Historical information

As the 100th anniversary approaches of the opening of the Mitcham Post Office at the corner of Station Street and Whitehorse Road, the recording of the history of the building is appropriate. Brian Millane's grandfather, Patrick Joseph Markham commissioned the building; his wife, Bertha Jane (nee Cruse) was the Mitcham postmistress from 1913 to 1943; and their daughter, Mary Millane, (nee Markham) was acting postmistress on several occasions and operated a shop in the building from 1944 to 1957. This talk records elements of the postal service in Mitcham, the locations of post offices and people involved in mail services from about 1900 to 1944.

Significance

The speaker not only lived in the post office building from 1944 to 1957 but also had access to historically relevant documents and oral accounts of events and facts related to the building and postal services. The transcript incorporates many images and discussion of their importance in understanding the operations and way of life within the building.