The Post & Telegraph Office was opened on 1 April 1898 upon the change of name from Perth North West.

The latter had been opened as a Post & Telegraph Office on 14 August 1894.

A Post & Telegraph Office was opened on 1 September 1898.

Armadale Post & Telegraph Office about 1950.

A rubber oval POST & TELEGRAPH OFFICE date stamp
(RO6-P&TO):

Used in black: 1 July 1899.

Size: 27 × 44 mm (e = 0.79).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

Used in violet: 5 July 1899, 5 October 1899
and 12 February 1900.

Size: 27 × 44 mm (e = 0.79).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 3.

2. A rubber oval TELEGRAPH OFFICE date stamp (RO2-TO):

Used in violet: 18 April 1964.

Size: 30 × 49 mm (e = 0.79).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

Was originally known as West Guilford and the change of name was gazetted in 1922.

A Receiving Office was opened at West Guilford on 15 January 1906 which was changed to an Administrative Office on 3 December 1906.

The Office was issued with two rubber Post & Telegraph Office date stamps:

Used on AB-DO-3D.
ACE Auctions July 2020, Lot 1150.

2. Post & Telegraph date stamp (RO7-P&TO):

Used in violet: 15 September 1934.

Size: 31 × 52 mm (e = 0.80).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 3.
(not recorded elsewhere).

15 September 1934.

Used on AB-GCF-34A.
ACE Auction July 2018, Lot 961.
A second (no day) was in ACE Auction 12 July 2021 Lot 1139.

3. Telegraph date stamp (RO2-T):

Used in violet: 23 March 1965.

Size: 32 × 52 mm (e = 0.79).

Rated: RRRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

A Receiver of Mail Bags was established at Bayswater on 1 January 1895. This was upgraded to a Post & Telegraph Office on 1 August 1898. In 1 September 1904, the Office was downgraded to an Allowance Office.

Used in blue: 21 February 1905 (?).
If this date is true, the date stamp would have been used
after the transfer to being an Allowance Office.

Size: 29 × 45 mm (e = 0.76).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

Blackboy Hill.

A Post & Telegraph Office was opened at Blackboy Hill on 29 August 1914 and it was closed on 30 November 1918. It was again reopened on 1 March 1929 but renamed Greenmount Hill on 1 November 1932.

The site was used as a military training camp due the troop buildup of World War 1. In following years the camp was used as an isolation hospital for treating people with the Spanish flu and, during the 1930s, to accommodate unemployed relief workers.

Blackboy Hill was named after the famous and wonderful Australian native black boy plants - Xanthorrhoea preissii - which once dominated the area.

PS: See also Tit-Bit #7.

A rubber oval Post & Telegraph Office date stamp (RO7-P&TO) was issued to the office:

Used in blue: 30 October 1914 (about 2 months after opening).

Size: 25 × 48 mm (e = 0.85).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

30 October 1914 - about two months after the P&T Office opened.

ACE Stamp Auctions:
November 2010, Lot 597 and July 2018, Lot 886..

Brisbane Street.

Perth North, which had been opened as a Post & Telegraph Office on 14 August 1894, changed name on 1 April 1898 to Brisbane Street.

Burswood.

Burswood is close to Victoria Park.

It was the home of Australia's first nine-hole gold course - built in 1895. After closing andd then relocating, the name was altered slightly to Royal Perth Golf Club. A new course was constructed in 1987 but closed again to construct the Perth Stadium.

A racecourse was also built there in 1895.

In addition to all that, the Telegraph Office at Burswood was apparently issued with an RO7-P&TO rubber date stamp which might have been used in 1915.

Claremont.

An

Used in violet: 1 March 1963.

Size: 29 × 49 mm (e = 0.81).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1 (not elsewhere recorded).

Used in violet: 27 July 1971 and on 13 March 1973.

Size: 29 × 45 mm (e = 0.76).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 2 (not elsewhere recorded).

