The Telegraph Office was opened on 25 September 1878. On 3 October 1877, the Legislative Assembly had approved £2,500 for the construction of a Post & Telegraph Office.

In 1880, 3,581 messages were sent including 442 OHMS messages. The telegraph staff consisted of an Electric Telegraph Station Master and a line repairer in charge.

The Cairns Post of 31 January 1938 reported: "On Saturday morning (29th), a sale was conducted of the old telegraph building in Abbott Street adjoining the Cairns Post Office. It was conducted by Messrs. E. M. Boden and Co., the auctioneer being Mr. D. Dillon. The premises were disposed of for removal to Mr. D. R. Peiniger, 170 Lake Street, for £58. This will remove one of the oldest landmarks of Cairns".

1. a RO7-ETO rubber Electric Telegraph oval. Has a Crown inside the inner scalloped oval - so Queensland oval type 1.

Used in violet: 1 April 1882.

Size: 27 × 43 mm (e = 0.78).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 2.

1 April 1882.
Used on a transmission form (QC-TO-3).

2. a circular steel E.T.O date stamp for Cairns recorded used
   on 4 June 1964.

Used: 12 April 1938 to
12 May 1941.

Type of die: Die 4A - A over G.

Rated: R.

Number in the Census
(used at Cairns): 6

The Telegraph Office replaced the Paterson Telegraph Office in 1894. It became a Post Office in 1910 and closed on 14 September 1960.

In some Telegraph Offices where there is not a continuous demand, it is important for operators and others to develop an outside interest:

On 17 July 1896, The Week reported "Some of the residents of Thursday Island have been greatly troubled for some time past (says the Croydon Mining News) concerning the location of "The Dead Man's Secret" - believed by them to be a phenomenally rich reef in some part of Cape York Peninsula. Mr. T. Tracey, of the Australian Hotel, Golden Gate, knows where the reef is situated and leaves by the outgoing steamer for Thursday Island, whence he will take a party to Cape York and show them the much desired lode. This was discovered some years ago by an operator named Neal, who was in charge of the Telegraph Office at Cape York. The reef is big but it remains to be seen whether it will pay to work it".

Used: 18 July 1908.

Diameter: 26 mm.

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

Coen.

A telegraph Office was opened at Coen in 1886 using the same prefabricated design as was used for the Musgrave Telegraph Office. See also the description elsewhere.

During 1941, a new airfield was built about 20 miles north of Coen to help in Australia's defensive strategy. Unfortunately the Coen Telegraph Station still only had morse code facilities and a local telephone exchange switchboard.

Used on a telegram: unknown.

Diameter: 24 mm;

Rated on a telegram: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 0.

Cooktown.

In August 1874, a one acre block was reserved in Cooktown for the construction of a Telegraph office. This block was purchased by the Government for £120 soon after. "It is much required, the present office having no dwelling attached for the accommodation of the Telegraph Master".

The telegraph office was opened at Cooktown in June 1876.

The Week of 6 April 1878 reported: "A daring attempt at burglary was made at the Cooktown telegraph office early this morning. Mrs. Cowl heard a noise and woke her husband, who forthwith instituted a search, which resulted in his discovering a Chinaman in the instrument room. The Celestial escaped through the window and another, who was with him, made a bolt through the bedroom. Mrs. Cowl attempted to stop him but received a heavy blow, from what is supposed to be an iron implement, inflicting a severe bruise on the thigh. The Celestials escaped. The lodgers at the Sovereign Hotel, hearing Mrs. Cowl's screams, rushed over but the burglars were gone".

No special date stamp for telegraph use was issued to Cooktown. The usual postal date stamps were used instead.

An unframed Cooktown date stamp used in the early Federation period.

In 1880, 15,327 messages were sent including 1,202 OHMS messages. The telegraph staff consisted of an Electric Telegraph Station Master, 1 operator, 1 line repairer, 1 clerical assistant and 2 messengers.

Cooktown Coastal Radio: It was reported on 27 September 1912 that Senator Findley, in reply to Senator Sayers (Q ), said that a site had been selected for a wireless telegraph station at Cooktown, and the equipment ordered for this station would be opened in April. The Station was finally opened on 12 June 1913.

Fairview.

A telegraph Office was opened in Fairview about 1884 using the same prefabricated design as was used for the Musgrave Telegraph Office.

A Receiving Office was opened on 1 July 1895 which was converted to a Post Office in February 1902. This changed back to a Receiving Office in March 1905 and then reverted to a Post Office from 1 July 1927 to 31 March 1934.

The Telegraph Office opened on 6 April 1887.

BO7 - ETO - 2.

Used in violet: 7 October 1882 and
21 Novemner 1882.

Size: 27 × 44 mm (e = 0.79).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 2.
The second recorded oval of this format
is shown on QC-DU-1.

7 October 1882 (from the form)..

Used on QC-DU-1.
Provenance: Dave Elsmore.

Provenance: Dave Elsmore.

The Johnstone River Post Office opened on 1 November 1882 after a receiving office had been opened in 1880. It was renamed the Geraldton Post Office two months later. The Telegraph Office opened at Geraldton in early April 1885 as a combined Post & Telegraph Office.

