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Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Newsclipping, Diamond Valley News, Gold brought life to the township, Diamond Valley News, 2 July 1985, p17, 2 Jul 1985
A history of Eltham Post Office. Australia Post: Gold brought life to the township - Diamond Valley News, Tuesday July 2, 1985, p17 On February 1, 1854, the first Eltham Post Office was established, commencing an association between the township and the Postmaster-General's Department that has continued for 131 years. At that time, the number of permanent residents would have been fairly small, probably less than 200. The discovery of gold in June 1851, at Anderson’s Creek, some five miles away, and later at Caledonia Diggings, Queenstown (now known as St Andrews), about 14 miles to the north-east, brought large numbers of prospectors passing through the township, hopefully culling the creeks and gullies for the precious metal. This additional "floating population" brought a greater demand for supplies and for communication with the outside world, and so it helped in the development of Eltham. Today, Eltham is a thriving township. It boasts an excellent shopping centre, municipal offices, court house. post office and many other amenities. Eltham continued to develop at a leisurely pace. During 1860, a total of just over 8000 postal articles were handled at the Eltham Post Office. By 1862, the mail route was "to and from Melbourne by way of Eltham and Kangaroo Ground, three times a week, by coach". There was also a branch mail that operated between Eltham and Greensborough, three times weekly. This was also conveyed by coach. Some time between 1864 and 1868 the management of the post office passed from Thomas Hunniford to his daughter, Miss Anne Hunniford, who managed the Eltham Post Office until her death in 1928. A big improvement in communication was provided for Eltham residents when a telegraph office was established at the post office in 1877. During 1923 a manual telephone exchange was provided at Eltham, the first two subscribers being J.J. O’Connor and Eltham Police Station. In 1949 the manual exchange was replaced by an automatic exchange and there were some 150 subscribers. Following the death of postmistress Miss Anne Hunniford in 1928, B.M. Burgoyne was placed temporarily in charge of the office. In 1929, J. N. Burgoyne was appointed postmaster, and he in turn was succeeded by H. C. Burgoyne in 1951. The post office was moved to a new site in 1954, but continued under the charge of Mr Burgoyne. In January 1958 there was a further change of site when the post office was raised to official status and transferred to new premises in Main Rd. William Donoghue was acting postmaster when the new office was opened. In March 1958 Mr W.E. Tovey was appointed postmaster, followed by Douglas McG. Gilmour in 1959. William Donoghue was fully appointed in 1966 and Barry Reichelt followed in 1973, prior to the present postmaster, Peter Jolly in November 1982. Peter is a young man with 18 years' experience. He commenced his training as a postal clerk at the training school in Melbourne in 1968 and was promoted to postal clerk at the Brunswick Post Office in 1969. He was finally transferred as postmaster to Fawkner Post Office in 1980. He has been at Eltham Post Office for the past 2½ years. He is married with one child and lives in Montmorency. The Eltham Post Office employs a staff of 21, of whom seven are indoor staff, 12 are postmen and two are drivers. The postmen in Eltham have an uphill battle delivering mail because of the hilly terrain. Nine of the postmen deliver mail on motorbikes, and the two delivery vans are both four wheel drives. Eltham Post Office services basically a residential area, with deliveries to 5600 homes. This is growing at the rate of 600 homes every 18 months, i.e. about 32 homes per month. At the present rate we will need a new postman every 18 months.Digital file only - Digitised by EDHS from a scrapbook on loan from Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes), daughter of Frank Stokes.anderson's creek, anne hunniford, b.m. burgoyne, barry reichelt, beryl bradbury (nee stokes) collection, eltham police station, eltham post office, eltham post office history, gold, h.c. burgoyne, j.j. o'connor, j.n. burgoyne, peter jolly, postmaster, telephone exchange, thomas hunniford, w.e. tovey, william donoghue -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Scales, Nullawarre Post Office
These scales came from the Nullawarre Post Office, Nullawarre being approximately 25 ks East of Warrnambool. It is a small centre for the local farming community and has some services including a store, school and hall. The Post Office has closed in more recent times and these scales are one of a number of items which came to the WDHS on its closure including a brass fire extinguisher and a 1969 telephone book. Charles Williams was a postmaster at one time and Vida Williams was post mistress. These scales are an interesting and common item with a strong connection to a local community area.These scales have a cast metal frame with a circular base and a circular vertical section which frames a brass measurement circular plate which is marked in increments up to 11 lbs and held in place with two screws. There is a rectangular metal plate at the top on which the item to be weighed would be placed. The item is quite heavy in weight.On the brass plate,: POSTAL PARCEL BALANCE SALTER'S. NO. 25 BRITISH MADE.11 LB x 1/2 OZ. Underneath this is the Salter logo.warrnambool, nullawarre post office, charles williams, vida williams -
Mission to Seafarers Victoria
Letter - Correspondence, Julius Kokx, Letter to Lillie from Julius Kokx, 4 October 1925
The "letters to Lillie" show the international nature of the Mission to Seafarers. They are an important display of the handwriting style of the time, revealing courting attempts and give us an insight into life in 1925.Lillie Duncan was a member of the Harbour Lights Guild and this letter forms part of a collection of letters sent to her by different seafarers.Letter addressed to Miss Lillian Duncan, 11 Paxton St, East Malvern, Melbourne, Australia from J. Kokx, U.S.S. Medusa, c/o Postmaster San Francisco, 5th Div - California consisting of six parts: Part 0097.1 Envelope Part 0097.2 Small certificate Part 0097.3 Letter page 1 Part 0097.4 Letter page 2 Part 0097.5 Letter page 3 Part 0097.6 Letter page 4 The back of the small certificate reads "This is a small copy of of the big certificate we got"The envelope has three stamps, two 2 cent stamps (red) and one 1 cent stamp (green). All are United States Postage stamps. The 1 cent stamp reads Franklin under the image of a head and the two 2 cent stamps read Washington under the image of a head.uss medusa, julius kokx, lillie duncan, lhlg -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - JOSEPH DAVIES COLLECTION: LETTER TO MR DAVIS, 19/02/1910
