Apsley
Both CC-Western line and Apsley Branch.

The Telegraph Office opened on 30 August 1882.

The Telegraph Office opened in October 1875.

Balmoral Post and Telegraph Office circa 1910.

Used in violet: 26 March 1931 (only recorded date).

Size: 28 × 47 mm (e = 0.80).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

Branxholme.
Portland-Hamilton Branch.

The Telegraph Office was opened in November 1875.

No special date stamps was issued for telegram use.

A Telegraph Office was also opened at the Railway Station about 1910. It was reclassified as a Post Office in 1915 and closed in the following year.

Caramut.

The Telegraph Office was opened in March 1874.

The Post Office was originally opened as Muston's Creek but became Carramut on 1 January 1852.

No special date stamp was issued for telegram use.

The Telegraph Office was opened in July 1865. It was part of the extension of the first inter-colonial line from Penola in South Australia to Victoria.

In August 1872, a deputation was asking the Postmaster-General to construct a new telegraph Office.

A Telegraph Office was also opened at the Railway Station about 1910. It was reclassified as a Post Office in 1915 and closed in the following year.

A Telegraph Office was also opened at Casterton Racecourse in 1933. It only operated on race days. The Office closed in 1970.

Casterton Post & Telegraph Office destroyed by fire 1908.

Casterton Post and Telegraph Office circa 1910.

1. a 2 hole Belt & Buckle date stamp which was used with black and with blue ink.

Used with blue ink: 2 April 1890 to 12 March 1892 and
in 1894.

Used with black ink: 1889 to 17 April 1894.

Size: 27 × 39 mm (e = 0.72).

Rated: RRR.

2. a rubber double oval TELEGRAPH OFFICE date stamp
   (RO2-TO) used in magenta.

Used: 11 September 1984.

Size: 33 × 50 mm.

Rated: RRR.

The Telegraph Office was opened in August 1867.
A Post Office had been opened on 16 November 1854.

In 1910, a Telegraph Office was opened at the Railway Station. It was reclassified as a Post Office in 1915 but it was closed in 1916.

Coleraine was issued with a 1 hole Belt & Buckle date stamp.

Used in black: 1889 and 15 December 1893.

Size: 27 × 37 mm.

Rated: RR.

Left: Type 50 (left);

Right: Type 60.

Dunkeld.

The Telegraph Office opened at Dunkeld on
The Post Office was opened on 1 December 1855. A previous Post Office had been opened on 1 January 1854 when Mount Stugeon had been renamed Dunkeld. That Office closed on 31 January 1854.

A Telegraph Office also opened at the Railway station about 1910. That Office closed about 1916.

Dunkeld Post & Telegraph Office about 1930.
The joint name can just be made out in the sign above the doorway above OFFICE.

Edenhope.
Apsley Branch.

The Telegraph Office opened on 30 August 1882.

A Telegraph Office was also opened at the Railway Station about 1910. It was reclassified as a Post Office in 1915 and closed in the following year.

Edenhope Post & Telegraph Office about 1930 (sign above the door).

Fiery Creek.

Tenders were let in December 1857 for the erection of the Telegraph Office at Fiery Creek to Edmonds and Dawson for £515 3s.

There were two Fiery Creek stations - renamed to Raglans and Streatham.

The Telegraph Office was opened 19 August 1878.

Hamilton.

The Telegraph Office opened in March 1861. Mr William Shields was appointed as the assistant in charge of the Electric Telegraph and he was also to be a Collector of Imposts. In the October 1861 Gazette, William Shields was transferred to be Manager of the Telegraph Office and Postmaster at Wangaratta from 12th August, 1861. He was replaced at Hamilton by William Weston who was appointed as operator in charge of the Telegraph Office from 12th of August, 1861.

On 9 May 1929, the Postmaster-General announced the decision to provide a "start stop" machine printing duplex telegraph system for messages between Melbourne and Hamilton. When the transmitter key was pressed at one location, the letter would be printed at the other.

