The Post & Telegraph Office was opened on 18 July 1896.

It was closed on 4 April 1907 but re-opened on 1 July 1907 and then closed 24 February 1908.

The Office was issued with an rubber oval TELEGRAPH OFFICE date stamp:

Used:

Size:

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census:

Boorabbin.

The Telegraph Office was opened on 24 September 1894. The Post & Telegraph Office was then opened in 1902.

The office was issued with a steel circular TELEGRAPH OFFICE date stamp.

Used: 12 June 1906, 21 Dec 1912, 10 August 1914 and 27 Jan 1913.

Diameter: 30 mm.

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the census: 4.

The Post & Telegraph Office was opened on 12 April 1897.

The office was issued with four types of rubber oval office date stamp for use on telegrams. These were:

1. RO6-P&TO (not elsewhere recorded).

Size: 29 × 48 mm.

Used: 1 April 1888 to 22 June 1904.

Rating: RRRR.

2. RO3 - TO
   Includes W.A.

Size: 24(?) × 42 mm.

Use:

Rated RRRR.

31 March 1914.
Used on WI-DU-1.

3. RO7-TO.

Size:
Rated RRRR.

4. RO2-TO:

Used 1944-47.

5. RO2-T with postcode.

Used: about 1976.

Broad Arrow was established as the Kurawa Rceiving Office on 16 July 1896. The name was changed to Broad Arrow when the Post & Telegraph Office was established in 1898.

This office closed on 30 April 1971.

The office was issued with two types of rubber oval POST & TELEGRAPH OFFICE date stamps.

1. RO2 - P&TO.

Used: 1901 to 1 November 1902

Size: 26 × 41 mm (e = 0.77).

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

2. RO4 - P&TO.

Used: about 1913.

Size:

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census:

The Post & Telegraph Office opened on 1 February 1896. Bulong is east of Coolgardie.

It was issued with rubber oval date stamps for Telegraph Office and Post & Telegraph Office.

The Post & Telegraph Office opened on 22 July 1894.

The original location of the Post Office - opened in September 1893 - is not known.

The first section of Coolgardie's Public Buildings which included the Post & Telegraph Office was completed on 3 May 1895 at a cost of £7,060.

There were mixed opinions of the design - the Coolgardie Miner of 31 March 1896 noting as follows: "We have with amused interest watched the erection of the ghastly structure, and frequently speculated as to the purpose for which it was erected. Externally and internally, it is conceivably ugly, atrociously so, and reminds us of a very bad cross between a second-rate stable and an ancient West Australian gaol. It does not possess one solitary redeeming feature, and if it went off to Woolgangie through the exertions of a willy-willy, or suddenly disappeared into the earth, there would be tumultuous rejoicing".

The building was altered several times over the next few years.

The Coolgadie Telegraph Office was issued with four types of rubber oval office date stamp which were used on telegrams between the early 1900s and the 1940s:

1. RO4 - P&TO.

Used in violet: 27 May 1916.

Size: 29 × 43 mm (e = 0.74).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

27 May 1916.

Used on an unclaimed registerd cover sent from the Land Titles Office in Perth to Coolgardie and returned to the Dead Letter Office.

• RO6 - TO used about 1904 (rated RRR);
• RO7 - P&TO used 1911-14 (rated RRR);
• RO7 - P&TO used 1940 (rated RR);

Coolgardie Railway Station.

The Telegraph Office at the Coolgardie Railway station was also issued with an oval date stamp The Office opened in September 1895 and closed on 19 May 1896.

The Western Mail of 13 March 1896 reported "The new railway station is rapidly approaching completion, and has a striking appearance. The best endeavours have apparently been made to make the extension and station buildings as convenient as possible. One omission, however, from the station is a verandah, which will be much required during both winter and summer. Let us hope that the Works Department will cause this error to be rectified, and the very necessary addition made before the completion of the contract.

It is a great pity that the much desired extension could not have been carried out without so great a disfigurement to our main street. I allude to the huge banks of earth standing in the railway yard, obstructing the view and proving decidedly unsightily. From a first view, the station building presents a rather a pretty and inviting appearance, certainly much more so than the old shanty that does sarvice as a station at the present time, and which I feel has been the cause of so much adverse criticism on the town, giving visitors at once a bad impression".

There are five recorded examples of the date stamp RO6 - P&TO - all used in early 1896 (rated RRRR) before the opening of the Railway Station.

Prestige Philately August 2010 Lot 506.

Coolgardie Railway Post & Telegraph Office.
9 January 1896.

Previously considered that only this part strike existed.

Prestige Philately August 2011 Lot 535.

Prestige Philately December 2010 Lot 542.