Typed letter to Mr. Davis. Printed in red at the top of the page is a Coat of Arms, Commonwealth of Australia and Postmaster General. The letter is dated 19th February 1910. The writer thanks Mr Davis for the interest he is taking in his election and asks him to forward the names and addresses of the electors in Melbourne who wish to vote by post and he will send them the necessary papers, he also asks to make sure their places of residence in Bendigo is given. At the time Mr. Joseph Davies was residing at 137 Melrose Street, North Melbourne. This letter is signed by John Quick.government, federal, joseph davies, joseph davies collection - letter to mr davis, commonwealth of australia, postmaster general, john quick. -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Newsletter, Newsletter, No. 247 August 2019
Contents: • Russell Yeoman – our Secretary for 50 Years by Jim Connor • Our Next Meeting – Wednesday 14th August 2019 • September Excursion – Culla Hill Walk • The Value of History Statement • Eltham Reminiscences by R.D. Taylor • Australia post: Gold brought life to the township • Postmaster-General’s Department of Australia • Eltham Cemetery Stories by Richard Pinn o Patrick Carrucan o Nina Mikhailovna Christesen • Our Recent Heritage Excursions by Jim Connor • Contacts for the Eltham District Historical Society The Shire of Eltham Historical Society was formed in October 1967. The first newsletter of the Society was issued May 1978 and has been published continuously ever since on a bi-monthly basis. With the cessation of the Shire of Eltham in late 1994, the Society's name was revised to Eltham District Historical Society and this name first appeared with issue No. 103, July 1995. The collection of the Society's newsletters provides a valuable resource on the history of the Society's activities, office bearers and committee members, guest speakers and subjects of historical interest pertinent to the former Shire of Eltham and the Eltham District.A4 newsletter distributed to membersnewsletter, eltham district historical society -
Orbost & District Historical Society
black and white photograph, early 20th century
The hotel at Bonang was also known as Clancy's Hotel, Bonang, after its licensee, William Clancy. It operated from the late 1890s until early 20th century. William Clancy was aslo the postmaster at Bonang. A post office operated at Bonang from at least 1859. At the time Bonang was "a small, scattered collection of buildings marking the intersection of the Bonang Highway and the McKillops Bridge Road" ( from Regional Heritage Assessment 1996). As the mining activity declined the township became even smaller as many of the population moved to Orbost,, a larger settlement. This is a pictorial record of Bonang, a small settlement approximately 50 km north of Orbost. The buildings in the photograph no longer exist.A black / white photograph mounted on grey card. there are stains from water damage on the mount. It is a photograph of two single-storeyed timber buildings fronting a wide dirt road. On the right is the Bonang Hotel with four men in suits standing on a verandah. The building on the right is the Bonang Post Office and there are three men outside it. the photograph has been posed. on back - 'Grandma Clancy owned the hotel & Uncle Will had a gold mine which he worked"bonang bonang-post-office bonang-hotel clancy-william clancy's-hotel-bonang -
City of Greater Bendigo - Civic Collection
Souvenir, Bendigo Gold Centenary First Day Cover
When the Commonwealth Post and Telegraph Act was passed in June 1902, and a national Postmaster General's Department (the PMG) was established and the responsibility for the nation's mail and telephone services fell on Post Offices. The Bendigo Post Office, built in 1887 and situated on Pall Mall was the central distribution centre for receiving and delivering telegrams and continued to deliver communication and postal services until 1997. This stamped, addressed Commemorative Pictorial Postmark envelope celebrates the 1951 Bendigo Gold Centenary Philatelic Exhibition. Registered, postmarked 02 July 1951. Printed and stamped envelope featuring an image of a poppet head on the left and four commemorative stamps celebrating 100 years of gold top right. Letter is addressed.Obverse Top left; $30 Centre top and bottom; various pencil markings Lower right; T. Clark / 5 Princes St / Oakleigh s.12 / Vic Reverse- Two red pencil lines Centre - postal stamps bendigo post office, bendigo tourism, city of greater bendigo tourism, post office collection, making a nation exhibition -
Ballarat Heritage Services
Photograph - Photograph - Colour, First Overseas Wirelss Message Memorial, Queencliff, 2015, 15/03/2015
Colour photographs of a stone memorial commeorating the first overseas wireless message sent from Australia. From this spot on twlfth July 1906 The first overseas wireless messages from Australia were sent by Lord Northcote Governor-General Sir R. Talbot Governor Hon. A. Deakin Prime Minister Hon. A Chapman Postmaster General Hon. R.A. Crouch M.P, For Corio Equipment supplied and operated bu Marconi Wireless Coy Ltdwireless, telegram, queenscliff, lord northcote, alfred deakin, a. chapman, r.a. crouch, r. talbot, marconi wireless company -
Wodonga & District Historical Society Inc
Functional object - Imperial Postal Weights used in the Post Office in Wodonga
The set of seven imperial weights were used in the Post Office in Wodonga. The first Post Office in Wodonga opened on the 6th June 1856, and a second Post Office was built in 1874 on the corner of Sydney Road which became High St. and South St. In 1878 there were three staff at the Wodonga Post Office, including the Postmaster/Telegraph Manager and two Office-Keepers/Messengers. The mail service in 1878 included delivery four times a day from the Railway Station to the Post Office in Wodonga, and to and from the Wodonga Post Office to Albury twice a day.The set of seven imperial weights has local and state significance as it was used in the Wodonga Post Office in North East Victoria before decimal currency was introduced in Australia in 1966. The weights also have national significance as examples of the equipment used in post offices in Australia pre 1966.Set of seven cast iron and lead weights with imperial measurements '4 oz, 8oz, 1 lb, 2 lb, 3 lb, 4 lb, and 7 lb' The exterior circular black painted cast iron encases the heavy inner grey lead component, which is visible from the underside. "4 oz.", "8 / oz.", 1 lb.", "1 lb.", "2 lb.", "3 lb.", 4 lb.", MERCURY / 7 LB." on the top of the weights in raised numbers and letters.wodonga post office, post office, victoria post offices, wodonga, north eastern victoria post offices, victorian mail service -