1. Used in blue: 5 February 1883 to 3 February 1891.

Size: 27 × 38 mm, e = 0.70).

Rated: RRR.

Hamilton to Hochkirch.
Used on a delivery envelope
(VC-EO-7).

Scarce use of two blue Hamilton Belt & Buckle date stamps on an inter-colonial letter.

2. Used in black: 25 March 1885 to 12 March 1891.

Harrow.
Both CC-Western line and Apsley Branch.

The Telegraph Office opened in July 1875.
The Post Office opened 10 years later.

Harrow is one of the earliest inland settlements in Victoria.

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

Used: 25 July 1884.

Size:

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 2.

25 July 1884.

Hexham.

The Telegraph Office was opened in April 1858 when Hexham formed part of the first line to South Australia.

Tenders for the erection of the Telegraph Office at Hexam were let in December 1857 to Thomas Harper for £630.

Harrow is amongst the oldest inland settlements in Victoria.

Heywood.
Portland-Hamilton Branch.

The Telegraph Office was opened in July 1877.

Kowree.

A Telegraph Office was opened when Maryvale was renamed on 1 January 1917. The Maryvale Telegraph Office had been opened in August 1911.

The Kowree Telegraph Office was closed on 30 November 1954.

Manufacturer's proof: 33 August 1947.
Real date: 14 June 1939.

Size: 29 mm.

Rated: RRRRR.

Number in the Census: 2 proofs made.

Linton.

The Telegraph Office opened on 22 October 1868. In the Ballarat Star of 7 July 1868, there had been a report that the Chief Secretary's Office had replied to the effect an office for a Telegraph at Linton, together with the necessary instruments, was ready and the arrangements would be completed as soon as funds could be provided for the purpose. On 17 October, the Star reported "Our local correspondent writes:"It appears that telegraphic communication between Linton and Smythesdale is going to be started forthwith, as the department has a man at present at Linton getting the wires in order".

Finally, on 23 October, the Star reported " J. B. Scurfield, who has been placed in charge of the Linton Telegraph Office, had the apparatus in full play on Thursday (22nd) and transmitted and received some messages. A few of the residents sent messages to their acquaintances merely for the purpose of showing them that the wires are now in perfect working order".

The Argus of 23 October 1868 reported that "Mr. J. B. Scurfield, who has been placed in charge of the Linton Telegraph Office, had the apparatus in full play on Thursday (22nd) and transmitted and received some messages. A few of the residents sent messages to their acquaintances, merely for the purpose of showing them that the wires are now in perfect working order".

A few year later, the Ballarat Star of 23 January 1875 published the following letter to the Editor:

SIR, In your issue of the 20th instant, there appeared a letter from Mr Harrison, Scarsdale, complaining of the inefficiency of the telegraphic arrangements at Linton. Sir, as a business resident and as one to whom the use o£ the wire is o£ great advantage, I cannot but feel indebted to Mr Harrison for commenting on the absurd management of this branch. Though for many years a resident of this place, I may say that I have never been put to such a degree of inconvenience as that which I have experienced since the advent of the new telegraph mistress. Confident that towards Mr Harrison, I only echo the feelings of the Linton community and apologising for trespassing on your space, I am. P.Q.

Hostile reaction was swift - on 26 January, the same newspaper published two articles in strong support of the Postmistress. One of these was:

Referring to a letter in this day's Star, purporting to be written by a business resident at Linton reflecting injuriously on the management of the Telegraph Office here since the advent of the new telegraph mistress and claiming to echo the feelings of the Linton community in this matter, we the undersigned residents, having constant business in connection with the Telegraph Office, desire to express our entire dissent from the statements contained in such letter and, on the contrary, to state that we have always had our business transacted punctually and satisfactorily by the present telegraph mistress whom we have at all times found courteous, attentive and obliging. We cannot but regret that an insinuation of so grave a character affecting a public servant should have been made by a writer who, while claiming to speak for the public, lacks courage to append his own signature to his letter:
S Lewers, J.P, manager of Bank of New South Wales; David M'Fadzean, councillor shire of Gren ville; W.G. Bennett, councillor shire lof Grenville; R. S. Nelson, carpenter; Thomas Austin, tailor; Andrew Clarke, surgeon; B. N. Dodd, draper; E. O'Sullvan, storekeeper; J. Shepherd, storekeeper; Geo. Ronald, produce dealer; Thos. Trevorrow, hotelkeeper; and 27 additional business people.