Cunderdin.

Just east of Northam.

The Office opened as a Receiving Office on 1 July 1902 and became an Official Office on 1 July 1911.

Used in blue: 12 February 1915.

Size: 25 × 43 mm (e = 0.81).

Rating: RRRR.

No. in the Census: 1.

Used in green: 18 October 1915.

Size: 25 × 43 mm (e = 0.81).

Rating: RRRR.

No. in the Census: 1.

Located between Southern Cross and Coolgardie.

The Post & Telegraph Office opened in 1902.

1. has WA at base.

Size: 26 × 48 mm (e = 0.84).

Use: 15 December 1905 (only recorded example).

Rating: RRRR.

2. has WA at base.

Size:

Use: about 1931-33.

Rating: RRRR.

Goongarrie.

The Post & Telegraph Office opened on 26 November 1895 when 90 Mile changed name to Goongarrie.

The Telegraph Office was issued with two rubber oval date stamps for telegraph use:

1. RO2 - TO used in violet;

2. RO6 - TO used in violet.

Both are rated RRRR.

Goongarrie Telegraph Office.
5 March 1896.
RO6 - TO.

Stars at both ends.

Goongarrie Telegraph Office.
14 May 189?.
RO6 - TO.

Stars at both ends.

The Telegraph Office opened between 1903 and 1915.

Gwalia is located just below Leonora (see article below).

Size: 25 × 42 mm (e = 0.80).
Rated: RRRR.

Only one recorded use.

The Post & Telegraph Office was established with the name of Kalgoorlie on 21 August 1894. Previously, a Post Office with the name of Hannans had been opened on 11 February 1894 but it changed name to Kalgoorlie on 18 June 1894.

In September 1895, tenders were called for the construction of a "wood and iron" Post & Telegraph Office at Kalgoorlie.

Hannan Street, Kalgoorlie showing the extensive use of telegraph wires.
The Post & Telegraph Office can be seen to the left of centre.

Three rubber oval date stamps appear to have been issued to the Kalgoorlie Telegraph Office:

1. a RO2-P&TO used in violet about 1899.

Size: 26 × 41 mm (e = 0.77).

Rated: RRRR.

2. a RO2 - TO used in red about 1903.

Size: 26 × 54 mm (e = 0.88).
Rated: RRRR (only one example recorded).

3. A RO6-PandTO used in red about 1903.

Size: 29 × 49 mm(e = 0.81).
Rated: RRRR (only one recorded).

A very rare date stamp is from North Kalgoorlie but with NORTH removed.

That Post Office had operated in Ward Street and then in Campbell but closed on 21 June 1920. The date stamp had been used from 6 June 1906.

The 28 mm date stamp is known only on two early telegrams (Rated RRRR).

Kalgoorlie with North removed.
11 May 1927.

Used on AE-DO-1Eb (printed on the scarce brown paper instead of green). Also used on AE-DO-1Ea but it is a very snudged example.

Laverton.

The Post & Telegraph Office opened at Laverton on 13 August 1899.

Two rubber oval date stamps were issued to the Telegraph Office at Laverton for use with telegraph business. They were used concurrently.

1. a rubber oval date stamp (RO2-TS).
   The inscription of TELEGRAPH STATION is rare - Port Hedland being the only other station to use this inscription.

Used in violet: June/July 1900.

Size: 25 × 49 mm (e = 0.86).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 3.

.

2. a rubber oval date stamp (RO2-P&TO).
   The inscription is Post & Telegraph Office.

Used: 17 - 19 July 1900.

Size: 26 × 41 mm (e = 0.77).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in Census: 2.

The Telegraph Office opened at Mt. Leonora on 22 October 1897 together with the Post Office.

On 10 July 1908, the name changed to Leonora.

On 7 April 1899, a deputation from the town waited on the Premier. They had three requests:

1. the appointment of a Telegraph Messenger;
2. the establishment of a public school;
3. the appointment of a Mining Registrar.

All had the inscription Post & Telegraph Office:

1. RO6 - P&TO.

Used between 1897 and 18 October 1899.

Size: 27 × 44 mm (e = 0.79).

Rated RRRR.

Number in the Census: 3.

2. RO2 - P&TO.

Used: 17 January 1902.

Size: 27 × 41 mm (e = 0.75).

Rating: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

RO7 - P&TO.

Used about 1904-05.

RO7 - P&TO.

Used about 1908.

RO7 - P&TO.
Has MOUNT removed.

Used about 1914.

The Mount Leonora area was very rich. Crushing had started at the Sons of Gwalia mine on 1 May 1896 and, by 9 September 1897, 2,l51 tons had yielded 3,456 oz of gold.

