 - T) was issued to Manly in two formats for use with Telegrams: | ||
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A circular date stamp for TELEGRAPHS MANLY with the above format used on a Registered Tattersalls cover to Hobart. |
Three backstamps - Manly, Melbourne and Hobart - with two showing 1951. |
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No stars near the circumference ahas the postcode.
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![]() 27 April 1984. Used on AT-DO-15Ca (International). |
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Only one slogan postmark advertising Telegrams is recorded as being used at Manly - |
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Marrickville.
The Post & Telegraph Office was opened on 1 August 1882.
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One slogan postmark advertising Telegrams is recorded as being used at Marrickville - SEND A TELEGRAM. |
A Post Office was opened on 15 November 1889. This office was moved to the Railway Station and opened as a combined Post and Telegraph Office on 14 September 1903. It was removed from the Railway Station on 17 August 1906. |
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A circular rubber TELEGRAPHS date stamp (RC1 - T) was issued to Mortdale.
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![]() 23 May 1973. Used on AA-DO-13D which had an OVERSEAS TELEGRAM label (AA-LO-5) added. Last hyperlink shows the actual telegram. |
Newtown.
The Telegraph Office opened on 1 September 1873. In the Supplementary Estimates for 1879, £3,000 was allocated for the erection or purchase of a Post & Telegraph Office at Newtown. |
![]() Newtown Post & Telegraph Office about 1910. |
A rectangular rubber TELEGRAPHS date stamp (RRH1 - T) was issued to Newtown.
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![]() 31 October 1945. Used on AW-DO-10Aa (44). |
One slogan postmark advertising Telegrams is recorded as being used at Newtown - SEND A TELEGRAM. |
North Sydney.
A Post & Telegraph Office was opened after a change of name from St Leonards on 1 November 1890. No special date stamp was issued to the Office for use with Telegraphs. |
Two slogan postmarks advertising Telegrams are recorded as being used at North Sydney -
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September 1877: Miss Beatrice Mary Rice was Gazetted to be Telegraph Operator at Paddington. She had previously been a probationer there. April 1883: Miss A. O'Halloran, Operator at Paddington, was promoted to Station Mistress at Botany.
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A Telegraph Office was opened at Pyrmont on 22 September 1882. On 27 November 1882, it was merged with the Post Office together with a Money Order Office and a Commonwealth Bank Savings Branch. A previous Post Office had opened as Pyrmont on 1 April 1853. It changed name to Harris Street on 27 November 1882. |
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A rubber circular TELEGRAPHS date stamp (RC1 - T) was issued to the Office:
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![]() 17 November 1962. |
The Telegraph Office opened on 29 January 1877. "As the result of the visit of the Postmaster-General to Randwick last week, the department are about to call for tenders for the site for a Post and Telegraph Office in that suburb, to be sufficiently central for the whole district. This site is to be within the locality bounded by Avoca Street, Allison Street and Belmore Road. The building in which the business is at present carried on is leased". Personnel: January 1877: Miss Elizabeth Ann Douglass, who had been an automatic perforator in the head office, was promoted to be the Telegraph Station Mistress at Randwick. |
Randwick Racecourse.
A Telegraph Office was opened on the course in 1870. It was closed on 18 January 1938 and reopened on 15 October 1938. There is no record of when it closed. It is unlikely that a special date stamps was issued to the Office. See elsewhere for more racing information. |
The Telegraph Office opened to the public on 19 July 1875. Tenders had been called for the construction of a new Post & Telegraph Office in September 1871. The Foundation Stone for yet another new Post & Telegraph building - on the corner of George and Redfern Streets - was laid at a special ceremony on 17 December 1881. A tender from Messrs. Goddard and Pittman for the construction had been accepted in November. The joint Offices opened for business on 1 February 1883. A turret clock costing £250 was installed in 1890. |
One slogan postmark advertising Telegrams is recorded as being used at Redfern -
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An Official Post Office was opened at Riverwood on 1 February 1958 when there was a change of name from Herne Bay. |
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A rubber circular TELEGRAPH OFFICE date stamp (RC1 - TO) was issued to Riverwood:
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![]() 19 February 1985. |
The Telegraph Office opened on 25 November 1889. This Office was amalgamated with the Post Office on 11 February 1890. Personnel: October 1889: Mr. P. J. J. Sewell was transferred to Rockdale to be Post and Telegraph Master from his position of junior operator and postal assistant at Pyrmont. |
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Three formats of rubber circular TELEGRAPH OFFICE date stamps were issued to the Rockdale Telegraph Office All had separation marks as 5 pointed stars. |
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![]() 5 August 1944. Used on AW-DO-10Aa (42). |
![]() 21 January 1948. Used on AW-DO-10 (46). |
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Ryde.
The Telegraph Office opened on 1 February 1878. The Post Office had opened about 1846 when the Kissing Point Post Office (opened 1 October 1841) changed its name to Ryde. The Post and Telegraph Offices merged on 1 July 1895. |
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A rubber circular TELEGRAPHS date stamp (RC1 - T) was issued to the Office:
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Newspapers carried the following announcement: A BRANCH Post and Telegraph Office for the transaction of Postal, Money Order, Government Savings Bank and Telegraph business, was established on the 25th January instant, at ST. LEONARDS. This office will be opened to the public daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and also on Saturday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. for the receipt of Government Savings Bank deposits. |
A Telegraph Office was opened about 1 January 1876 as South Ceek. It was upgraded to a Post and Telegraph Station on 13 January 1876. Personnel: January 1876: Ms Ellen Pegus was appointed the first Post and Telegraph Office Station Mistress. January 1883: Mrs. Mary Russell was appointed Station Master to replace Mrs. E. A. H. Cross. |
A Post Office was opened on 1 January 1858. There was a change of name to Bondi Junction on 11 September 1939. On 12 August 1940, the Charing Cross Office was renamed Waverley. Personnel: July 1876: Miss Lizzie Isaac was appointed as Junior Operator at Waverley. |
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The Office was issued with a rubber circular TELEGRAPHS date stamp (RC1-T):
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