Historical information
On February 1, 1854, the first Eltham Post Office was established. At that time, the number of permanent residents would have been fairly small, probably less than 200.
In 1855 Thomas Hunniford was appointed as Eltham's postmaster (replacing Frederick Falkiner). He operated the post office from his general store in Maria Street (now Main Road) near Bridge Street (originally facing Bridge Street but later altered to face Main Road).
His daughter, Miss Anne Hunniford, was a teacher at Eltham Primary School in her early adult years. Sometime between 1864 and 1868 the management of the post office passed from Thomas Hunniford to his daughter, Anne who managed the Eltham Post Office until illness forced her to retire 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.
Anne was succeeded by her nephew Neville Burgoyne whose family were then running the store, which had been rebuilt and modernised in 1926 to accommodate an expanded post and telegraph office.
Anne knew everyone and was respected for her kindly actions in her official and private capacities. In her time there was no official letter delivery to houses; residents were expected to collect their mail at the post office. But if an important letter or telegram arrived, Anne would try to find someone willing to deliver it. Jock Read recalled he started his own private "mail run"; he would charge people 1/- per week to take their letters to the post office for mailing and would return with their mail.
Anne died in 1928, aged 73. She is buried in Eltham Cemetery with her mother and with a Burgoyne child born much later. Burgoyne's store was further extended in 1940 and still stands though has undergone several modifications and businesses. In 1954 the post office moved to a shop in the main Eltham shopping centre, then in 1958 a purpose-built post office was opened near the entrance to the railway station.
In Loving Memory of
Anne Hunniford
Nee Hamilton Burgoyne
Born Ireland 1813 Died Eltham 1899
Also her daughter
Anne Jane Hunniford
Born Eltham 1855 Died Eltham 1928
Brenda May Burgoyne
Born 16. 8. 1956 Died 18. 6. 1958
Rest In Peace
Physical description
Born Digital
