TOs Western Coast

Victoria.
Telegraph Offices on the Western Coast line.

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Special aspects

Belfast (Port Fairy), Portland and Warrnambool were all opened when the first line was constructed through to South Australia in 1858.

Allansford.

The Telegraph Office opened in October 1882.

No special date stamp was issued for telegraph use.

A Telegraph Office opened at the Railway Station about 1915 but closed in the same year.

Belfast (Port Fairy).

The Telegraph Office opened in March 1858.

The Post Office was renamed from Port Fairy on 1 January 1854 and was renamed back to Port Fairy on 20 July 1887.

On 14 February 1860, the Legislative Assembly objected to the amalgamation of the Belfast Post Office and Telegraph Office. The Government, however, carried the amalgamation by 28 against 23.

Two formats of date stamp were issued to the Office for use with telegraphic matters.

a 1 hole Belt & Buckle date stamp. It has not been seen complete.

Used in black: 17 October 1889 (soon after the renaming).

Size:

Rated: RRRR.

A rubber rectangular Telegraph Office date stamp (RRH1-TO).

Used in purple: 26 August 1949.

Size: 25 × 39 mm.

Rated: RRR.

Pt Fairy 1949
26 August 1949.
Used on AW-DO-10A(48).

A rubber rectangular Telegraph Office date stamp
(RRH1-TO) - with postcode.

Used in violet: 28 October 1981.

Size: 25 × 39 mm.

Rated: RRR.

28 October 1981.

Port Fairy postal date stamp.

Postal date stamp used on 2d KGV Jubilee - 26 July 1935.

On 18 January 1861, a major thunderstorm hit Belfast. The Banner reported as follows:

"On Tuesday morning, about 3 a.m., this town was visited with a thunderstorm exceeding in intensity anything previously remembered in these parts. For two hours, the cloud was in fearful proximity to the town, the lashing of the lightning and crashing of the thunder being almost incessant. A chimney in the house of Captain Grant was split from top to bottom by the electric fluid; in the Telegraph Office, constant watch had to be kept as the wires at the termination were at white heat and finally fused whilst the panelling was ignited in four or five places. The sight of the sparks running to and fro on the wires was very beautiful, and we believe to their conducting properties may be attributed the fact that no further damage was done. A singular feature in the storm was its suddenness".

It is not recorded if the Telegraph Operator also thought the sparks made a beautiful sight on his equipment.

Camperdown.

The Telegraph Office opened in October 1863 although, in answer to a question in the House, the Chief Secretary had indicated it would open "on the 16th (September) or at least by the end on the month".

The appointment of John Duigan to be manager of the Electric Telegraph and Collector of Imposts and also to act as Postmaster at Camperdown from the 1st October, was Gazetted on 9 October 1863.

The Border Watch of 22 August 1942 reported the following newsworthy item:

"Camperdown now has a girl telegraph messenger - Nancy Robins, 15-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. Robins, who began delivering telegrams on Monday, using a bicycle.

Nancy is training as a telephonist, but when the messenger, Patrick Slattery, got measles, someone had to take his place and Nancy is filling the bill well according to the post office officials. Until recently she was working in a glass factory in Geelong".

Camperdown was issued with a one hole Belt & Buckle date stamp.

Colac.

The Telegraph Office opened in the Post Office in August 1863. On 28 August 1863, Edward Smith was Gazetted to be the Manager of Electric Telegraph and Collector of Imposts and also to act as Postmaster at Colac from 20th August, 1863.

The Post Office had opened on 1 July 1848 as Lake Colac and was renamed Colac in 1854.

In 1883, Police Quarters and the Court House were converted into the Post and Telegraph Offices.

A Telegraph Office opened at the Railway Station in August 1878.

The Telegraph Office was issued with a 1 hole Belt & Buckle date stamp.

Used in black: 13 January 1884 to
2 May 1894.

Size: 27 × 38 mm
(e = 0.70).

Rated: RR.