Linton and District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Elizabeth Lock and Nanette Hunt, circa 1937
The girls are Elizabeth Lock and Nanette Hunt. The photograph was taken in the garden at the former Donaldson family home in Sussex Street, Linton. Unfortunately, the house is not shown - the view is across Sussex Street to a cottage on the other side of the road. Elizabeth Lock's aunt and uncle, Vera and James Johnson, bought the house from the Donaldson family in the mid 1930s. Elizabeth Lock, b.1934, often stayed for extended periods with her aunt and uncle and briefly attended school at Linton in 1941. Nanette Hunt, b.1931, was the daughter of William George Hunt, Postmaster at Linton in the 1930s.Black and white copy of original photograph which shows two small girls dressed in fairy or butterfly costumes. They are standing underneath trees in a garden. A cottage with a verandah can be seen in the background.On reverse: "L - Beth Watson, age 3 / R - Nanette Hunt / (Post Master's daughter) / Front garden, / Dr. Donaldson's / circa 1937".elizabeth lock, nanette hunt -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Clark Bros, Eltham Post Office, c.1895
Hunniford's Eltham Post Office, Main Road near Bridge Street, Eltham, c.1895. Possibly Miss Anne (Annie) Hunniford, Post Mistress, on left. Annie was post mistress from the mid 1860s until her death in 1928. Photo taken by Clark Bros, 25 Thomas St, Windsor. Clark Bros operated from this address from c.1894 to 1914. Australia Post: Gold brought life to the township - Diamond Valley News, Tuesday July 2, 1985, p17 On February 1, 1854, the first Eltham Post Office was established, commencing an association between the township and the Postmaster-General's Department that has continued for 131 years. At that time, the number of permanent residents would have been fairly small, probably less than 200. The discovery of gold in June 1851, at Anderson’s Creek, some five miles away, and later at Caledonia Diggings, Queenstown (now known as St Andrews), about 14 miles to the north-east, brought large numbers of prospectors passing through the township, hopefully culling the creeks and gullies for the precious metal. This additional "floating population" brought a greater demand for supplies and for communication with the outside world, and so it helped in the development of Eltham. Today, Eltham is a thriving township. It boasts an excellent shopping centre, municipal offices, court house. post office and many other amenities. Eltham continued to develop at a leisurely pace. During 1860, a total of just over 8000 postal articles were handled at the Eltham Post Office. By 1862, the mail route was "to and from Melbourne by way of Eltham and Kangaroo Ground, three times a week, by coach". There was also a branch mail that operated between Eltham and Greensborough, three times weekly. This was also conveyed by coach. Some time between 1864 and 1868 the management of the post office passed from Thomas Hunniford to his daughter, Miss Anne Hunniford, who managed the Eltham Post Office until her death in 1928. A big improvement in communication was provided for Eltham residents when a telegraph office was established at the post office in 1877. During 1923 a manual telephone exchange was provided at Eltham, the first two subscribers being J.J. O’Connor and Eltham Police Station. In 1949 the manual exchange was replaced by an automatic exchange and there were some 150 subscribers. Following the death of postmistress Miss Anne Hunniford in 1928, B.M. Burgoyne was placed temporarily in charge of the office. In 1929, J. N. Burgoyne was appointed postmaster, and he in turn was succeeded by H. C. Burgoyne in 1951. The post office was moved to a new site in 1954, but continued under the charge of Mr Burgoyne. In January 1958 there was a further change of site when the post office was raised to official status and transferred to new premises in Main Rd. William Donoghue was acting postmaster when the new office was opened. In March 1958 Mr W.E. Tovey was appointed postmaster, followed by Douglas McG. Gilmour in 1959. William Donoghue was fully appointed in 1966 and Barry Reichelt followed in 1973, prior to the present postmaster, Peter Jolly in November 1982. Peter is a young man with 18 years' experience. He commenced his training as a postal clerk at the training school in Melbourne in 1968 and was promoted to postal clerk at the Brunswick Post Office in 1969. He was finally transferred as postmaster to Fawkner Post Office in 1980. He has been at Eltham Post Office for the past 2½ years. He is married with one child and lives in Montmorency. The Eltham Post Office employs a staff of 21, of whom seven are indoor staff, 12 are postmen and two are drivers. The postmen in Eltham have an uphill battle delivering mail because of the hilly terrain. Nine of the postmen deliver mail on motorbikes, and the two delivery vans are both four wheel drives. Eltham Post Office services basically a residential area, with deliveries to 5600 homes. This is growing at the rate of 600 homes every 18 months, i.e. about 32 homes per month. At the present rate we will need a new postman every 18 months.Sepia photograph mounted on cardpost office, eltham, main road, anne jane hunniford (1855-1928), clark bros. photo -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Map, Electric Supply Co. of Vic (ESCo), Ballarat Electoral Map - ESCo, 1900
Document prepared by the Electric Supply Co of Victoria, as part of an order under the Electric Light and Power Act 1896, section 5 of order No. 17 granted to company. Dated 19/2/1901 and signed by the Postmaster-General. Shows the order area being parts of the City of Ballaarat, Sebastopol and Ballarat East. Shows the street names, boundaries, principal power line routes, land reserves, parks, mine locations, railways and Lake Wendouree. Signed by R L Williams Town Clerk City of Ballarat, J R Hall for the Borough of Sebastopol, and John Gent for the Town of Ballarat EastYields information about the power supply to the Ballarat area.Cloth backed paper map, coloured and marked up as exhibit 17.Notes in ink including the signature of Benjamin Deakin 24/9/00 and certified by the three involved municipal Town Clerks.ballarat power supply, esco, electric supply co of victoria, city of ballaarat, east ballarat, sebastopol, orders, power lines, power supply -