Geraldton was the name until 1910 when it was changed to Innisfail to avoid confusion with the Western Australian town. The Post Office also changed its name in that year.

Laura.

The township of Laura did not really develop until, after the discovery of gold in the broad district around the town of Palmer about 1873. It became a place where travellers coming from Cooktown could cross the Laura river on the way to the diggings.

The telegraph office was opened at Laura in June 1876. A Post Office opened at Laura on 8 October 1888 but closed in February 1903. It reopened in March 1905.

Early newspaper reports about 1876 refer to Blacksoil (Station) being 96 miles from Cooktown at the Laura River. Fairview (Station) is now about in the same locality.

Laura is now famed for its magnificent collection of Quinkan Aboriginal rock galleries. The art has been dated to being 15,000 to 30,000 years old.

On 1 August 1893, The Telegraph reported that, at a special meeting of residents, "A progress association was formed and matters of vital importance to Mareeba were discussed - amongst which were:

• an agitation for a separate Post and Telegraph office;
• a reduction of railway freights;
• a petition to the Barron Divisional Board to clear the streets and form roads;
• postal communication with the gold-field;
• better facilities for transacting savings bank business;
• a protest against fencing in the town common;
• joint action with the Eivasleigh Divisional Board to get a grant to make a new road to Georgetown saving 80 miles; and
• the proclamation of Mareeba as a goldfleld".

On 3 November 1893, The Week reported "The Railway Commissioners have censured the local station master for delivering a telegram arguing that he is a railway man; consequently the public have to call for telegrams. This is an inconvenience and it is causing renewed indignation. The commissioners say the Post Office Department is encroaching upon the Railway Department. A separate Post and Telegraph office and staff is the only panacea for the existing evils (at Mareeba), and it is strongly urged that the Biboohra office be utilised for this purpose instead of leaving it to the white ants".

Biboohra in about 1893.
By Unknown author.
John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Retrieved on 1 October 2017. Public Domain.

The Week of 16 February 1894 noted that "After some delay, a site for the new Post and Telegraph office at Mareeba has been selected and the contractor is now commencing to erect the building".

BUT

On 20 February "After starting to build the Post and Telegraph office, the contractors have been instructed to desist and are now pulling out the blocks. There is much indignation at the treatment the people receive at the hands of the Government".

The Telegraph Office opened on 11 August 1899.

Gold had been found in the early 1890s in the general area with another reef of gold 2 feet thick (about 60 cm) and 300 yards long (over 250 metres) found 22 miles from Mareeba in 1899.

Cobb and Co. was the contractor for the mail carried between Mareeba and Herberton through to Cairns in the 1890s.

On 2 January 1899, the North Queensland Register, commenting on progress with therailway line, noted "The telegraph wire has been erected to Calcifer but, pending the erection of the Telegraph Department's new offices at Mareeba, they will not arrange for through connection so that, for the present, I propose to use it for the company service only".

In the August 1899 Gazette: "Tenders were called for fencing at the Post and Telegraph Office, Mareeba, to be lodged at Mareeba, Cairns, Herberton, and Townsville Post Offices by the 15th September".

"The tender has been accepted for additions to the Post and Telegraph Office at Mareeba of D. McLachlan of £199 5s". (North Queensland Register 23 April 1900).

As an aside: in November 1893 "Mr. Mathieson, Chief Railway Commissioner, has telegraphed from the North, contradicting the statement that, while at Mareeba, he was a purchaser of gold mining shares".

Queensland has always suffered from major weather disturbances - especially during the first three months of so of each year. The Cairns Post on 15 February 1927 reported:

"The postal officials are securing a temporary telegraph line on any projections; they secured communication between Cairns and Mareeba on Sunday afternoon. No telephone was available. By "commandeering" Mr. Andrew Couper's wireless here, the Mareeba officials managed to wire the congestion wires sent to Mareeba from Cairns and other towns by Sunday afternoon. Monday also saw temporary telegraph communication with Brisbane via Mt. Surprise. Mareeba has been deluged with wires being sent through to Townsville for the State. It is estimated that Mareeba is the only town with a satisfactory service with the outside world. Weather permitting, permanent wires will be operating this week. Mareeba's daily average of rain since the cyclone has been one inch; yet Cairns had 27 inches in five days".

Maytown.

Maytown (previously referred to as Edwardstown after the local butcher) was the main township on the Palmer River goldfields. It was very active from about 1873 to the 1920s. In 1875, Maytown became the administrative and business centre of the goldfields. Today only a few relics remain - including (thankfully) a few telegraph poles.

A Post Office operated from 1876 to 1945 and the telegraph office was opened at Maytown in June 1876. In February 1885, tenders were called for a new Telegraph Office building. The problem was finding a suitable site. "A full meeting of the subscribers of the School of Arts unanimously surrendered the site required by the Telegraph Department for the new offices. This was only done when the general public took the matter up, fearing the Government would abandon the idea of erecting new premises. Thanks to the energy of several of our prominent townsmen, we hope shortly to see offices erected suitable to the climate and meeting the convenience of the public as well as the comfort of official occupiers" (The Queenslander 25 April 1885). Teamwork makes the Dreamwork!!

