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".
But as Miranda Lambert sang "Storms never last do they baby ...". The West Australian of 30 June 1882 reported "The Government are inviting tenders for the erection of a new wing to the public offices at Perth, to occupy the site on which the Post and Telegraph offices now stand".
A new Perth P&TO was scheduled to be completed in about 1885.
The West Australian of 3 December 1898 reported "No further developments became known yesterday in connection with the robbery of £900 from the telegraph manager's room on Thursday. Mr. Sholl, Postmaster-General, on being seen, said nothing further had transpired. The matter was still in the hands of the detectives and he had heard nothing from them. During the day it was rumoured that several arrests had been made but, on inquiry last night, it was ascertained that there was no truth in the rumour".
Personnel: In April 1891, an important cricket match was held between the Post and Telegraph Department and the Public Works Department. The Post and Telegraph Department team was: Richard A Sholl, A H Williams, E A Letch, L Ogborne, W Grundy, J P Sullivan, |
Date stamps used at the Chief Telegraph Office, Perth.
Colonial/Interim period rubber date stamps.
Chief Telegraph Office/ Perth, W.A. |
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RO2 - CTO.
8 pointed stars separate text.
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![]() 16 June 1899. Used on WC-DO-5A. |
RO6 - CTO.
Uncoloured boxes with dot in centre in the text band. Right box is horizontal.
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![]() 7 September 1891. Applied in light blue. Used on WC-DO-4B. |
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![]() Used on WC-DO-4B. |
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![]() 1 November 1894. Used on WC-DO- 4C. |
![]() 27 November 1895. The left box is over-inked. |
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RO6 - CTO.
Stars in text band.
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![]() 19 September 1896. Used on WC-DO-4Cb. |
RO6 - CTO.
Stars in text band.
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![]() 10 May 1906. Major break in outer frame. Applied in magenta. Used on WI-DO- ? |
Used on WI - DO - 1B. |
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RO7 - CTO.
Coloured squares in text box.
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![]() 22 February 1901. Used on WC-DO-5A. |
RO7 - CTO.
Filled circles separate text.
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![]() 30 January 1906. |
![]() 7 February 1906. |
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RO2 - CTO.
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![]() 27 January 1950. |
Perth/W.A.
RC2 - P: PERTH at top and W.A. at base but there is no reference to Telegraph Office. |
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![]() 2 October 1912. Used on Collect telegram WI-DO-5Ab with rare COLLECT hand stamp. |
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Thick letters. Double circle indistinct in parts.
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![]() 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. |
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![]() 31 July 1912. Used on WI-DO-5Ab. |
![]() 4 May 1917. Used on AE-DO-1C. |
Australian steel circular date stamps. |
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Perth / E.T.O./
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![]() 1 September 1906. |
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Characteristics:
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![]() 22 April 1907 Earliest recorded date. Used on WI-DO-3. |
![]() 22 May 1909. Used on WI-DU-2. |
![]() 10 December 1910. Used on WI-DO-2. |
![]() 22 February 1912. Latest recorded date. Used on WI-DO-4. |
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C.E.T.O./ Perth W.A. | ||
There are two types of date stamp with this inscription:
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![]() 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). |
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![]() 24 June 1925. |
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C.E.T.O. Perth/W.A.
Perth moved to top heading.
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![]() 26 January 1929. |
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Chief Telegraph Office/ Circular steel date stamp.
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23 December 1936. |
Has a wider G than earlier format and dots for separation.
Has a 1 mm arc between Perth and WA.
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![]() 29 May 1939. Premier Auction 116 Lot 3374. |
![]() 17 November 1947. On AW-DO 10B (45). |
Chief Telegraph Office/ Perth. Letters are more rounded.
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![]() 8 April 1953. |
![]() 5 February 1955. Used on AW-DO-10C (52) , |
Chief Telegraph Office/ Perth. Has a dash between CHIEF and PERTH.
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![]() 28 May 1960. |
Rubber rectangular date stamps - Chief Telegraph Office. |
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Chief Telegraph/
Office/
Perth - W.A.
Rectangular rubber date stamp (RRH - CTO).
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![]() 12 January 1905. Used on WI-DO-1A. |
Chief Telegraph Office/G.P.O. Perth.
Rectangular rubber date stamp
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![]() 11 February 1957. Used on AA-DO-13A (ERD). |
Chief Telegraph Office/ G.P.O. Perth.
Rectangular rubber date stamp
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Used on AA-DO-13B. |
![]() 1 February 1966. Used on AA-DO-13D. |
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Chief Telegraph Office/G.P.O. Perth.
Rectangular rubber date stamp (RRH1 - CTO) with frame.
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![]() 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). |
Rectangular rubber date stamp (RRH - CTO) without frame.
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Image kindly supplied by Malcolm Brown of WA. |
Telegraph Receiving Office/ Perth, W.A. |
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Oval rubber date stamp RO7 - TRO.
Unlisted elsewhere. Used in purple: 14 April 1905 (and 3 April ????.
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![]() 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.
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![]() 23 August 1902. |
![]() 19 September 1902. Inscription below the heading is unclear.
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2. Two line date - month before day.
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![]() 5 April 1905. |
![]() 28 May 1910. Used on WI-TO-2Aa. |
3. Two line date - day before month.
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![]() 6 November 1906. Used on a notification of a non-delivery. |
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4. One line date and larger size.
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![]() 3 May 1917. |
![]() 10 January 1935. Premier Auction 116 Lot 3373. |
Telegraphs. Perth/ WESTERN AUSTRALIA. No separation markers.
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![]() 3 April 1930. Used on AB-DO-6B. |
![]() 30 March 1931. |
Telegraphs/ G.P.O. Perth. Rubber oval date stamp (RO2 - T).
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![]() 1 December 1949. |
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Perth C.T.O.
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No example seen for imaging. |