Federation University Historical Collection
Instrument - Scientific Instument, Telegraph Relayer, c1870-1893
Probably acquired for use in Telegraphy courses run at the Ballarat SChool of Mines between 1875 and 1893. Telegraph relays amplified electrical signals in a telegraph line. Telegraph messages traveled as a series of electrical pulses through a wire from a transmitter to a receiver. Short pulses made a dot, slightly longer pulses a dash. The pulses faded in strength as they traveled through the wire, to the point where the incoming signal was too weak to directly operate a receiving sounder or register. A relay detected a weak signal and used a battery to strengthen the signal so that the receiver would operate. This relay was made by the firm of Charles T. and John N. Chester, two brothers who successfully partnered in New York City. Charles (1826-1880) founded the firm and provided the expert telegraphy knowledge while John (1820-1871) kept the books and managed the business operations.(http://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_706518, accessed 25/01/2018)Electromagnetic relay device used in telegraphy. The working parts mounted on a brass plate, attached to a wood base. Equipped with four terminal posts. Adjustable contactor mechanism. This electromagnetic Relay Device was used in Telegraphy at the Ballarat School of Mines. After a special meeting of the Ballarat SChool of Mines Council in 1874, a decision was made to offer instruction in Telegraphy, a subject not directly related to mining. Telegraphy was taught by W.P. Bechervaise, postmaster at Ballarat. On 07 October 1874 the Ballarat Courier correspondent reprted on Telegraphic training: "... these classes ... are a snare and a delusion, as there is scarcely the remotest chance of obtaining employment when the examination has been passed."scientific instrument, telegraph relayer, telegraphy relay device, telegraphy -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Book - SECOND BOOK OF THE VICTORIAN READERS
112 Page soft cover book titled 'The Victorian Readers Second Book' dark orange in colour with a cloth strip at the spine. On the front cover is a female child sitting on a wooden chair reading a book. The book consists of 102 pages of stories and poems plus 9 pages of language list. The back page has three children in various poses looking at a monkey on a swing hanging from two trees. Below the monkey written in script is 'The End' Inside the front cover hand written in blue ink is the name 'John M. Merifield' Registered by the Postmaster General for transmission through the post as a book.Education Department of Victoria. H.J. Green, Government Printer, Melbourne 1930.education, primary, victoria, the victorian readers second book -
Tarnagulla History Archive
Photocopies: Historical Tarnagulla letters, 1859-1874
Murray Comrie Collection. Photocopies of seven historical handwritten letters associated with Tarnagulla. Original letters are all 19th Century. Whereabouts of originals unknown. Copies probably made by Murray Comrie in the 1960s. 1. Character reference for David Renshaw written by Thomson & Comrie (1874?) - 1 copy 2. Letter to Melbourne Postmaster from William ______ about an advertisement (1860) - 3 copies 3. Two page letter from John Papineau of Sandy Creek to the Surveyor General regarding gazetting of land for a racecourse 3 miles from Newbridge next to the Loddon, and further gazetting to protect cemetery area at Tarnagulla from gold miners. (August 1859) Original may be in Lands Dept - 2 copies 4. Letter from the Postmaster Sandy Creek to same at Melbourne regarding daily mail despatch times (March 1860) - 3 copies 5. Letter to the Mayor and Councillors of the Borough of Tarnagulla from Prince Alfred? thanking them for welcoming him during his visit (1867). Original may be in Hall. - 3 copies 6. Letter to the Dept of Lands and Survey, Melbourne from John Papineau of Sandy Creek. States that he has enclosed a copy of his August 2nd letter. (1859) - 4 copies 7. Letter to David Renshaw from Parliament House. Appears to be a character reference. Dated 3rd October 1874 - 2 copies of page 1 only, no second page. tarnagulla, residents, renshaw, papineau, post office, newbridge, racecourse, cemetery, thomson, comrie -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Newspaper - LONG GULLY HISTORY GROUP COLLECTION: LONG GULLY'S NEW POST OFFICE
Newspaper article titled Long Gully's New Post Office. Photo shows a number of people and some children standing in front of the brick building. One man on the left is holding a suitcase. Mrs T Paynting received the key from the secretary of the Long Gully Progress Association (Mr W S Cox). She opened the door and was the first customer. Other people in the photo include Mr A G Perritt, district postal inspector and the postmaster Mr S Dawson. Date written above photo 18/2/47. The Advertiser Photo Service. Article is mounted on yellow card which is mounted on purple card and laminated.bendigo, history, long gully history group, the long gully history group - long gully's new post office, the advertiser, mrs t paynting, long gully progress association, mr w s cox, mr a g perritt, mr s dawson -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - CONNELLY, TATCHELL, DUNLOP COLLECTION: LEGAL PAPERS, 1878 1889
Document. Various legal papers. 1 - 1856? - Petition for Vesting Order in the matter of Diviney Michael, late of Sandhurst. Mentions Hughes Joshua and Freame H S? for Flegg Wm Sandhurst. 2 - Hughes J. Application for Vesting Order. Mentions Doran Joseph Christopher & Diviney. 3 - 1878 - In the matter of the Hope Tribute Mining Company Reg and in the matter of the Mining Companies Act 1891 between the Commercial Bank of Australia Ltd. (Appellant) and the Hope Tribute Mining Company Reg (Respondent). Appeal case. 4 - 1889 - Transfer of Land in Kerang from Ellis Asher (Postmaster) to Victorian Railways Commissioners. Contains map of said land.cottage, miners, connelly, tatchell & dunlop, diviney michael, hughes joshua, freame h s?, flegg wm, doran joseph christopher, hope tribute mining company, commercial bank of australia, ellis asher, victorian railways commissioners -
City of Greater Bendigo - Civic Collection