The triple oval format (RO5-TO) is the only known example of this format used for a date stamp for a Telegraph Office.

An Office at the Claremont Showground was issued with two types of Telegraph date stamps:

1. about 1905 - a RO6-TO Claremont Showground date stamp (rated RRRR);
2. about 1920 - a RO7-P&TO Claremont Showground date stamp (rated RRRR);

A Receiving Office was opened at Cottesloe in October 1894. It was upgraded to a Post & Telegraph Office on 22 November 1897.

At least five types of date stamps appear to have been issued to Cottesloe for telegram use:

1. RO6 - P&TO.

Used in violet: 19 September 1904.

Size: 26 × 44 mm (e = 0.81).

Rating: RRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

2. RO7 - P&TO.
   Date has month before day and a stop after the day.

Used in violet: 27 July 1909.

Size: 24 × 42 mm (e = 0.82).

Rating: RR.

Number in the Census: 1.

3. RO2 - P&TO.

Used in violet: 13 July 1944 to 12 September 1944 (possibly to 1959).

Size: 31 × 52 mm (e = 0.80).

Rated: RR.

Number in the Census: 2.

4. RO7 - P&TO.

Used in violet: 5 November 1931 to 25 November 1936.

Size: 27 × 44 mm (e = 0.79).

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 3.

5. RO7 - P&TO.
   Inner line is less scalloped and year extends beyond. Has a stop after Cottesloe (spans 18 mm).

Used in violet: 7 February 1938.

Size: 26 × 44 mm (e = 0.81).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

Gosnells.

An oval rubber date stamp (RO2 - P&TO) was issued to the Office. It is not recorded elsewhere although there is a reference to a date stamp with Telegraph Section.

Used in violet: 15 December 1958.
Date line is inverted.

Size: 30 × 56 mm (e = 0.84).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 4.

Guilford.

The Perth-Guildford line was opened on 23 December 1871. It was not, however, until 6 August 1873, that the Perth Inquirer could report that "the new Post and Telegraph offices were opened on Saturday the 2nd instant. The building being close to the Court House, in the centre of the town, is much more convenient than formerly and provides very suitable offices and living-rooms for the Postmaster. In addition to these improvements, other arrangements now made will afford further benefits and facilities to the public". It was a starting point for the telegraph line along the coast to the south.

A Post Office had been opened 22 February 1835. Guildford was one of three towns established in 1829 soon after Western Australia was settled.

The earliest recorded telegram form used at Guilford is the remarkable transmission form WC-TO-3B posted to Guilford from Perth on 14 September 1894.

Personnel:

September 1876: Mr. E. W. Snook took a mail cart to Guilford from Perth to relieve the Postmistress.

May 1891: Mr. J. Horrigan was promoted to be the first Postmaster and Telegraphist at Greenbushes and Mr. N. Gilchrist was appointed Post and Telegraph Assistant to replace him.

September 1894: Mr. R. Williams to be assistant at Guildford;

1. A rubber oval TELEGRAPH OFFICE date stamp (RO6-TO):

Used in violet: 23 December 1896 - 20 December 1897.

Size: 26 × 42 mm (e = 0.79).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in Census: 2.

2. A rubber oval TELEGRAPH OFFICE date stamp (RO7-TO):

Used in blue: 18 October 1903.

Size: 30 × 49 mm (e = 0.79).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in Census: 1.
(Not recorded elsewhere).

3. A rubber oval TELEGRAPH OFFICE date stamp (RO7-TO):

Used inviolet: 15 October 1975.

Size: 30 × 49 mm (e = 0.79).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in Census: 1.
(Not recorded elsewhere).

A postal date stamp was used at Guilford on a very special item -- a transmission form which had been posted from Perth to Guilford.

This form (WC-TO-3B) is the only Western Australian form recorded as having been posted.

Hay Street East.