13 January 1884.
(Earliest recorded date).

29 January 1894.

	18 December 1889 on a 1d pre-printed Post Card to Melbourne.
	23 December 1890 of a 1d embossed envelope sent to BHP in Melbourne.

Used in blue: 7 July 1891 to 9 October 1891.
29 December 1890.	6 August 1891.	28 September 1891.

About 1983, a rubber rectangular TELEGRAPH SECTION date stamp (RRH1-TS) was used in violet.

Size: 25 × 42 mm.

Rated RR.

29 September 1983.
Used on AT-DO-14C.

Cudgee.

The Telegraph Office opened in November 1878.

Dixie.

The Telegraph line to Dixie was a short (8 km) branch from Terang. The office was opened as a R.O. on 18 August 1907 and upgraded to a Post Office on 15 August 1919. It closed on 31 December 1957.

A T.O. date stamp was issued to the Dixie office. Two distinct formats are recorded:

top inscription is complete with T.O.

Used: 28 July 1924 and 8 August 1940.

Diameter: 27.5 mm and 4 mm side arcs.

Rated: RRR.

21 January 1937.
Showing base and separation arcs.

21 September 1937.
Showing top inscription.

the T.O. was removed.

Used: 20 March 1941 and 23 December 1957.

Rated: R.

Eurack.

Eurack is about 24 km north east of Colac and east of the line joining Colac and Cressy.

A Post Office is reported to have been opened at Eurack on 1 July 1905 when the Eurack Creamery was renamed. That Office was closed on 29 April 1961.

There has previously been no record of a separate Telegraph Office being opened at Eurack. However, the Camerdown Chronicle of 1 May 1919 carried the following story:

"A change that is to be regretted is that in the post office. About four years ago, a Post and Telegraph office was established at the residence of Mrs Graham, who has held the position of postmistress during that period. Unfortunately Mrs. Graham has tendered her resignation. Not only was she reliable, courteous and obliging to the public, but the capable manner in which she conducted the office, both for the interests of the residents and postal department, makes her position very hard to fill. Her successor is Mr. A. A. Turner".

The Office was issued with a T.O. date stamp:

Used: 24 March 1916.

Diameter: 26 mm with 5 mm side arcs.

Rated: RRRRR.

Number recorded: 1.

24 March 1916.

Koroit.

The Telegraph Office was opened in September 1872.

Koroit Post & Telegraph Office about 1930.

Naroghid.

A Post Office was opened named Marida Yallock on 1 October 1875 It was closed on 29 September 1964.

A Telegraph Office was opened on 16 August 1928 and it was closed on 20 June 1968.

The Office was issued with a T.O. date stamp:

Used: 22 June 1968.

Diameter: 30 mm with 2 mm and 1 mm side arcs.

Rated: RRRRR.

Number recorded: 0 (1 image from the archives).

22 June 1968.

No example of this date stamp being used is recorded.
The above is the image of a photocopy of the strike in the archives.

Pomborneit North. The telegraph line passed by Pomborneit North east of Camperdown on Lake Corangamite above Stoneyford. It may have been constructed from a point midway between Colac and Camperdown. The Office was opened as a RO on 1 February 1910 and changed to a PO on 1 December 1923. It closed on 23 May 1977.
A T.O. date stamp was issued to the Office in 1922. Four formats were recorded: T.O. follows Office name. 2 and 1.5 mm side arcs. Used in black: 20 December 1922 to 11 December 1940. Used in violet: 22 December 1922 to 1923. Size: 28 mm. Rated: RR.	25 July 1932.	Date unclear.
T.O. before Office name. 1 mm side arcs. Used in black: 25 July 1942 to 14 February 1945. Size: 30 mm. Rated: RR.
T.O. before Office name removed. 1 mm side arcs. Long date line. Used in black: 13 May 1946 to 16 May 1959. Size: 30 mm. Rated: Common.	28 January 1949.	17 May 1958.
T.O. before Office name removed. 1 mm side arcs. Short date line (nylon date wheels). Used in black: 21 December 1959 and 23 May 1977. Size: 30 mm. Rated: Common.	9 July 1960.