Functional object - Clock, Post Master General, c 1890
When the Commonwealth Post and Telegraph Act was passed in June 1902, and a national Postmaster General's Department (the PMG) was established the responsibility for the nation's mail and telephone services fell on local Post Offices. The Bendigo Post Office, built in 1887 and is situated on Pall Mall, it was the central distribution centre for receiving and delivering communication and postal services until 1997 and is now the Bendigo Visitor Centre. Clocks such as these were issued by the Post Master General's Department which was a department of the Australian federal government, established at Federation in 1901, whose responsibilities included the provision of postal and telegraphic services throughout Australia. It was abolished in December 1975 and replaced by the Postal and Telecommunications Department.Wall clock with ceramic face consisting of twelve Roman numerals with hand and minute hand. Clock has a wooden body with glass viewing panel in centre and brass internal mechanism and pendulum. The clock is fitted into a wooden display case and held in place by wooden pegs. The lower case has a small drawer which opens and holds the winding key. PMG on ceramic face centre upper. '146' and 'PMG' stamped into wooden clock frame below the number six. Key is stamped front; '8' verso; 'Made in England / Popular / Progress' and an ace of spades with a "P" in the centre. Clock mechanism stamped verso; 146 / PMG / PMGcity of greater bendigo post office -
National Communication Museum
Photograph (item) - Floodwater pole repair, Sydney Press, June 1952
Postmaster-General's Department telegraph linesman, Chris Byrnes, received a British Empire Medal for bravery and devotion to duty for his response to the flooding at Darlington Point, New South Wales, in June 1952. As E Henderson, then Acting Director of Posts and Telegraphs recalled, the town's "communication lines were menaced by floodwaters" when the nearby Murrumbidgee River flooded. In order to retain communication to the town, Chris Byrnes, a Postmaster-General's Department employee of over 13 years, acted in the "best traditions of the service" (E Henderson). An eye witness, recorded in the Murrumbidgee Irrigator newspaper on June 27 1952, described Byrne’s efforts: "An interesting incident was witnessed when a Leeton post office linesman swam through flood waters to reach a telegraph post which had been washed out by the flood…With a rope tied around his waist, one end of which was held by other members of the linesmen's gang, Chris Byrne swam through the flood water…to release the trunk lines from the post." An eye witness, recorded in the Murrumbidgee Irrigator newspaper on June 27 1952, described Byrne’s efforts: "An interesting incident was witnessed when a Leeton post office linesman swam through flood waters to reach a telegraph post which had been washed out by the flood…With a rope tied around his waist, one end of which was held by other members of the linesmen's gang, Chris Byrne swam through the flood water…to release the trunk lines from the post."darlington point, murrumbidgee river, pmg, postmaster-general, linesman, flooding, natural disaster, emergency -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Hunniford’s Eltham Post Office, Main Road near Bridge Street, Eltham, c.1888
Sepia photograph of Hunniford’s Eltham Post Office, Main Road near Bridge Street, Eltham, c.1888 (Postmistress Anne Hunniford possibly on left). The building originally had a shingle roof. Anne Hamilton born 1814 Co Tyrone, Ireland married Michael Head Burgoyne (1820-1843) in 1839, Co. Tyrone, Ireland. They had two children, Charlotte Caroline (1840) and John James Thomas Neville (Londonderry, Ireland 1844) Whilst pregnant with John, husband Michael died. Following John’s birth, she emigrated to Victoria, Australia where she married Thomas Hunniford in 1854. Daughter Anne Jane Hunniford was born in Eltham in 1855. Anne (Annie) Jane Hunniford and John James Thomas Neville Burgoyne were half siblings. In the mid 1860s Annie Hunniford succeeded her father, Thomas Hunniford as Post Mistress for Eltham. Photo dated based on advertising on façade of the building by Annie’s half-brother, John James Thomas Burgoyne promotes his services as the area manager for John M’Ewan and Co, Auctioneers as well as him being agent for the National Mutual Life Association of Australasia, National Insurance Company of Australasia, Federal Mutual Livestock Association of Australasia, and as a House, Land, Estate, Insurance and Financial agent. This was the time period that he placed advertising for same in the local paper. Australia Post: Gold brought life to the township - Diamond Valley News, Tuesday July 2, 1985, p17 On February 1, 1854, the first Eltham Post Office was established, commencing an association between the township and the Postmaster-General's Department that has continued for 131 years. At that time, the number of permanent residents would have been fairly small, probably less than 200. The discovery of gold in June 1851, at Anderson’s Creek, some five miles away, and later at Caledonia Diggings, Queenstown (now known as St Andrews), about 14 miles to the north-east, brought large numbers of prospectors passing through the township, hopefully culling the creeks and gullies for the precious metal. This additional "floating population" brought a greater demand for supplies and for communication with the outside world, and so it helped in the development of Eltham. Today, Eltham is a thriving township. It boasts an excellent shopping centre, municipal offices, court house. post office and many other amenities. Eltham continued to develop at a leisurely pace. During 1860, a total of just over 8000 postal articles were handled at the Eltham Post Office. By 1862, the mail route was "to and from Melbourne by way of Eltham and Kangaroo Ground, three times a week, by coach". There was also a branch mail that operated between Eltham and Greensborough, three times weekly. This was also conveyed by coach. Some time between 1864 and 1868 the management of the post office passed from Thomas Hunniford to his daughter, Miss Anne Hunniford, who managed the Eltham Post Office until her death in 1928. A big improvement in communication was provided for Eltham residents when a telegraph office was established at the post office in 1877. During 1923 a manual telephone exchange was provided at Eltham, the first two subscribers being J.J. O’Connor and Eltham Police Station. In 1949 the manual exchange was replaced by an automatic