In the Estimates laid in the House in September 1888, was an item for a Post and Telegraph Office at Adavale for £625.

The Telegraph Office closed 2 October 1899.

McDonnell.

A telegraph Office was opened in McDonnell using the same prefabricated design as was used for the Musgrave Telegraph Office. A Post Office was open from 1912 to 1929 when telegraph facilities ceased.

Mein.

A telegraph Office was opened in Mein using the same prefabricated design as was used for the Musgrave Telegraph Office. A Receiving Office opened in February 1896. This was upgraded to a Post Office in 1 July 1929 but closed in April 1929 when telegraph facilities ceased.

Moreton.

In 1896, a Receiving Office was opened at the Telegraph Office and that operation was upgraded to a Post Office in 1927. The Post Office was closed in 1977.

Used in black: 20 June 1904.

Size: 27 × 41 mm (e = 0.75).

Rated: RRRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

Tatts cover sent from Moreton to Hobart 20 June 1904.
Passed through Coen (9 July) and Cooktown (20 July - shown by back stamps)
and through Townsviille (24 July 1904) before arriving at Hobart on 2 August 1904.

The Telegraph Office was built in 1887 as part of Queensland's Overland Telegraph line. It was a repeater station with large banks of batteries and a generator to boost the power in the telegraph line. The telegraph station building was a high-set timber framed corrugated iron building, designed by the Colonial Architect and pre-cut in Brisbane.

Using the same design, the Telegraph Department built telegraph stations at Fairview, Coen, Mein, Moreton, McDonnell and Paterson.

The Musgrave Telegraph repeater station.

From 1896 to 1927, the Office was a Receiving Office after which it became a Post Office until 1930. For further details, see elsewhere. The telegraph facilities ceased in 1929.

The Telegraph of 7 July 1889 carried the note that "News has been received by the Cooktown police from the telegraph master at Musgrave that the blacks have cut the wires 20 miles from his station. They have secured a fine lot of wire to point their spears with and there will be more trouble in the Cape York Peninsula yet".

Musgrave is the only overland telegraph station on Cape York that remains. The old wire has been replaced with modern microwave radio systems and optic fiber. Yarraden is nearby.

Used: unknown dates - but at least from 1915 to after 1922 during the Receiving Office period.

Size: not seen complete.

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 4.

Palmerville.

The telegraph office was opened at Palmerville in June 1876.

In October 1876, tenders were called for the construction of a Telegraph Office there.

The Telegraph Station was established near the place where the submarine cable to Thursday Island emerged. It was at the mouth of Paterson Creek - about 220 km NE of Weipa.

A telegraph Office was opened in Paterson using the same prefabricated design as was used for the Musgrave Telegraph Office.

The construction was completed before the rains began in November 1886. and it was opened on 25 August 1887. Apparently some of the ruins can still be seen.

In 1886, a cable was laid direct from Paterson (later renamed Cape York) to Thursday Island.

In 1894, the Telegraph Station was relocated to the north eastern end of Punsand Bay on the west side of about 3 km from the northern most tip of Australia, That location is shown in the maps at the right.

The Office was reclassified as a Receiving Office in 1897 and then to a Post Office in March 1910.

The Cape York (Paterson) Telegraph Station was closed on 14 September 1960.

The Telegraph Office opened on 23 May 1879.

The Office was issued with an Electric Telegraph Office oval date stamp.

Provenance: Dave Elsmore.

Somerset.

South Johnstone.

Located about 10 kms south-west of Innisfail, South Johnstone was originally called Basilisk. In 1954, the town was officially renamed South Johnstone. Nevertheless, the State School and the Post (& Telegraph) Office had been called South Johnstone at least by 1916..

Tate.

The telegraph office was opened at Tate in June 1876. It was renamed Tate Tin Mines Receiving Office in 1881. This office was upgraded to a Post Office on 1 December 1893 and closed on 9 September 1961..

Thornborough, Hodgkinson River.

A Post Office was established as Thornborough about 14 June 1876. This was renamed Thornborough in November 1885. The office was closed on 2 May 1931.

Thornborough was the township of the Hodgkinson goldfields.

Thursday Island.

The Telegraph Office opened on 26 August 1887.

Postcard sent to Mosman (Sydney) with a "With love from Dad" message to his daughter from a Sailor aboard the S.S. Embling cargo ship. Has a Queen Victoria 1d orange tied by a Thursday Island postal date stamp of 18 May 1908.

Size: 26 × 44 mm (e = 0.81).

Thursday Island to Waroonga
29 March 1888 - about 7 months after the Telegraph Office had opened..

Walsh (River).

The telegraph office was opened at Walsh River in June 1876.

The Brisbane Courier of 1 November 1893 reported that a prospector was travelling through the Walsh River country side: "Passing the Walsh telegraph office, I saw the operator in charge feeding the parrots and I never saw such a sight in my life. They were around him, on his head and shoulders, in hundreds and hundreds. He told me it was starvation which made them do this".

It was still a polling place for electors at least in 1909.