The Telegraph Office opened at the Railway Station in January 1884.

No use of a telegraph form or envelope is recorded for Barakee.

A T.O. Barrakee date stamp was issued for use with telegrams.

Size: 27 mm diameter (has 3 mm and 2.5 mm side arcs).

Used: 9 January 1934 to 23 September 1940.

Rated: RR.

Number in the Census: 5.

The Telegraph Office was opened in July 1883 at the Railway Station with a separate Telegraph office opening in conjunction with the Post Office in May 1884.

The Belt and Buckle date stamp below is the earliest evidence of the Telegraph Office operating at Boort - no telegram is recorded with a early Boort date stamp.

The earliest indication of the operation of the Boort Telegraph Office is a message on a telegram delivery form (VC-DO-11B) at Sandhurst on 30 September 1884 from Boort - hence 2 - 3 months after the Boort Telegraph Office became operational.

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

Used in black: 21 August 1891 to 19 October 1891
(2 months only).

Size: ? × 27 mm (never seen complete).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

Bridgewater (-on-Loddon).

The Bendigo Advertiser of 29 December 1876 reported "We hear that a petition, signed by J. Horwood, J. S. Robertson, J.P. and most of the influential farmers and men of business in and around Bridgewater, is about being forwarded to the proper authorities, in order to have a telegraph office established at that place. The amount of traffic (both passenger and goods) to Bridgewater renders the want of telegraphic communication a very great inconvenience. We believe Mr. Robertson has asked Mr. Thompson Moore, M.P., to present the petition to the Postmaster General, and to use his influence in meeting the wishes of the inhabitants of Bridgewater".

The Gazette of 15 June 1877 noted that the line of electric telegraph had been extended from Inglewood to Bridgewater-on-Loddon (probably in the first week of June). The Bendigo Advertiser of 18 July 1877 reported:

"The new Post and Telegraph office at Bridgewater, attached to the railway station, is now in full swing, the courtesy and attention of Miss. Hutchinson giving great satisfaction. Not withstanding this however, the residents, with good cause, are still dissatisfied - there being no letter delivery nor telegraphic messenger. When a telegram arrives, it remains at the office until the person for whom it is intended happens to call there. A gentleman there, living on the opposite side of the river, had a telegram waiting for him a day and a half. Without a messenger, the telegraph office is almost useless".

The same newspaper of 10 September 1877 reported that Emily Hutchinson had been appointed Distributor of Stamps for Bridgewater-on-Loddon.

The Bendigo Advertiser of 25 April 1889 reported that "The Postmaster-General, in answer to an inquiry by Mr. J. M. Highett, M L A., informs him that land has been purchased at Bridgewater as a site for a Post and Telegraph Office and the Public Works department has been requested to prepare plans for the proposed building".

No special date stamp for use with telegraphs was issued to the office.

The Australasian of 21 July 1877 reported that the Postmaster-General had met a deputation from East Charlton "asking to grant a sum of £600 for the erection of a Post and Telegraph office at East Charlton. Mr. Cuthbert said there was no money available for the purpose at present but he promised to take the matter into consideration".

Telegraphic connection was established with East Charlton in January 1878.

In February 1879, a poll was taken at East Charlton as to the site of the new Post and Telegraph Office. "Instructions have been given for tenders to be called for the erection of the buildings upon the original site purchased by the Government, which obtained the preference of tbe inhabitants by a majority of 44 votes to 20."

An office was opened at the Railway Station in July 1883.

On 7 May 1880, the Bendigo Advertiser gave the following description:

"Charlton, the temporary terminus of the proposed railway line if not carried on to Wentworth on the Murray, is an important agricultural township situated on the banks of the river Avoca and contains in or about 800 inhabitants. In it there are two flour mills, always kept fully employed, two branch banks, one of the Bank of Victoria, the other of the Bank of New South Wales, a court-house, Post and Telegraph office and Savings' Bank, literary institute and reading room, large numbers of first-class hotels, general stores, saddleries, butchers' shops, private residences and a foundry. Some of the public and the private buildings of Charlton lay claim to architectural beauty. The Bank of Victoria, for instance, is a large well-constructed building, and would be a credit to any up-country town. The Post and Telegraph office is likewise a handsomely constructed brick building. The flour mills are each built of brick and occupy a prominent position in the town. King's Hotel is perhaps the next best building after the banks and the Post Office. It is fitted up with every convenience of a modern hotel. The population round Charlton is purely agricultural".

The earliest indication of the operation of the Charlton Telegraph Office is the Belt & BUckle date stamp shown below. That was four and a haly years after the Office had opened.

The earliest telegram for Charlton is a Reply-Paid message received at Sandhurst on 8 February 1886 from Charlton and copied onto a telegram delivery form (VC-DO-11B) .

Charlton was the 5th Office to be issued with a 1 hole Belt & Buckle date stamp.

No other date stamp is known for Charlton for use with telegraphs.

Used in blue: 26 July 1882 to 1 August 1889.

Size: 27 × 38 mm (e = 0.70).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 2.

Eaglehawk.

On 10 May 1871 the Bendigo Advertiser reported on the proceedings of the Eaglehawk Borough Council - in particular "From J. J. Casey, M.L.A., stating that he would urge the claim of Eaglehawk to a postal delivery and telegraph office. Received, the Mayor stating in reply to Cr. Avery, that Mr. T. Moore, M.L.A. had also taken action in the matter".

A five mile line was constructed as a branch line from Sandhurst in 1871 and a Telegraph Office opened in October.

Eaglehawk Post & Telegraph Office in 1923.
The old building.