exchange and there were some 150 subscribers. Following the death of postmistress Miss Anne Hunniford in 1928, B.M. Burgoyne was placed temporarily in charge of the office. In 1929, J. N. Burgoyne was appointed postmaster, and he in turn was succeeded by H. C. Burgoyne in 1951. The post office was moved to a new site in 1954, but continued under the charge of Mr Burgoyne. In January 1958 there was a further change of site when the post office was raised to official status and transferred to new premises in Main Rd. William Donoghue was acting postmaster when the new office was opened. In March 1958 Mr W.E. Tovey was appointed postmaster, followed by Douglas McG. Gilmour in 1959. William Donoghue was fully appointed in 1966 and Barry Reichelt followed in 1973, prior to the present postmaster, Peter Jolly in November 1982. Peter is a young man with 18 years' experience. He commenced his training as a postal clerk at the training school in Melbourne in 1968 and was promoted to postal clerk at the Brunswick Post Office in 1969. He was finally transferred as postmaster to Fawkner Post Office in 1980. He has been at Eltham Post Office for the past 2½ years. He is married with one child and lives in Montmorency. The Eltham Post Office employs a staff of 21, of whom seven are indoor staff, 12 are postmen and two are drivers. The postmen in Eltham have an uphill battle delivering mail because of the hilly terrain. Nine of the postmen deliver mail on motorbikes, and the two delivery vans are both four wheel drives. Eltham Post Office services basically a residential area, with deliveries to 5600 homes. This is growing at the rate of 600 homes every 18 months, i.e. about 32 homes per month. At the present rate we will need a new postman every 18 months.Sepia photograph (two copies plus two black and white enlargements)Shop originally had a shingle roofpost office, eltham, main road, anne jane hunniford (1855-1928), federal mutual live stock insurance association of australasia, federal mutual livestock association of australasia, john j burgoyne, john m'ewan and co. auctioneers, national insurance company of australasia, national mutual life association of australasia -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Folder, Building of Pensioners Cottages at St Andrews
Letter from Postmaster-General's Department to J.T. Niclassen of Buttermans Track, St Andrews concerning telephone equipment destroyed in recent bushfires, 22 Feb 1962 Letter, Joan Kennedy to Mavis Gill, 8 Nov 1962 Letter, Dick (Windy) Gale to Mavis Gill, 18 Apr 1962 Letter, Winnifred Whyte to Mavis Gill, 25 Jun 1962 Letter, N. Cleary to Mavis Gill, 18 Dec 1962 Letter, Doris Young to Mavis Gill, 22 Dec 1962 Re-building of Pensioners Cottages, St Andrews 1962c Declaration of Trust, Eltham and Diamond Valley Benevolent Society, c/o Mrs Mavis Gill, 1973Newsletter No. 136, January 2001 Mavis Gill who is known to our 'older generation' of members (oh to be an octogenarian) has given the Society papers and photographs of the 1962 fires in the St Andrews area. Mavis was involved in obtaining funds for "building relief' purposes so that volunteers could rebuild for those who lost their homes in that area. It lists many voluntary groups who were also involved in the rehabilitation of the fire victims in the area.Folder of letters and documentsvictorian bushfires - 1962, bushfires, fire damage - buildings, houses, st andrews, mavis gill, pensioners cottages, christmas hills, alistair knox, arthur leonard sloman, brian redmond smyth, buttermans track, con sloan, d. goddard, dick (windy) gale, doris young, e. howard, frederick thomas scott, gaunt henry, grant lane, j.t. niclassen, jack niclassen, joan kennedy, joseph kennedy, kangaroo ground relief committee, molly clark, n. cleary, n.r. cleary, patterson, pmg, postmaster-general, robert barclay, robert william fell, winnifred whyte -
Stawell Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Stawell Post Office Cnr Wimmera and Main Streets 1875
Stawell Post Office on corner of Wimmera and Main Streets. Erected 1875. Telegraph pole and streetlamp in foreground. Akins store visible at right of photo. The building has 3 arched doors & 6 arched windows on the ground floor and 8 square windows on the top story. Two chimneys on the roof and a wrought iron square fence on the roof. The outside of the building has not changed while the interior has been remodelled several times. The early Postmasters and their families lived upstairs. The main room originally included the Telegraph office where operators worked at machines, sending and receiving Morse code messages. Later alterations were made for a telephone switchboard room downstairs, with trunk line equipment upstairs. In 1965 the telephone system was converted to automatic.Black & white photo of a two story building on the corner of Wimmera & Main St. The building the Stawell Post and Telegraph Office. Out the front of the Post office is a telegraph pole and a light post. Next door in Main St is a single story building with a sign over the building Argus Australasian, underneath Akins, Age/Leader possible a newsagent. stawell -
National Communication Museum
Equipment - Ericofon, Ericsson, 1950s
The Ericofon was the first commercially successful telephone which incorporated both handle and dial within a single unit. Manufactured by the Swedish company Ericsson, and available for lease from the Postmaster-General’s Department, the streamlined design has been praised for anticipating the cordless phone, and later mobile phone, by several decades. The ‘cobra’ design was formulated in the 1940s and manufactured in the 1950s; Australian cases were likely made in the L M Ericsson Broadmeadows factory. Although new thermoplastic technology allowed for a bolder aesthetic than traditional black Bakelite telephones, Ericofon sales accounted for only 4% of the market and it never enjoyed popularity with Australian subscribers. The design did, however, spark a conceptual shift whereby the telephone “was seen more as a consumer product than merely an extension of telephony” (Ericsson).Clear plastic telephone casing inside which are coloured electrical wires. Telephone has a broad base that contains the dial, mouthpiece and cord with cream plastic coated wall plug attached at rear. Handle tapers in a curve to a stylised squared earpiece. Dial underneath is a rotary dial with red disconnection button in the centre. telephone, design, domestic, ericsson, industrial design -
Stawell Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Telegraph Office Pleasant Creek Stawell 1866
