Slogan - Overland Telegraph Line

A slogan postmark recognising the

OVERLAND
TELEGRAPH LINE
CENTENARY
1872 - 1972

was officially introduced at all G.P.O.s on 21 August 1972 for a period of two weeks. The slogan was also issued to Post Offices in Alice Springs, Canberra, Darwin - all three with circular date stamps - and at Newcastle and Launceston.

Use of the slogan is also noted elsewhere at Hindley Street, Mount Gambier, Port Augusta and Port Lincoln although none have been sighted for inclusion in this Census.

The Overland Telegraph commemorative stamp (shown to the right) was issued on 22 August.

A wider coverage was apparently given to the use of the slogan in the Northern Territory (Darwin and Alice Springs) and in South Australia (Port Augusta). Use at these offices is reported to have commenced in early June and continued intermittently until September. If that assertion can be verified, then it also appears that Launceston was part of this early release program - see below.

Earliest recorded date for this slogan: 5 June 1972 at Launceston.

Latest recorded dates for this slogan: 29 September 1972 at Launceston.

There are no variations between or within Offices in the size or space of letters. The only variations are related to the details and arrangement within the date stamp.

There are 102 examples of this slogan in the Census.

Use of the slogan by Office:

Adelaide: Number of dies recorded: 1; Box number: 1 (no serifs top or at the base). Earliest date recorded: 22 August 1972. Latest date recorded: 1 September 1972. Number in the Census: 2.	1 September 1972.
Alice Springs: Number of dies recorded: 1. Date stamp: Circular. Earliest date recorded: 21 August 1972. Number in the Census: 1.	21 August 1972 - First Day for use of this slogan.
Brisbane: Number of dies recorded: 2. Date stamp: Box. Earliest date recorded: 21 August 1972. Latest date recorded: 3 September 1972. Number in the Census: 43.	23 August 1972.
Canberra: Number of dies recorded: 1. Date stamp: Circular. Earliest date recorded: 22 August 1972 (Occleshaw). Latest date recorded: 30 August 1972. Number in the Census: 2.	30 August 1972.
Darwin. Number of dies recorded: 1. Date stamp: Circular. Only recorded date of this slogan: 8 August 1972 Number in the Census: 1.	8 August 1972 - about 2 weeks before the national release but well after the introduction in May.
Hobart: None recorded.
Launceston. Number of dies recorded: 2. Date stamp: Box. Earliest date recorded: 5 June 1972. Latest date recorded: 29 September 1972. Number in the Census: 40.	6 June 1972 - very early date and probably part of the program for selected offices.
Melbourne: Number of dies recorded: 3. Date stamp: Box. Earliest date recorded: 22 August 1972. Latest date recorded: 28 August 1972. Number in the Census: 3.	22 August 1972.
Newcastle, NSW: Number of dies recorded: 1. Date stamp: Box. Earliest date recorded: 22 August 1972. Latest date recorded: 1 September 1972. Number in the Census: 4.	1 September 1972.
Perth: Number of dies recorded: 1. Date stamp: Box. Top inscription: PERTH/W.A. 6000. Base inscription: POSTED/IN PILLARS. Earliest date recorded: 21 August 1972. Latest date recorded: 29 August 1972. Number in the Census: 3.	29 August 1972.
Sydney. Number of dies recorded: 1. Date stamp: Box. Earliest date recorded: 23 August 1972. Latest date recorded: 1 September 1972. Number in the Census: 3.	23 August 1972.