Opened as a Post & Telegraph Office on 1 April 1898 when Perth East was renamed. The latter had been opened as a Post & Telegraph Office on 10 June 1895.

Leederville.

The Telegraph Office was opened on 11 September 1897.

Another Post & Telegraph Office was opened at West Leederville.

Leederville Post & Telegraph Office about 1940.

1. RO7 - P&TO.

Used in green: 17 December 1908.

Size: 29 × 48 mm (e = 0.80).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

2. RO7 - P&TO.

Used in blue: 8 June 1910.

Size: 25 × 49 mm (e = 0.86).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

3. RO6 - P&TO.

Used: about 1912.
Perhaps this format was continued to the 1940s but no size is known for the 1912 version to enable a comparison.

Rated: RRRR.

4. RO4 - P&TO.

Used in violet: 7 June 1912 to 1917.

Size: 29 × 43 mm
(e = 0.77).

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 2.

 

Used in blue:
23 December 1913 and
17 July 1915.

Size: 29 × 43 mm
(e = 0.77).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 2.

Used in violet:
15 October 1915.

Size: 28 × 44 mm
(e = 0.77).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

15 October 1915.

Used on the reverse side of a large registered cover sent from Apia, Samoa on 14 September 1915 to Subiaco and redirected to Leederville.

Has unframed PASSED BT CENSOR handstamp in black

The postage charge was paid with six single New Zealand stamps overprinted SAMOA in black (3) or red (3).

Used in red:
23 March 1918 and
12 June 1918.

Size: 28 × 44 mm(e = 0.77).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 2.

23 March 1918.
Two strikes of an RO4-P&TO date stamp in red.

Provenance: Arthur Gray.
Mossgreen October 2016, Lot 263.

Reverse side of the above cover showing a third impression of the RO4-P&TO.

5. RO6 - P&TO.

Used in violet : 30 March 1940 to
24 November 1943.

Size: 24 × 41 mm (e = 0.81).

Rated RRRR.

Number in the Census: 2.

30 March 1940.

Used on AB-DU-8A.

24 November 1943.

Used on AB-DU-9Gb.

6. RO2 - TO.

Used in violet: 3 August 1946
(only recorded example).

Size: 31 × 47 mm (e = 0.75).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

7. RRH1 - P&TO.

Used: 1975-83.

Rated: RRR.

The Official Post & Telegraph Office opened on
30 April 1910.

1. RO4 - P&TO.

Used in violet: 11 November 1915 to 13 December 1915.

Size: 25 × 42 mm (e = 0.80).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 2

RO4 - P&TO.

Used in green: 21 July 1915.

Size: 25 × 42 mm (e = 0.80).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

2. RO7 - P&TO.

Size: 37 × 43 mm (e = 0.51).

Used: about 1924

Rated: RRRR.

3. RO4 - P&TO.

Size: 35 × 42 mm (e = 0.55).

Used: about 1945

Rated: RRRR.

4. RO2 - P&T.

Size:

Used: 1975 to 1977.

Rated: RR.

Midland Junction (Helena Vale).

A Post Office was opened at Midland Junction on 1 May 1895. It was renamed Helena Vale in 1896. A Post & Telegraph Office was opened at Helena Vale on 12 April 1897 which then was renamed back to Midland Junction on 1 January 1901.

That opening was not however without its drama. On 8 Februry 1897, the West Australian reported:

"Grievous complaints are being made as to the manner in which the Midland Junction district is being treated, or rather not treated, by the Government. Nearly twelve months ago the Helena Vale Council (which is the corporate body at Midland Junction) waited on the Premier and requested that a Post and Telegraph office be established at Midland Junction, and that letters be delivered by a carrier instead of people having to call at the temporary office for their letters; also that a Telegraph Office and Money Order Office be opened.Up to the present, nothing seems to have been done in the matter and the inhabitants who wish to send a telegram or a money order or to transact any other business, save buying stamps or posting a letter, have to travel two miles to Guildford, the nearest available station for miles".