Telegraph Office Pleasant Creek Stawell. Part of a collection of Photographs by Mr. O.G. Armstrong as commissioned by the Shire of Stawell for the Inter-colonial and Paris Exhibition in Melbourne in 1866. The first post was office was erected at Commercial Street, Pleasant Creek in the goldfields, in June 1858, by J Harding and was a portable one. In October 1860 the first permanent Telegraph Office was erected by Cormick and Irvine for £329. In the same month the Post Office was removed from Commercial St in the Goldfields to the rear of the Telegraph office in Stawell. In February 1862 Edmond Johnson was appointed manager of Electrical Telegraph, Collector of Imposts and acting Postmaster. This building was later used as a private dwelling. It is situated in Lesley Street at the rear of the Pleasant Creek Courthouse although the right-hand wing has been removed. stawell -
City of Greater Bendigo - Civic Collection
Sign, Australia Post, Mr. E. Rankins
When the Commonwealth Post and Telegraph Act was passed in June 1902, and a national Postmaster General's Department (the PMG) was established the responsibility for the nation's mail and telephone services fell on Post Offices. The Bendigo Post Office, built in 1887 and continued to deliver communication and postal services until 1997. Ted Rankins was the last Post Master at the Bendigo Post Office and a long term telegraph volunteer post his retirement. Now a Visitor Centre, dedicated volunteers at the Post Office continued to demonstrate and educate the public about the daily workings of the Post Office up until 2019 when Covid 19 disrupted every day life. This sign was issued to Ted during his time working at the Post Office and is part of the postal collection donated by the Rankins family in memory of Ted. Yellow plastic desk plate. Made from one piece of plastic which has been folded to make the 'A' frame shape. Name printed on front.MR. E. RANKINSted rankins collection, bendigo post office, bendigo tourism, city of greater bendigo tourism, post office collection -
Surrey Hills Historical Society Collection
Photograph, Surrey Hills Post Office
The post office opened at this location in 1912. It was demolished in 2000. Post office history in the area: Until 1883 when the railway came through to Surrey Hills, this was essentially a rural community of scattered farms. Land subdivisions soon occurred along the railway line and limited postal services followed soon after, although a ‘permanent’ home for the post office was two decades away. George Sim Junior is acknowledged as our first postmaster; he opened a post office on 1 October 1884 in his father’s general store at 619-621 Canterbury Road, a few doors down from the Surrey Hills Hotel on the corner of Union Road. Over the next 20 years, the Surrey Hills Post Office moved several times into temporary, shared accommodation – in 1889 into Woodhead’s Corner Store at 364 Canterbury Road; then in 1895 to No 376, Hansen’s Exchange Building, part of Hansen’s Terrace (demolished) and in 1901 to 109 Union Road, on the corner of Windsor Crescent. Following Federation in 1901, the new Commonwealth Government established the Postmaster-General's Department to provide postal services to the nation. Many of the post offices constructed in the following years reflected a growing sense of Australian pride and nationalism. It was 1914 when building commenced on the ‘purpose-built’ post office at 609 Canterbury Road, Surrey Hills. Described as “a polychromatic Federation Freestyle building”, it served as the local post office for nearly 85 years until sold by the Commonwealth Government in c1999, after which the post office moved to the current, less prominent site at 100 Union Road. For nearly 10 years under private ownership, the building was successfully adapted for use as the base for two businesses, Gargoyles and Dragons and later the Surrey Sculpture Studio, and fortuitously the historic integrity of the building was maintained. However although renovated in the 1990's, structurally sound and of historic significance, it was not protected under local or commonwealth heritage legislation and was demolished soon after sale. This is an early image of a demolished building which should have been protected. In 1991, when the City of Camberwell conducted a heritage study, (which still informs the basis of the City of Boroondara’s heritage guidelines for this part of the municipality,) the post office was owned by the Commonwealth Government. As such, it could not be considered for heritage listing by the local authorities. Some years later, the Commonwealth and Australia Post rather belatedly recognized not only that post offices have heritage and social value, but also that the architecture of post offices as community buildings is important. A heritage management scheme was developed for the buildings they own or control under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999. Unfortunately, the Surrey Hills Post Office had been sold and demolished before this was finally enacted in 2004. Black and white image, perhaps from a post card, of Surrey Hills post office at 609 Canterbury Road. The building is flanked by a picket fence. There is a woman, a dog and a man in front of the entrance. The man is in uniform - possibly a postal employee.post offices, canterbury road, businesses, surrey hills post office, surrey sculture studio, gargoyles and dragons -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - LONG GULLY HISTORY GROUP COLLECTION: POSTAL HISTORY OF LONG GULLY
Letter to Mr D Egan from C Duggan for Manager - Public Relations - Australia Post, dated 23 February 1983. Letter mentions the history of the Long Gully Post Office. There are many gaps in the history. Mentioned are the number of letters, newspapers, Money Orders, telegrams, mail articles, postal notes and expenditure. Values of money orders, telegrams and postal notes are mentioned. Postmasters/mistresses were P Pentreath, A Pentreath, Amelia Daniel, Mrs S A Wilcock, Mark H Webb, William J H Read, Mrs Elsie Anderson, Sydney Gordon Dawson, John Henry Bennett, Miss Margaret Mulvey, John Henry Bennett, Henry William Purchase, Mr R F Warren, Mrs Margaret Cecily Kennedy, Edward Charles Landers, Mrs Margaret Landers, Shirley Egan, Brian Matthew Egan and Shirley and Max Volk.bendigo, history, long gully history group, the long gully history group - postal history of long gully, australia post, mr d egan, p pentreath, a pentreath, amelia daniel, mrs s a wilcock, mark h webb, william j h read, mrs elsie anderson, sydney gordon dawson, john henry bennett, miss margaret mulvey, henry william purchase, mr r f warren, mrs margaret cecily kennedy, edward charles landers, mrs margaret landers, shirley egan, brian matthew egan, shirley and max volk, c duggan -
