The Telegraph Office was opened on 6 April 1891.

A Post Office was opened at Arncliffe on 1 April 1884. After three reclassifications, a Telegraph Office was opened at Arncliffe on 25 November 1889. On 15 February 1890, a combined Post & Telegraph Office was opened.

No speial date stamp was issed to Arncliffe for use with Telegraphs so the usual Postal date stamp was used.

At some stage an unusual design was commissioned for a Post Office date stamp which was used on at least one telegram.

The design (RC4) is very scarce with only one other Office using it (see Hobart and Date Stamp Classification).

Ashfield.

The Post Office was opened on 1 January 1856 and then, on 1 January 1875, the office was removed to the Railway Station. The Telegraph Office was opened on 6 May 1874 and the two offices merged to became the Post & Telegraph Office on 1 June 1880. On 22 January 1890, the combined office was removed from the Railway Station .

No special date stamp for use with telegraphs was used at Ashfield.

Two TELEGRAM slogan cancellations are recorded as having been used at Ashfield:

1. HAPPY THOUGHTS: CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR GREETINGS BY TELEGRAM;
2. TELEGRAMS: SPEEDY, RELIABLE, EFFECTIVE.

Balgowlah.

A Telephone Section was opened at Balgowlah on 24 May 1907 which also provided telegraphic services.

1. Size: 32 × 41 mm.
   
   Used: 3 May 1979 (only recorded date).
   
   Rated: RR.

2. Size: 28 × 43 mm.
   
   Used: 14 March 1981 to 27 April 1984.
   
   Rated: R.

"A third sheet of water (on the Parramatta River around Balmain), called Rosella Bay, likewise requires attention. The Premier (Sir Henry Parkes) promised a deputation from Balmain to consider the propriety of purchasing a plot of ground on the highest part and most central portion of the municipality for a recreation ground. The Pigeon Ground, as it is called, is certainly a most desirable location for that purpose, and at the same time a part of it could be available for a post and telegraph office, and a police court and station house. For although the electorate of Balmain has a population of nearly 17,000 inhabitants, the post office, telegraph office, money orders and savings banks are all carried on in a rented house in a room about 12ft square, which is used for all purposes and that in a back street with no thoroughfare! Only that they are next-door to the only pawnshop in Balmain, the Government "offices" would be scarcely known".

The Balmain Post & Telegraph Office, the Police Office
and the Town Hall.

Balmain date stamp for postal purposes.
14 September 1944.
Diameter:

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

Bankstown.

A Telephone office, which enabled telegraph business to be conducted, was opened at the Post Office on 20 August 1892.

Used: 18 January 1982.

Diameter: 36 mm.

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

Bexley.

A Telephone office, which enabled telegraph business to be conducted, was opened at the Post Office on 23 June 1911.

Used: 9 October 1953.

Diameter: 31 mm.

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

The Telegraph Office opened on 2 April 1890. The Post Office had opened on 1 October 1893 and the two offices were amalgamated on 1 August 1896.

Usual date stamp also used for postal items.

A Telegraph Office was opened at Bondi Beach through a change of name from the Post & Telegraph Office at Bondi North on 12 October 1922.

No special date stamp was made available for Telegraph usage to this office.

Brookvale.

A Post & Telegraph Office opened at Brookvale on 1 August 1899 with Annie Bloomfield in charge.

Used: 9 July 1951.

Diameter: 31 mm.

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

The Telegraph Office opened on 6 May 1874 sometime after the Post Office on 1 October 1861.

The two offices were merged on 1 July1875.

Used: 1944 and 1967 (Hopson & Tobin).

Size:

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 2.

The Telegraph Office opened on 27 May 1897. A telephone service enabling telegraphic communication also had previously opened at the Railway Station on 17 July 1893.

The Post Office had had a chequered history before that time.

Used in violet: 30 May 1986.

Size: 31 mm.

Rated: RRRR.

Number on the Census: 1.

Diameter: 25 mm.

Chester Hill.

The Post & Telegraph Office opened on 2 July 1934.

Used in red: 17 October 1984.

Size: 38 mm.

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

Cronulla.

An Official Post Office named Cronulla opened when a previous office Cronulla Beach was renamed in the first quarter on 1930. It had opened on 1 January 1891 with a Telephone Office offering telegraphic services being included on 21 February 1907.

Used in violet: 6 August 1969.