An interesting article appeared in The Evening Star (Boulder) on 3 September 1908:

For the Leonora electorate the nominations of Messrs. Semken, Gourlev, Carr and J. Jones were received. The nomination of Julian Stuart was invalid.

He telegraphed his nomination from Leonora shortly after 10 o'clock this morning which did not reach the returning officer at Malcolm at the closing hour of nominations.

The West Australian of 27 November 1908 reported:

THE LEONORA ELECTION. SUSPENDED OFFICIALS REINSTATED. Mr. Barwick, the postmaster and Mr. Toomey, telegraph operator, who have been under suspension for nearly two months in connection with an alleged delay in the transmission of Mr. Julian Stuart's nomination as a candidate for Parliament at the recent elections, have, after a thorough investigation, been reinstated. Both officers resumed duty to-day.

Menzies lies 92 miles north-west of Kalgoorlie and was the main town of the North Coolgardie goldfields. It was discovered in 1894 by Mr. I. R. Menzies. In the mid 1890s, Menzies was the terminus of the railway line.

In 1896, there was a population of about 2,000 people but it would soon cater to over 6,000 people living within 2 mile radius. The town had 10 hotels, four churches and thre banks.

Tenders for the Post & Telegraph Office were called in October 1895. The telegraph line had reached Menzies by November 1896 and the Post & Telegraph office was nearing completion.

Unfortunately, in March 1896 Mr Jackson, an operator in the Menzies telegraph office, died from fever. He had arrived in Menzies on 29 January and developed fever in early March. Two other operators from the same office, Messrs Shaw and Thornton, had to be taken to the Coolgardie hospital suffering from the same disease.

On 11 August, 1896, an officer of the Telegraph Department arrived to install duplex instruments at the telegraph office.

By 1897, there were 5 main gold mines (Lady Shenton (producing 24,237 ozs of gold), Queensland Menzies (16, 138 ozs), Menzies Gold Reefs (7, 019 ozs), Menzies Consolidated (6, 119) and Florence (706 ozs).

Menzies Post & Telegraph Office about 1896.
Source: Souvenir of the Postal, Telegraph & Telephone Departments
of Western Australia, Christmas 1896.

Three oval date stamps were issued for Telegraph use at Menzies:

• an RO6 - P&T used in violet;
• an RO6 - TO perhaps in two different fomats.

Has two complete strikes of the Post & Telegraph Office oval date stamp (RO6 - P&TO).
See detail elsewhere.

Size: 26 × 45 mm.
Rated: RRRR.

The Telegraph Office was opened on or about 19 July 1897.

Two date stamps were issued for Telegraph use at Mount Malcolm:

• Telegraph Office (RO6 - TO) used in 1897 in blue and violet - rated RRRR;
• Post & Telegraph Office (RO7 - P&T) about 1913 and used in blue - rated RRRR.

Used in blue.

Used in violet (not previously recorded).
Prestige Philately November 2006, Lot 717.

On 7 March 1896, the Kalgoorlie Miner reported that "Further results of crushings from the Little Wonder are to hand. The mine is situated about 15 miles from Doyles' Well, near Mount Malcolm. The first crushing of half a ton from the surface yielded 970 ounces of gold. A second crushing of 8cwt from the 70ft level gave 423 oz, and a third crushing from the 90ft level of 23cwt returned 1310 oz. The last crushing, which was from the 160 ft level, gave 250 oz from 48 cwt. Mount Malcolm is situated half-way between Ninety Mile and Lake Darlot or Lake Carey".

On 19 March 1897, the Daily News reported that "A public meeting, attended by 700 persons in and around Mt. Malcolm, was held in front of the Mt. Malcolm Hotel in Star Street on Monday evening the 15th March ... (amongst other matters, the meeting urged) that the Government erect and open a Post and Telegraph office forthwith and that a bi-weekly mail service be established at once to this township". It appears that the Telegraph Office was opened on or about 19 July 1897.

The Post & Telegraph Office was established on 7 May 1896 - about three nonths after the Post Office had been opened.

There was no date stamp designed expressly for telegrams.

Paddington.

A RMB was opened at Paddington in November 1896 and this was converted to a Post & Telegraph Office on 15 Novemner 1897. The Office was closed on 30 November 1911.

The gold mine was located about half way between Kalgoorlie and Menzies.

Widgemooltha.

The Telegraph Office opened on 18 October 1896.

A single date stamp was issued for use with telegraphs:

RO2 - P&TO used in black.

Widgiemooltha Post & Telegraph Office.
16 October ??
RO2 - P&TO.

Size: 29 × 45 mm (e = 0.76).

Rated: RRRR.