Lyons is about 20 km north west of Heywood.

The Post Office was opened on 5 October 1889. It was reclassified as a Telegraph Office on 15 July 1918 and closed on 5 July 1971.

The Office was not issued with a special date stamp for use with telegraphic work.
Instead the usual postal date stamp was used on telegrams.

Used: 17 June 1958.

Size: 29 mm.

Rated: RRRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.
The only recorded example.
The only previous strike recorded was an archival strike
with a short date line.

Macarthur.
Macarthur-Hamilton Branch.

The Telegraph Office was opened in January 1880.

Mortlake.

The Telegraph Office was opened on 1t June 1864. Prior to this its name was Mount Shadwell.

Newton-Scarsdale.

A Post Office was established at Newton-Scarsdale on 11 November 1868 and it was closed on 8 March 1957. The area is south-west of Ballarat and the Branch line to Rokewood leaves the Cross-Country Western line at Newton.

Telegraph Offices also opened at Newton Railway Station and at Scarsdale Railway Stations about 1910 and closed about 1917. The link amongst the three offices is not known.

The Telegraph Office was opened in January 1867.

Used in blue: 25 July 1888 to 20 August 1888.

Size: 27 × 38 mm (e = 0.70)
(estimate - not seen complete).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 2.

The Telegraph Office opened in March 1875.

Rokewood.

The Telegraph Office opened in September 1873.

Several good nuggets of gold found at Rokewood in September 1889 were described as being between 5dwt and 48 ozs and were found not more than 8 inches under the surface.

Scarsdale.

The Telegraph Office opened on 4 September 1872.

"The town clerk sent a congratulatory message to Mr. W. Clarke, M.L.A., to whose exertions the establishment of the office was chiefly to be attributed".

Skipton.

The Telegraph Office opened in September 1876.

Tenders were called for construction of the P&T Office in the September 1862 Gazette. The Telegraph Office was opened in June 1863.

The Ballarat Star of October 1868 recounts "a somewhat amusing incident in connexion with sharebroking occurred at Smythesdale on Saturday. The Galatea Company, Springdallah, is at this time attracting considerable attention and a Melbourne gentleman, an ex-M.L.A. who is largely interested in the company, paid the district a visit on Friday to ascertain personally the position and prospects of the mine. A bore was put up on that day, and the result was enchanting.

Early on Saturday morning, the delighted capitalist hastened with all possible despatch to the Smythesdale telegraph office to flash the gratifying intelligence to his brokers. Unfortunately, however, in the hurry and flush of his joyous excitement, the Melbourne gentleman left behind him a copy of the message on the desk of the outer apartment of the telegraph office.

Immediately after he was gone, and probably while the wires were yet vibrating with the communication, the wide awake Smythesdale representative of a Ballarat and Smythesdale broking firm, who was particularly on the look-out for news from the Galatea Company, that morning went to the telegraph office on business when he found the very information so much desired by his firm lying before him on the desk.

It is almost superfluous to add that it may safely be assumed that the timely presence of such a valuable piece of news furnished additional work for the telegraph wires in double quick time".

Unfortunately, the Advocate of 27 August 1870 reported that "Mr. Linton, the telegraph and post-master, has been suspended by the inspector. Report states that there are defalcations in his accounts to the amount of £53".

Tenders were let in December 1857 for the erection of the Telegraph Office at Streatham to Edmonds and Dawson for £515 3s. The Telegraph Office opened in early July 1858 while the first line to South Australia was constructed.

Fiery Creek PO was renamed Streathan on 1 January 1854.

The gold rush started at Fiery Creek in 1854 and was generally finished by 1859.