Personnel:

July 1895: Mrs. E. J. Harvey was appointed Postmistress (FYI as it was before the telegraph was connected).

August 1896: Mr. E. W. Ketsch was appointed Stationmaster.

1. At Helena Vale: A rubber oval Post and Telegraph Office (RO7-P&TO) date stamp.

Used:

Size:

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census:

2. At Midland Junction: A rubber oval Post & Telegraph Office
   (RO6 - P&TO) date stamp. No side arcs.

Used in purple: December 1901, 5 February and 25 March 1902
and 28 January 1905.

Size: 29 × 50 mm (e = 0.80).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 4.

 

Used on a block of 8 2d yellow Swans
with watermark W Crown A and perf 14.

2. At Midland Junction: A rubber oval Post & Telegraph Office
   (RO6 - P&TO) date stamp. This format has separation dots at each end.

Used in violet: 15 September 1934.

Size: 29 × 49 mm (e = 0.80).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

Midland Junction RO6-P&TO on Congratulations Ornamental delivery form AB-GC-34A.

3. At Midland Junction: A rubber oval Post & Telegraph Office
   (RO2 - P&TO) date stamp.

Used in violet: 27 August 1945.

Size: 30 × 52 mm (e = 0.82).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

Midland Junction RO2-P&TO date stamp on registered cover sent to Illinois, U.S.A.
Has strikes front and back.

A Post & Telegraph Office was opened in 1909.

1. an RO7-P&TO oval date stamp.
   Unusually has month then day.
   Letters are very round.

Used in violet: 17 September to 24 December 1927.

Size: 31 × 49 mm (e = 0.77).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 3.

2. an RO2-TO used about 1944.

Size: 31 × 51 mm (e = 0.79).

Used: 12 April 1943 to 22 December 1944.

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 3.

Used on AW-DO-9Gb.

Used on AW-DO-10A (43).

3. an RO2-T used about 1950.

Rated: RRRR.

Mundaring.

A Post and Telegraph Office was opened in Mundaring on 24 October 1899.

Mundaring Post & Telegraph Office.

Mundjong.

In the south east section of Suburban Perth, the location at the junction of the Rockingham-Jarrahdale rail line had previously been called Jarrahdale Junction. It than change name to Manjedal and then to Mundijong in about 1898.

A Post & Telegraph Office was opened in about 1897 but then downgraded progressively until it became an Allowance Office in 1906.

Two rubber oval date stamps appear to have been issued to the office for use with telegraphic matters:

1. A rubber oval RO6-P&T on the transfer from Manjedal.

No details known.

 

Used in violet: 10 January 1905
(allegedly 1898-1906).

Size: 25 × 41 mm (e = 0.79).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

North Perth.

In the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday 31 July 1894, the Colonial Treasurer stated that Post and Telegraph Offices would be shortly established at North Perth and East Perth.

In the Legislative Assembly on 24 September 1895, in answer about facilities at North Perth from Mr. Wood, "The PREMIER (Hon. Sir J. Forest) replied that the Postal Department had been endeavoring to give accommodation to North Perth but, up to the present time, had been unable to secure a building suitable for a Post and Telegraph office. It was intended to build an office, but, in the meantime, a pillar box would be erected on a convenient site".

North Perth was established as an Allowance Office on 1 December 1902. In 1903, it became a Receiving Office located on Angove Street. It became an Official Office in October 1912. The date stamp shows clearly the Office was a Post & Telegraph Office before either of those designations.

Even so, it appears that planning for a Post Office really started in May 1905 when an architect - Michael Cavanagh - agreed to sell a block of land opposite the new North Perth Town Hall to the Post Master General’s Department. Despite that initiative, the Post-Master General was quoted in The West Australian in July 1909 maintaining that the creation of a Post Office for North Perth was not yet required:

“The suburb is certainly extending rapidly, but it is at present very scattered, and can, in my opinion, be better served by two or three allowance offices until more closely settled.”

