WA Colonial forms overview

All telegraphic stationery issued by Western Australia during the Colonial period (1861-1900) can be accessed from this page. There was no urgent rate until during the Interim period.

transmission forms (ordinary rate);
transmission forms (urgent rate);

delivery forms (ordinary rate);
Delivery forms (urgent rate);

delivery envelopes.

On 15 October 1895, the West Australian announced "It is understood that the Telegraph Department intend shortly to introduce a system of "urgent" local messages, under which telegrams accompanied by double fees will take precedence over others". The URGENT rate system was tried only briefly in the mid 1890s.

Rates for sending telegrams in Western Australia are summarised elsewhere.

Transmission forms - ordinary rate.

The earliest recorded use of a WA ordinary rate transmission form is 2 December 1889.

WC-TO-2.

Has 1/- pink embossed image of Queen's head.

Has an attached counterfoil for recording message details.

Details of the printing and postal use are included separately.

WC-TO-3.

Heading is in either plain capitalised font or gothic font.

Cost and transmission details semi-boxed at left.

The special posted form is included separately.

Transmission forms - urgent rate.

The earliest recorded use of a WA urgent rate transmission form is 26 January 1897.

WC-TU-1.

Has plain heading of URGENT TELEGRAM..

Has 33 boxes on the front in rows of 3.

Delivery forms - ordinary rate.

The earliest recorded use of a WA delivery form is 17 June 1881 at Perth. It is certain that at least one form had been in use before that but no record has been identified to date.

WC-DO-3.

Heading is in serif font.

Two lines of text under the heading.

40 boxes under the heading for the message.

WC-DO-4.

Heading is in Gothic script.

Three lines of text under the heading.

40 boxes under the heading for the message.

WC-DO-5.

Heading is in Gothic script.

Three lines of text under the heading.

Boxes to the left and right and below the heading.

Delivery forms - urgent rate.

The earliest recorded use of a WA Colonial period urgent rate delivery form is 12 June 1903!!!

WC-DU-1.

Has heading of URGENT TELEGRAM above "The following message ...".

No. 32 in the top left corner

Has 33 boxes on the front in rows of 3.

Printed text and boxes in pink ink on green paper.

Delivery envelopes.

WC-EO-2. Opaque delivery envelope. Has heading TELEGRAM in an unusual "bubble font".
WC-EO-3. Opaque delivery envelope. Has heading TELEGRAPHIC MESSAGE in a reverse printed red octagonal frame.
WC-EO-4. Opaque delivery envelope. Has heading TELEGRAPHIC MESSAGE BY POST in a reverse printed red octagonal frame.
WC-EO-5. Opaque delivery envelope. Has heading TELEGRAM in red, thin serif font.