The Post Office was established at Glenalbyn Railway Station on 12 January 1886. It was renamed Glenalbyn Telegraph Office about 1910. The office was closed on 31 January 1973.

2. Used in blue: 28 September 1949.

3. T.O. removed.

Used in black: 17 December 1951 to 19 March 1957.

Diameter: 27 mm.

Rated: RRR.

4. Short date stamp version (T.O. removed)

Used: 20 November 1959 to 15 May 1962.

Diameter: 27 mm.

Rated: RR.

Glenloth.

The Telegraph Office opened at the Railway Station in November 1884.

Korong Vale.

Telegraph facilities were made available to the public at the Railway Station from 25 May 1882.

A Post Office was opened in May 1879.

Mysia is between Boort and Wedderburn.

A Post Office opened at Mysia on 6 June 1877 but it closed on 8 June 1895. Meanwhile a Post Office was opened at the Mysia Railway Station on 5 November 1883 but that was replaced by an office called Mysia on 25 October 1911 which did not close until 13 November 1992.

Although some records indicate that a Telegraph Office was opened at the Railway Station on 25 October 1911 (called Mysia R.S. to distinguish it from the Post Office), official Annual Reports show that telegraph and postal business was conducted at the Railway Station from 1883. Indeed the Office opened on 1 November 1883. In 1884, for example, 200 telegraphic messages were transmitted from the Railway Station for a £11 10s 3d revenue. In addition 5,882 letters were posted for £25 15s revenue. It may be that some of that quantity of letters was shared with the Mysia office.

The Mysia office at the Railway was closed about 1916. At that stage, it is probable that the date stamp was handed to a different counter in the Post Office and (perhaps up to) eight years later, the initials T.O were removed using a chisel or some other sharp instrument. There is however a claim that the date stamp with T.O was used up to 9 October 1934 but such a strike has not been seen.

The office was issued with a T.O. datestamp:

Used during the Telegraph Office period:

Used with T.O. in black: 30 August 1912 and 22 June 1914;

Diameter: 27 mm.

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 2

Mysia to Melbourne
22 July 1919.

T.O. Mysia date stamp in black during first period.
Rare on cover.

Used with T.O. in violet: 24 July 1924 and 16 December 1925.

Diameter: 27 mm.

Rated: R.

Number in the Census: 4

Used with T.O. removed and long date line:
7 August 1936 and 7 February 1959.

Rated: R.

24 October 1946.

Used in black with T.O. removed and a short date line: 10 August 1959 and
on 24 June 1960.

Rated: RRRR.

The Telegraph Office at Wedderburn was opened in early February 1876. Until 1858, the town was known as Korong.

A Telegraph Office was opened nearby at the Wedderburn Road Railway Station in January 1884.

Other telegraph Offices were opened at Wedderburn Junction R.S. and Wedderburn R.S. about 1910. They closed in 1911 and 1916 respectively.

On 7 May 1880, the Bendigo Advertiser gave the following description:

"Wedderburn is an important township, having at present a population of or about 1,000 inhabitants, irrespective of its immediate surroundings. There are in it two branch banks — one of the Bank of Australasia, the other of the Bank of Victoria. Seven hotels, twenty-five general stores, Post and Telegraph office and Savings Bank, Shire Hall and Council Chambers, Mechanics' Institute, containing 3,000 volumes of well assorted books, five churches, five establishments employing a considerable number of hands in the manufacture of farming implements, two saddler's shops, three schools — one of them being the State school, having an average attendance of 140 scholars; the other two private schools, each having a good average attendance, a police camp and court-house, large flour mill, giving employment to a considerable number of hands, six butchers' shops, and a large number of substantially constructed private residences".

The earliest (only) telegram for Wedderburn is a message received at Sandhurst in 1887 from Wedderburn and copied onto a telegram delivery form (VC-DO-11C) .

Used in black: 16 June 1891 and 20 June 1892.

27 × 38 mm (e = 0.70).

Rated RRR.

Number in the Census: 2.

The Telegraph Office was opened in September 1883 at the Railway Station when the rail line reached Wycheproof from Sandhurst via Inglewood and Charlton.

The Post Office had a more difficult path. It had opened in 1873 but changed name to Mount Wycheproof on 1 September 1877. On 1 April 1884, it changed name to Moffat but, on the same day, changed to Mount Wycheproof.

The area around the town was renamed Moffat in 1883.

In September 1886, a deputation met the Postmaster-General to discuss a site for the Post and Telegraph Office at Wycheporoof. Two sites had been nominated from which one should be chosen and construction commenced immediately. The following year, on 27 December 1887, "An indignation meeting was held on Friday evening to protest against the dilatoriness of the Public Works department in accepting tenders for the Post and Telegraph Office, the same having been invited six months ago. Resolutions were passed that the Government be asked to at once proceed with the work"
(The Age 27 December 1887).

Personnel:

1888: Constable Beresford of Taradale, tendered his resignation as Inspector of Nuisances on account of his removal to Wycheproof.

The earliest indication of the operation of the Wycheproof Telegraph Office is a message on a telegram delivery form (VC-DO-11B) received at Sandhurst on 12 February 1886 from Wycheproof.

1. It is thought a 1 hole format may have been issued but it has not been seen.

2. a two hole format.

Used in black: 6 May 1890 and 1894.

Size: 28.5 × 41 mm (e = 0.72).

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 3.

Parcel Bill with a 4 July 1892 Wycheproof Belt & Buckle shown in detail above.

3. a two hole format.

Used in blue: 6 May 1890 to 13 August 1890.

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 3.