In 1916, the North Perth Post Office and its attached postmaster/postmistress residence was finally constructed. Designed by architect Hillson Beasley, the new building cost £1,720.

Date stamps.

It was considered in some sources that North Perth had been issued with a rubber oval date stamp for use with telegraph matters but no details of the design were previously recorded.

Two types of oval date stamps for use with telegraphs are now known.

1. RO7 - P&TO.

Used in violet: 15 March 1898.

Size: 25 × 42.5 mm (e = 0.81).

Rated: RRRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

2. RO6 - P&TO.

Used in violet: 20 April 1936.

Size: 29.5 × 49 mm (e = 0.80).

Rated: RRRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

Palace Hotel.

The Palace Hotel was a three storey building constructed in 1897 on the corner of St Georges Terrace and William Street in Perth. It was described as being "... one of the most beautiful and elegant hotels in Australasia".

Its central position made it an important landmark in Perth. Many commercial travellers used the Palace Hotel as a base. The need for a communications centre was readily appreciated and a Post & Telegraph Office was opened almost immediately - on 8 July 1897.

A rubber oval date stamp (RO6-P&TO) was issued to the Office.

Used: 1900s

Size: ??

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1 (part).

Perth Railway Station.

"An improvement of a most important character, and one which will certainly be appreciated, is now being carried out at the Perth Central Station. This consists in the provision of a commodious Post and Telegraph Office in the room formerly used as the parcels office. It is expected that the Post Office will be opened in about a week or 10 days, and we understand that it will be used for all classes of postal and telegraphic business" (West Australian 9 January 1897).

The Office opened in 1 March 1897.

No special date stamp for Telegraphs appears to have been issued to Nedlands.

The Post & Telegraph Office was opened on 7 November 1898 and was renamed Mends Street on 10 July 1939.

On 19 June 1900, the West Australian reported that:

"The progressive suburb of South Perth has attained such a decree of prosperity in the eyes of the Colonial Secretary and the other dignitaries controlling the Postal and Telegraph Department that it is to be improved and, it is to be hoped, benefited by the erection of a Post and Telegraph office.

As to the most convenient locality for the site of the new building, there is much diversity of opinion. Mr. Randell and his officers, however, have settled the matter in their own minds and the resultant effect is that today tenders are due for the erection of a building contiguous to the Mends Street jetty, the recreation reserve and the Zoological Gardens.

For some time the business of the department has been carried on in premises connected with the Windsor Hotel. Those of the residents whose domiciles are beyond the regulation one mile radius have suffered the extra charge for delivery of telegrams with a resignation born of the thought that the arrangement was but a temporary one. Wrathfully, they have declaimed against a permanent disability in the direction named, a disability which, they state, is but slight as compared with the fact that for the receipt of their letters they are forced to depend upon the good nature of a grocer in their midst who, it is averred, takes delivery and distributes the letters, etc. as they are called for.

They have urged upon the Colonial Secretary their claims for consideration and the erection of the new post office at a spot more centrally situated, but without avail - Mr. Randell declaring against them.

As a last protest they held a meeting last evening under the shelter of the verandah of a vacant shop near the Coode Street jetty and about 50 gentlemen assembled. Mr. Manning, the Chairman of the local Roads Board, conducted the meeting which was unanimously of the opinion that a last effort should be made to secure their object. It was asserted that the majority of the residents were located on the east side of the Zoological Gardens, and that, in addition, most of those residents at "The Point," in a spirit of fairness, agreed that what they were urging was but right and just. Much discussion as to the next move was indulged in, but it was eventually decided, in the words of one of the speakers, "to give Mr. Randell one more chance." Should he not avail himself of that chance and persist in the erection of the building on the site he has already decided upon, the oppositionists will, one of them declared, "jump over his head," and approach the Premier with a deputation armed with a petition. A deputation was appointed to this end".

1. a RO4 - P&TO.

