Western Australia.
The Perth Chief Telegraph Office.


The following information is provided below:

The Central Telegraph Office in Perth.

The first telegraph office in Perth was in a room in the Town Hall on the Barrack Street frontage.

On 15 April 1874, the Inquirer reported that "The Telegraph and Post Office is being proceeded with rapidly, and will, I think, be completed before the wire is placed. This building, no doubt, will be useful and fill a place, but as an ornament, pray don't mention it! The plan of the building is a lean to adjoining the cells at the lock-up".

A new Perth P&TO was scheduled to be completed in about 1885.

Date stamps used at Chief Telegraph Office, Perth.

Colonial/Interim period rubber date stamps.

Chief Telegraph Office/
Perth, W.A.
RO2 - CTO.

8 pointed stars separate text.

Used in violet: 16 June 1899.

Size: 28 × 43 mm (e = 0.76).

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 1.



16 June 1899.

Used on WC-DO-5A.

RO6 - CTO.

Uncoloured boxes with dot in centre in the text band. Right box is horizontal.

Used in blue: 7 September 1891 - 21 July 1893.

Dimensions: 26 × 41 mm (e = 0.77).

Rated: RR.

Number in the Census: 4.



7 September 1891.
Applied in light blue.

Used on WC-DO-4B.

Used in green: 24 April 1894.

Dimensions: 26 × 41 mm (e = 0.77).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

 


Used on WC-DO-4B.

Used in purple: 1 November 1894 to 27 November 1895.

Dimensions: 26 × 41 mm (e = 0.77).

Rated: RR.

Number in the Census: 4.


1 November 1894.
Used on WC-DO- 4C.

 
27 November 1895.

The left box is over-inked.

RO6 - CTO.

Stars in text band.

Used in purple: 19 September 1896.

Dimensions: 27 × 45 mm (e = 0.80).

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

 



19 September 1896.

Used on WC-DO-4Cb.

RO6 - CTO.

Stars in text band.

Used in magenta: 10 May 1906.

Dimensions: 29 mm × 44 mm (e = 0.75).

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 2.



10 May 1906.
Major break in outer frame.
Applied in magenta.

Used on WI-DO- ?

 


6 June 1906.
Major break has deteriorated further.

Used on WI - DO - 1B.

RO7 - CTO.

Coloured squares in text box.
Left box horizontal.

Used in red: 22 February 1901.

Dimensions: 30 × 42 mm (e = 0.70).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.


22 February 1901.
Used on WC-DO-5A.
RO7 - CTO.

Filled circles separate text.

Used in violet: 30 January 1906 and
7 February 1906.

Size: 29 × 50 mm (e = 0.81).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 2.


30 January 1906.

 


7 February 1906.

Chief Telegraph Office/
G.P.O. Perth
.

 

RO2 - CTO.

Used in violet: 27 January 1950 and
6 February 1950..

Size: 29 × 48 mm (e = 0.80).

Rated: RRRR (not recorded elsewhere).

Number in the Census: 2.

 


27 January 1950.
Perth/W.A.

RC2 - P: PERTH at top and W.A. at base but there is no reference to Telegraph Office.
Unrecorded in PMI or elsewhere.
Applied in various colours - see below.

 

 

Thick letters. Double circle indistinct in parts.

Used in green: 2 October 1912.

Size: 34 mm.

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 1.


2 October 1912.
Used on Collect telegram WI-DO-5Ab
with rare COLLECT hand stamp.
 
Thick letters. Double circle indistinct in parts.
Top appears to be broken.

Used in violet. 9 and 19 September 1913.

Size: 33 mm.

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 2.

 


9 September 1913.


10 September 1913.
Used on WI-DO-5.

Thin letters. Distinct double circle.

Used in blue: 14 November 1913,
15 November 1915 (2).

Size: 33 mm.

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 3.


14 November 1913.
Used on WI-DO-5.

15 November 1915.
Used on WI-DU-3.
 
22 July 1916.
On piece - used on an interim period delivery form.
 

Thin letters. Distinct double circle.

Used in magenta: 31 July 1912 and
4 May 1917.

Size: 34 mm.

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 2.


31 July 1912.
Used on WI-DO-5Ab.

4 May 1917.
Used on AE-DO-1C.

 

Australian steel circular date stamps.

 

Perth / E.T.O./
(Electric Telegraph Office)
Western Australia.

O index above base.
3 mm side arcs.

Used in violet: 1 September 1906.

Diameter: 25 mm.

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.


1 September 1906.
 

Characteristics:

O index above base.
3 mm side arcs.

Used in black: 22 April 1907 to
22 February 1912.

Diameter: 25 mm.

Rated: RR.

Number in the Census: 15.

ETO 1907
22 April 1907
Earliest recorded date.

Used on WI-DO-3.

ETO 1909
22 May 1909.

Used on WI-DU-2.

ETO 1910
10 December 1910.

Used on WI-DO-2.

Perth ETO 1912
22 February 1912.
Latest recorded date.

Used on WI-DO-4.

C.E.T.O./ Perth W.A.

   
There are two types of date stamp with this inscription:
  1. date stamp with a 28 mm diameter:

Used: 30 January 1918 and 6 July 1921.

Diameter: 28 mm.

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 2.



30 January 1918.

Used on AE-DU-1A.



6 July 1921.
On piece with a circular steel COLLECT handstamp in blue (just visible in the top left corner).
  1. larger date stamp :

Used in black: 30 January 1918 and 24 June 1925.

Diameter: 32 mm.
5 mm side arcs

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 2.