Wodonga & District Historical Society Inc
Functional object - Seal - Police Office, Belvoir
This seal was used for official police and court documents by the Belvoir Police Office.The initial land survey for the city now known as Wodonga was first undertaken in 1852 by Thomas Wedge - Assistant Surveyor. The new township was called "Belvoir" and was proclaimed by that name in 1852 and again in 1861. The first sale of land in Belvoir was held at Wangaratta on April 28, 1854, when all the allotments surveyed by Thomas Wedge (excepting those set apart for reserves, government and public areas) were offered at auction. Following representations by the Postmaster General on June 23, 1869, the Governor in Council, on July 12, 1869, approved of its Aboriginal name "Wodonga" being restored. The seal was found at the Yackandandah Courthouse by the Circuit Judge, the late Mr. Jim Humphrey. As the Wodonga Historical Society was in recess at that time, the seal was held in trust by the North-East Historical Society in Wangaratta. It was donated to the Wodonga Historical Society in 1987.This item was the official seal of the Belvoir Police office from the beginning of the European settlement of the modern day city of Wodonga, then know as Belvoir. It is one of the earliest relics of that period of history, until its name was changed in 1869.Wood and metal seal bearing the official emblem of the Police Office Belvoir. It would have been used to apply a wax seal to official documents. The seal is mounted in a timber and glass case so that the imprint of the seal can be seen reflected in a mirror mounted in the base of the box.Around the edges of the seal "POLICE OFFICE / BELVOIR"belvoir police, official seal, history wodonga -
City of Greater Bendigo - Civic Collection
Manual, Post Master General's Department, Postmen's Manual, 1964
When the Commonwealth Post and Telegraph Act was passed in June 1902, and a national Postmaster General's Department (the PMG) was established the responsibility for the nation's mail and telephone services fell on Post Offices. The Bendigo Post Office, built in 1887 and situated on Pall Mall was the central distribution centre for receiving and delivering telegrams and continued to deliver communication and postal services until 1997. Now a Visitor Centre, dedicated volunteers at the Post Office continued to demonstrate and educate the public about the daily workings of the Post Office up until 2019 when Covid 19 disrupted every day life and Ted Rankins, the last Post Master and a long term telegraph volunteer at the Post Office, died. Manuals were issued to postmen to guide them in the delivery of letters and parcels and were small enough to be carried with them. This manual was used by the Bendigo Post Office postmen and is part of the postal collection donated by the Rankins family in memory of Ted Rankins,. Small, creamed coloured cloth covered manual. Contains forty four printed pages and two blank end pages covering all aspects of how to correctly deliver the post. Topics include 'Behaviour', 'Deceased Persons' and 'Bicycles' amongst many others. Book is bound and contains many extra additional paragraphs stuck in on appropriate pages noting changes and amendments. Additional amendments in handwritten red pen also occur on pages 28, 29 and 36.Front cover; Postmen's Manual / Australian Post Office Various annotations and updates throughout. ted rankins collection, bendigo post office, bendigo tourism, city of greater bendigo tourism, post office collection -
Parliament of Victoria
Portrait of Sir James Patterson, Coutts, Gordon 1865-1938, Premier James Patterson, 1893
Premier 23rd January 1893 – 27th September 1894. Born in Alnwick, England, Sir James Patterson (1833-1895) migrated to Victoria in 1852 to try his luck on the goldfields. After little success he turned his hand to farming, and later operated a slaughter yard at Chewton. Patterson served on the Chewton local council, being elected mayor four times before moving with his wife Anna and family to Melbourne in 1870. Patterson established a real estate business, and after two unsuccessful attempts to enter parliament in 1866 and 1868, he won the by election for Castlemaine in the Legislative Assembly in December 1870. He would hold this seat until his death 25 years later. Patterson served in Sir Graham Berry’s brief August to October 1875 government as Commissioner of Public Works and Vice-President of Board and Land Works. He repeated these roles two years later in Berry’s second government and additionally served as Postmaster-General, and in Berry’s third government was Commissioner of Railways and again Vice-President of the Board of Land and Works. In April 1889 after a time in Opposition, Patterson became Commissioner for Trade and Customs in Duncan Gillies’ Government. The following year he returned to the familiar positions of Public Works, Board of Land and Words and Postmaster-General. By 1891 Patterson was leader of the opposition, and when William Shiels’ government succumbed to a motion of no confidence, led by Patterson, he became premier on the 23rd of January 1893. During his premiership, James Patterson was also Chief Secretary and Minister for Railways. His term as premier coincided with a period of severe economic depression, and his enforced economies earned Patterson few public admirers. In May 1893 his government attempted to prevent a run on bank withdrawals and stabilise the sector, by declaring a 5 day 'bank holiday'. Patterson was awarded a knighthood in May 1894, however this did not increase public confidence in his government who were not returned to power in the August 1894 election. Again leader of the opposition, James Patterson died suddenly of influenza on the 30 of October 1895.This portrait was presented to Sir James Patterson by 'grateful citizens of Victoria' in appreciation of his services during the land boom depression. In 1929 the painting was donated to the Victorian Parliamentary Library by H. Lavinia Patterson, the wife of Sir James Patterson's nephew Colonel George Patterson.Oil on canvas, framed. Frame: ornate wood, gesso mouldings, unglazed. Signed on bottom right corner "G. Coutts" Stamped inscription along inner edge of canvas: "WINSOR AND NEWTON". Inscription on canvas, handwritten in ink: "13 1 92" from reverse.patterson, james brown (1833-1895)