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

https://www.amp.com.au/about-amp/what-we-do "From its humble beginnings in 1849 by offering life insurance as the Australian Mutual Provident Society, AMP has evolved over the past 175 years to be a publicly listed company with over 1.3 million customers and AU$133 billion in assets under management (as at FY23). Proudly celebrating 175 years of business in 2024, AMP now helps millions of people in Australia and New Zealand invest, build wealth and retire with confidence." Milestones 1849 – The Australian Mutual Provident Society (AMP) opens for business 1860 – Benjamin Short joins AMP as its first agent 1869 – The National Mutual Life Association of Australasia opens for business 1899 – James Tuscon Thompson joins National Mutual as its first agent 1962 – The iconic AMP building in Sydney's Circular Quay is opened by Prime Minister Robert Menzies 1995 – National Mutual demutualises and lists on the Australian Stock Exchange 1998 – AMP demutualises and lists on the Australian Stock Exchange. AMP Bank opens for business 2000 – AMP plays a major part in the first Olympics of the new century, supporting the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games and the Olympic Torch Relay 2009 – AMP and China Life Group form strategic partnership 2011 – AMP and AXA Asia Pacific (formerly National Mutual) merge. AMP and Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking form strategic partnership 2017 – AMP Capital takes a minority stake in US based real estate investment manager PCCP 2020 – Completed sale of AMP Life insurance business to Resolution Life 2022 – Announced sale of global asset management business, AMP Capital, to focus on AMP’s core businesses in banking and wealth management. 2024 – AMP celebrates 175 years of helping people create their tomorrow10934.35a: No. 3041 A small, square sheet of yellow paper with two clean punch holes on the left side and a perforated edge. The paper is thin, but sturdy. Printed in black ink is the business name and details: Australian Mutual Provident Society established 1849. Policy No. 1297024 The receipt is printed in black ink. Payment due 27 May 1939. Receipt indicates payment received 26 June 1939. Payment listed in British Pounds, totaling 2 pounds 10 shillings. 10934.35b: No. 3861 A small, square sheet of yellow paper with two clean punch holes on the left side and a perforated edge. The paper is thin, but sturdy. Printed in black ink is the business name and details: Australian Mutual Provident Society established 1849. Policy No. 1311528 The receipt is printed in black ink. Payment due 18 Jun 1939. Receipt indicates payment received 26 June 1939. Payment listed in British Pounds, totaling 2 pounds 10 shillings. 10934.35c: No. 1671 A small, square sheet of yellow paper with two clean punch holes on the left side and a perforated edge. The paper is thin, but sturdy. Printed in black ink is the business name and details: Australian Mutual Provident Society established 1849. Policy No. 1311528 The receipt is printed in black ink. Payment due 18 Mar 1939. Receipt indicates payment received 25 March 1939. Payment listed in British Pounds, totaling 2 pounds 10 shillings. 10934.35d: No. 903 A small, square sheet of yellow paper with two clean punch holes on the left side and a perforated edge. The paper is thin, but sturdy. Printed in black ink is the business name and details: Australian Mutual Provident Society established 1849. Policy No. 1297024 The receipt is printed in black ink. Payment due 27 Feb 1939. Receipt indicates payment received 25 March 1939. Payment listed in British Pounds, totaling 2 pounds 10 shillings. 10934.35e: No. 8557 A small, square sheet of yellow paper with two clean punch holes on the left side and a perforated edge. The paper is thin, but sturdy. Printed in black ink is the business name and details: Australian Mutual Provident Society established 1849. Policy No. 1297024 The receipt is printed in black ink. Payment due 27 Dec 1938. Receipt indicates payment received 25 Jan 1939. Payment listed in British Pounds, totaling 2 pounds 10 shillings. 10934.35f: No. 338 A small, square sheet of yellow paper with two clean punch holes on the left side and a perforated edge. The paper is thin, but sturdy. Printed in black ink is the business name and details: Australian Mutual Provident Society established 1849. Policy No. 1311528 The receipt is printed in black ink. Payment due 18 Jan 1939. Receipt indicates payment received 25 Jan 1939. Payment listed in British Pounds, totaling 2 pounds 10 shillings. 10934.35g: No. 365 A small, square sheet of yellow paper with two clean punch holes on the left side and a perforated edge. The paper is thin, but sturdy. Printed in black ink is the business name and details: Australian Mutual Provident Society established 1849. Policy No. 1297024 The receipt is printed in black ink. Payment due 27 Jun 1939. Receipt indicates payment received 25 Feb 1939. Payment listed in British Pounds, totaling 2 pounds 10 shillings. receipt attached to 10934.35j 10934.35h: No. 2321 A small, square sheet of yellow paper with two clean punch holes on the left side and a perforated edge. The paper is thin, but sturdy. Printed in black ink is the business name and details: Australian Mutual Provident Society established 1849. Policy No. 1311528 The receipt is printed in black ink. Payment due 18 April 1939. Receipt indicates payment received 27 April 1939. Payment listed in British Pounds, totaling 2 pounds 10 shillings. receipt is attached to 10934.35i 10934.35i: No. 1697 A small, square sheet of yellow paper with two clean punch holes on the left side and a perforated edge. The paper is thin, but sturdy. Printed in black ink is the business name and details: Australian Mutual Provident Society established 1849. Policy No. 1297024 The receipt is printed in black ink. Payment due 27 Mar 1939. Receipt indicates payment received 27 April 1939. Payment listed in British Pounds, totaling 2 pounds 10 shillings. Attached to 10934.35h 10934.35j: No. 876 A small, square sheet of yellow paper with two clean punch holes on the left side and a perforated edge. The paper is thin, but sturdy. Printed in black ink is the business name and details: Australian Mutual Provident Society established 1849. Policy No. 1311528 The receipt is printed in black ink. Payment due 18 Feb 1939. Receipt indicates payment received 25 Feb 1939. Payment listed in British Pounds, totaling 2 pounds 10 shillings. Attached 10934.35gac morton, amp, australian mutual provident society, insurance