24 June 1925.
 
C.E.T.O. Perth/W.A.

Perth moved to top heading.

Used in purple: 26 October 1929.

Diameter: 30 mm.
3 mm side arcs.

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.


26 January 1929.
 

Chief Telegraph Office/
Perth - W.A.

Circular steel date stamp.
Has an upright G and 3 mm side arcs.

Used in black: 28 September 1936 to
23 December 1936.

Diameter: 28 mm.

Rated: RR.

Number in the Census: 5.


28 September 1936.

Used on AB-GSF-36.

A variation of this date stamp (dated 7 November 1930), is shown elsewhere on a telegram to Penfold's Wines. It appears to have had CHIEF removed.


23 December 1936.
Has a wider G than earlier format and dots for separation.

Has a 1 mm arc between Perth and WA.

Used: 29 May 1939 to 17 November 1947.

Diameter: 30 mm.

Rating: RRRR (unrecorded by P.M.I.).

Number in the Census: 3.

Perth 1939
29 May 1939.
Premier Auction 116 Lot 3374.

17 November 1947.
On AW-DO 10B (45).
Chief Telegraph Office/
Perth.

Letters are more rounded.

Used: 8 April 1953 to 26 December 1956.

Diameter: 31 mm.

Rated: R.

 

CTO 1953
8 April 1953.
Perth 1955
5 February 1955.

Used on AW-DO-10C (52) ,
on AW-GG-54A and AW-GCF-54B.

Chief Telegraph Office/
Perth.

Has a dash between CHIEF and PERTH.

Used in violet: 28 May 1960..

Diameter: 32 mm.

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 1.


28 May 1960.
 

 

Rubber rectangular date stamps - Chief Telegraph Office.

Chief Telegraph/ Office/ Perth - W.A.

Rectangular rubber date stamp (RRH - CTO).

Used: 12 January 1905.

Size: 27 × 37 mm.

Rated: RRRR (not listed elsewhere).

Number in the Census: 1.




12 January 1905.

Used on WI-DO-1A.

Chief Telegraph Office/G.P.O. Perth.

Rectangular rubber date stamp
(RRH - CTO)
.

Used: 11 Feb 1957 to
24 March 1958.

Size: 25 × 52 mm.

Rated: RRRR (Unrecorded by P.M.I.).

Number in the Census: 3.




11 February 1957.
Used on AA-DO-13A (ERD).
Chief Telegraph Office/ G.P.O. Perth.

Rectangular rubber date stamp
(RRH - CTO)
.

Used: 29 May 1963 to
1 February 1966.

Size: 25 × 47 mm.

Rated: RRRR (Unrecorded by P.M.I.).

Number in the Census: 2.

 

1961
31 July 1961.

Used on AA-DO-13B.

  1966
1 February 1966.

Used on AA-DO-13D.

Chief Telegraph Office/G.P.O. Perth.

Rectangular rubber date stamp (RRH - CTO).
Bicoloured date stamp - blue and red.
(Only bi-colour date stamp recorded across
all Australia/Colonial Postal administrations).

Used: 12 June 1976.

Size:30 × 49 mm.

Rated: RRRRR (Unrecorded elsewhere).

Number in the Census: 1.



12 June 1976.
Used on AA-DO-13D sent by Charles Court (Premier of Western Australia) to Charles Pegler for his Queen's Birthday Honour).

Telegraph Receiving Office/
Perth, W.A.
Oval rubber date stamp RO7 - TRO.

Unlisted elsewhere.

Used in purple: 14 April 1905 (and 3 April ????.

Size: 31 × 49 mm (e = 0.77).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 2.



14 April 1905
(year blocked out but a 2nd date stamp on the form
for confirmation of the year).

Used on WI-DO-1A.

 
3 April (no year discernable).
Telegraphs/Perth W.A.
There are four formats for this inscription:

1. Two line date - month before day.
Has letter "A" under the heading above the date.

Small dots for separation.

Used: 23 August 1902 to 19 September 1902.

Diameter: 21 mm.

Rated: RRRR.


23 August 1902.
Teleg 1902
19 September 1902.
Inscription below the heading is unclear.

 

2. Two line date - month before day.
More pronounced dots for separation.

Used: 5 April 1905 to 28 May 1910.

Diameter: 21 mm.

Rated: RRR.

Number in Census: 5.


5 April 1905.

28 May 1910.
Used on WI-TO-2Aa.

3. Two line date - day before month.
More pronounced dots for separation.

Used: 6 November 1906 to 28 May 1910.

Diameter: 21 mm.

Rated: RRR.

Number in Census: 2.

Teleg 1906 thin
6 November 1906.

Used on a notification of a non-delivery.



 

4. One line date and larger size.

Used: 3 May 1917 to 10 January 1935.

Diameter: 28 mm.

Rated: RRRR.

Number in Census: 4.


3 May 1917.

10 January 1935.
Premier Auction 116 Lot 3373.
Telegraphs. Perth/
WESTERN AUSTRALIA.
No separation markers.

Usage: 3 April 1930 to 30 March 1931.

Diameter: 26 mm.

Rated: RRRR.


3 April 1930.
Used on AB-DO-6B.


30 March 1931.
Telegraphs/
G.P.O. Perth
.
Rubber oval date stamp (RO2 - T).

Usage: 1 December 1949.

Size: 34 × 43 mm (e = 0.61).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

RO2 - T 1949
1 December 1949.
 

Perth C.T.O.
Unframed date stamp like for other Capital City Chief Telegraph Offices.

Used: Possibly 1966.

Size:

Rated: RRR.

No example seen for imaging.