TOs in the south-east

Queensland - Colonial: 1861 - 1900.
Telegraph Offices in the south-east region.

The following Telegraph Offices are included in this page:

Allora	Beaudesert	Killarney	Mulgowie
Nerang		Southport	Worongary

Allora.

The Brisbane Courier of 19 February 1879 reported that "In reference to the new telegraph office at Allora, the money for which was obtainel by the late Mr. Morgan, the Colonial Architect was instructed to prepare the plan and specifications, and call for tenders".

Beaudesert.

The Brisbane Courier of 21 August 1886 noted "On inquiry at the Electric Telegraph Office, we learn that a telegraph station for public business has, for some days past, been open at Beaudesert. It appears strange that no steps have been taken by the department to make this fact generally known".

The Estimates tabled in the House in September 1888 contained an item for the building of a Post and Telegraph Office at Beaudesert for £500.

Additions to the Post and Telegraph office were funded for £151 17s 6d in June 1899.

Killarney.

Located 35 kms south-east of Warwick in the Southern Downs and about 8 kms from the Queensland/NSW border.

A Receiving Office was opened in 1875 and that was upgraded to a Post Office in 1877. A branch railway was constructed from Warwick in 1885.

The Post Office Guide of 1889 notes the establishment of a Postal Note Office and a Money Order Office but a discontinuation of the Receiving Office at North Killarney.

In July 1889, the Queenslander reported that as of 19 July 1889 "The fears that the rain of the last few days would result in a flood were not ill-founded. Last night the Telegraph Office at Killarney, which is situated near the head of the river Condamine, notified Warwick to advise persons living in low lying parts of the town to make preparations for a flood as the river was coming down at a furious rate ... It rained heavily all night at Warwick and Killarney where 3in. fell. A message received from the latter place this morning stated that the river was still rising and it was raining hard with no indication of clearing up. All the low parts of Warwick are submerged ...".

In the Warwick Examiner of 8 August 1900, "Mr. F. Kates, M.L.A, is in receipt of a letter from the Under-Secretary and Superintendent of Telegraphs, dated 2nd August, as follows : " Sir, With reference to your further letter of 25th ultimo, concerning the desirableness of erecting a Post and Telegraph Office at Killarney, I have the honor by direction to inform you that the necessary provision will be made on the Estimates for tbe current year for the building referred to."

That decision, although welcomed, set off a new debate as to where the office was to be located. A deputation to the Postmaster-General had agreed "to agitate for the site of the new offices being on the south side of the Condamine River and had sent in a petition asking for that concession. As it happened, all the principal business was done on the north side of the river, the railway station was there and the most valuable property was in that particular locality. It would be absurd for the letters to be carried a mile away from the railway station and costly to the department. As illustrating the amount of business done by each of the two parts of the town, the north side last year received 743 telegraph messages and despatched 887, and the south side received 372 messages and despatched only 358. This was, of course, exclusive of post office work. They had not decided to move in the matter until forced by the boldness of the other side, and certainly the requests of the other party were most unreasonable". The matter was placed under investigation so tht "the interests of all would be considered".

A usual postal date stamp was used at Killarney for telegraph work. It is inscribed Killarney/Queensland.

Has two filled dots for separation.

Used on a telegram: 19 July 1916.

Diameter: 25 mm.

Rated (used on a telegram): RRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

19 July 1916.
Used on QI-DU-1.

Mulgowie.

Mulgowie is located south of Gatton and Laidley.

A Post Office was established at Mulgowie about 1915 and it closed about 1918. It was reopened on 1 July 1927 and closed on 12 March 1976.

It is almost certain that telegraph facilities were offered at Mulgowie.

Nerang

Nerang is situated at the head of the Nerang Creek (aka Barrow River) about 9 miles from the Commera and about 20 miles from the border.

In 1876, a large building was constructed for the Telegraph Office which had the same design as that for Beenleigh.

Southport.

The Post & Telegraph Office opened on 15 October 1879.

The first office was in a small house near where the Pacific Hotel now stands on the Esplanade. Mr. W.E. Hanlon was the first postmaster and only employee. At that time, Southport mails were received from Nerang by horse. Before the opening, the mails were distributed from the home of Mr. R. T. Johnston which was then known as Balclutha and is now part of the Star of the Sea Convent. It was the first house erected in Southport.

In April 1883, tenders were called for a new Post & Telegraph Office in Southport.

On 12 February 1909, the Brisbane Courier announced that: "The Minister for Public Works has accepted the tender of A. Keddie, at £1203, for the erection of a Post and Telegraph office, quarters and fencing at Southport. The new office will be on a good site at the corner of Scarborough and Nerang Streets. The present office is altogether out of date and inconvenient".

Southport Post & Telegraph Office 1904.

Southport Post & Telegraph Office 1923.

Southport became the landing place for the Pacific Cable in 1902 although another building was constructed to handle the cable traffic closer to the cable landing spot.

Southport postal date stamp.
17 December 1925.
Diameter: 30 mm.

QUEENSLAND at the base
and two 3 mm side arcs.

Worongary.

An oval Electric Telegraph Office date stamp of format 5: BO3-ETO was issued to the Office.

Used on a Registered cover: 29 December 1923
(arrival in Brisbane).

Size: mm.

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

Worongary Electric Telegraph Office.
29 December 1923 arrival date stamp
on reverse of cover.
Phoenix Auction 99, Lot 514.

Cover sent from Worongary Electric Telegraph Office with two strikes.
No date but reverse side shows an arrival date stamp of 29 December 1923.