Size: 28 × 43 mm (e = 0.76).

Usage: 29 September 1914 to 29 July 1915.

Rated: RRRR (not elsewhere recorded).

Number in the Census: 2.

2. a RO2 - P&TO.

Size:

Usage: 17 March 1943..

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

17 March 1943.
Used on AW-DU-10.

Image kindly supplied by Malcolm Brown of WA.

3. a RO2 - T

Size:

Usage: issued about 1961.

Rated: RR.

On 6th August 1897, the Western Mail reported that:

"There seems to be a possibility of the recent fire at the Subiaco School causing, indirectly, a postponement of the erection of the permanent Post and Telegraph office at the corner of Bagot Street and Rokeby Road. Owing to the destruction of the school premises, the Education Department found it necessary to open school in the old school buildings, which are situated on a portion of the corner block which the Minister has set apart for postal purposes. Mr. Lefroy is afraid that, though the old school buildings are not on the actual site of the new Post Office, they are sufficiently near as to render it impossible to successfully continue the school during the progress of building operations. The Department is hopeful that some arrangement can be made with the contractor for the erection of the post-office to defer beginning the work for some time, possibly until the school has been rebuilt".

Nevertheless it seems that the Telegraph Office had been opened for business on 15 July 1897.

Four formats for date stamps for telegraph purposes are recorded:

1. a rubber oval Post and Telegraph Office (RO7 - P&T:

Used in violet: 29 December 1898 and 17 May 1900.
Used in blue: 19 January 1899.

Size: 24 × 41 mm (e = 0.81).

Rated: RRRR.

2. a rubber oval TELEGRAPH OFFICE (RO6 - TO):

Used in violet: 14 March 1936.

Size: 30 × 50 mm (e = 0.8).

Rated: RRRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

14 March 1936.
Used on AB-DO-8F.
Advertisement on reverse is for "The Prompt Delivery ..."
Form also has a S/L SUBIACO in "TO" section.
Lower inscription has SUBIACO without W.A.
Form kindly supplied by Malcolm Brown, WA.

3. a rubber oval Post and Telegraph Office (RO2 - P&TO) used in violet.

Used: 15 May 1947 and 15 January 1948.

Size: 31 × 51 mm (e = 0.79).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 2.

4. a rubber oval Post and Telegraph Office (RO6 - P&TO) used in violet.

Used: 28 January 1954 to 29 December 1956.

Size: 30 × 55 mm (e = 0.84).

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 6.

A Post & Telegraph Office was opened on 1 December 1898. It was downgraded to an Allowance Office on 1 September 1904. It became an Official Office on 24 December 1912.

Victoria Park about 1950.

1. RO2-P&TO.
   (lower inscription is Victoria Park, W.A.).
   

Used in violet: 30 May 1901 - 11 Seotember 1901.

Size: 25 × 41 mm (e = 0.79).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 2.

2. RO7-P&TO.
   

Used about 1912.

Rated: RRRR.

3. RO6-P&TO
   (lower inscription is Victoria Park).
   

Used in violet 18 March 1939.

Size: 31 × 52 mm (e = 0.80).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

4. RO2-TO.
   (lower inscription is Victoria Park).
   

Used in violet: 22 October 1949.

Size: 30 × 57 mm (e = 0.85).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

5. SC1-Telegraphs.
   Known with large and small date lines.
   

Used: 5 March 1965..

Diameter: 31 mm.

Rated: RRRR.

Nuber in the Census: 1.

6. RO7 - PO.
(lower inscription is Victoria Park).

This date stamp was used on telegrams.

Used on a telegram: 8 January 1931.

Size: 29 × 40 mm (e = 0,69).

Rated (used on a telegram: RRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

Victoria Park East.

No details available.

A Post & Telegraph Office was opened but no details are known.

Used in violet: 26 and 27 May 1947.

Size: 31 × 53 mm (e = 0.81).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 2.