Size: 31 mm.

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

Crows Nest.

A Post & Telegraph Office with a Money Order Office opened on 21 February 1898.

A rubber circular TELEGRAPHS date stamp (RC1 - T) was issued to the office:

Used in violet: 9 January 1957 to 9 October 1957.

Size: 31 mm.

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 2.

9 January 1957.

Used on an OTC International delivery form IAO-DO-2.

9 October 1957.

Used on AA-DO-13A with an International Telegram label
(AA-LI-6C).

The Telegraph Office opened on 2 January 1890.

Edgecliff.

The Telegraph Office was opened on 6 August 1877.

A rubber circular TELEGRAPHS date stamp (RC1 - T) was issued to the station.

Used: 21 September 1959.

Diameter: 30 mm.

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

21 September 1959.
Used on AA-DO-13B.

9 January 1937.

Used on AB-DO-8F.

4 December 1944.

Also used on telegrams.

Although not directly related to telegraphs, the following story is interesting:

"A series of experiments has lately been made", we learn from the Sydney Echo, "by Mr. E. C. Cracknell, the Superintendent of Telegraphs, with the electric light at Edgecliff Road. Two very powerful lights have been used and the brilliancy of the illumination was astonishing. One effect of the electric light is that its illumining power is greater at a distance of 500 yards than in the close vicinity of the camp. On the evenings the experiments have taken place, the portions of Woolahra and Double Bay on which the light was turned were almost as well lighted up as if the sun were shining."

Ermington.

A Post Office was opened on 1 January 1881 but changed name to Melrose Park on 23 July 1956.

A new Official Post Office was then opened as Ermington at a different location on 3 September 1956. That office apparently also handled telegrams.

Used: 30 June 1988.

Size:

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

Garden Island.

An office providing telegraph & telephone services was opened on 13 May 1940.

A rubber oval TELEGRAPH STATION/GARDEN ISLAND ?? date stamp (RO3 - TST) was used at Garden Island.

Used in violet: 3 May 1919.

Size:

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

The Telegraph Office opened at the Gladesville Asylum on
17 May 1876. This was closed and reopened at the Post Office on
19 March 1888 but as an office separate from the Post Office (which had opened on 1 January 1861). The Post and Telegraph offices merged on 1 August 1896.

No special date stamp was issued for telegraph use.

Glebe.

The Telegraph Office opened on 18 August 1877.

Granville.

A Post & Telegraph Office was opened at Granville on 16 August 1880 when the name of the previous Parramatta Junction was changed.

The Australian Star of 18 July 1880 reported that "the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of Granville Post and Telegraph Office was postponed from July 19 owing to the seriousness of the Mayor Alban Gee. Mr Gee is reported to be in a less serious condition than was first reported".

Hornsby.

The Post & Telegraph Office opened at Hornsby on 1 May 1900 when the office was renamed from Hornsby Junction.

A circular TELEGRAPH SECTION date stamp (RC1-TS) was issued to the Office.

Used in red: 22 May 1978.

Diameter: 31 mm.

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

22 May 1978.
Only recorded example.

The Telegraph Office was opened on 13 December 1877. It was converted to a Post & Telegraph Office on 1 January 1878.

Homebush was :

1. the location of one of the important horse racing tracks in Sydney in the 1870s. The Parramatta Races were held there.
   
   
2. close to the major cattle auction yards.

Used in red: 12 February 1940.

Diameter: 31 mm.

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

Diameter: 28 mm.

"We have at last the absolute confession of the Telegraph Department that electricity in their hands is unable to compete with the railway and omnibus. We send, as the public are aware, a special reporter on Mondays and Thursdays to the Homebush sheep and cattle sales in order that our readers may know the prices of the day.

Now, it invariably happens that the gentleman who is entrusted with this duty deposits his last copy in the Homebush Telegraph Office, goes to his luncheon, returns here by train and tram, and then has to wait about ten minutes before the telegram arrives. As his last telegram is only a few words, this is very provoking, and of course exceedingly detrimental to our business.

The natural remedy would be to forswear the use of the telegraph and send the copy off at once from Homebush by a smart boy on a bicycle, and this we shall do in future. But we naturally submitted the matter to the Department and, after many complaints and much correspondence, we are now gravely informed that "there is no avoidable delay." The department accepts its defeat and is content to be outstripped by the tardy tramcar and slow-moving train. Electricity as managed by our officials is simply nowhere".

A Post Office was opened at the Homebush Bay Abattoirs on 19 April 1915 and it seems that it changed status to a Telegraph Office on 21 June 1915.

This Office was closed on 31 December 1932.

The postal date stamp was used throughout.

Use: 22 May 1931 (in the TO period).

Diameter: 27 mm.

Rated: RRR.

The Post & Telegraph Office opened on 1 December 1889 with a change of name from Hurstville Railway Station. The office at the railway station had only opened on 17 September 1889.

Two types of date stamp were used for telegraphic work at Hurstville:

1. A steel circular TELEGRAPHS date stamp.
   Has N.S.W - AUST at the base.

Used 7 January 1956.

Diameter: 30 mm.

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.
Not recorded elsewhere.

7 January 1956.

Used on AB-GSF-54A.

A Telegraph Office was opened at the Post Office in 1875. These offices changed name to Gordon on 1 June 1879.

A second Post & Telegraph office was opened at Lane Cove on 21 June 1920. A special Telegraph Office was opened on 13 November 1940.

A rubber circular TELEGRAPH date stamp was used at Lane Cove. This inscription is unique.

Used in violet: 11 August 1971.

Diameter: 32 mm.

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

Leichardt.

Tenders were called for the lease of suitable premises for a Post & Telegraph Office in October 1885.

The Post & Telegraph Office opened on 1 March 1876.

See also the 1918 Mirror report on urgent telegrams.

Manly Post & Telegraph Office undergoing extensions and renovations in 1905.

A circular rubber TELEGRAPHS date stamp (RRH1 - T) was issued to Manly in two formats for use with Telegrams:

1. Diameter: 32 mm.
   
   Used: 12 March 1951.
   
   Rated: RRR.

12 March (1951).

Manly Telegraphs violet date stamp (without year).

Three backstamps - Manly, Melbourne and Hobart - with two showing 1951.
Provenance: Freeman, Johnstone.

2. Diameter: 31 mm.
   
   Used: 27 April 1984.
   
   Rated: RRR.

No stars near the circumference.

The Post & Telegraph Office was opened on 1 August 1882.

Mortdale.

A Post Office was opened on 15 November 1889. This office was moved to the Railway Station and opened as a combined Post and Telegraph Office on 14 September 1903. It was removed from the Railway Station on 17 August 1906.

Diameter: 32 mm.

Used: 23 May 1973 and 18 July 1975.

Rated: RR.

Number in the Census: 2.

Mosman.

The Telegraph Office opened at Mossmans Bay on 25 November 1889 soon after the opening of the Post Office on 1 July 1886. On 15 April 1890, the two offices merged.

On 1 August 1893, the combined Post & Telegraph Office changed name to Mosman.

No special date stamp for use with telegrams was issued to Mosman. The usual Post Office date stamps were used.

Two examples of the basic format used on telegrams are shown at the right. Both have the order day-month-year.

RC1 - Double side arcs.
Diameter: 29 mm.

Used on AB-DU-7.

RC1 - PO.
Diameter: 30 mm.

Used on AA-DO-13B.

Used on AW-DO-9 (42).

The Telegraph Office opened on 1 September 1873.

A rectangular rubber TELEGRAPHS date stamp (RRH1 - T) was issued to Newtown.

Size: 41 × 23 mm.

Used from 31 October 1945 to .

Rated: RRR.

A Post & Telegraph Office was opened after a change of name from St Leonards on 1 November 1890.

No special date stamp was issued to the Office for use with Telegraphs.

Two slogan postmarks advertising Telegrams are recorded as being used at North Sydney -

1. SEND A TELEGRAM;
2. HAPPY THOUGHTS: ...

Penrith.

A Post Office was opened at Penrith on 1 March 1828. Finally, on 29 September 1899, this Office together with other facilities, was converted to a Post & Telegraph Office.

A rubber circular TELEGRAPHS date stamp (RC1 - T) was issued to the Office:

Used: 1 November 1979.

Diameter: mm.

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

Penrith Railway Station.

The Telegraph Office opened on 28 March 1860. It was reclassified as a Telephone Office (retaining telegraphic operations) on 28 May 1934. It was closed on 31 October 1960.

A steel circular PENRITH RAIL type 2A date stamp was issued to the Office:

Used in violet: no dateline apparent.

Diameter: 29 mm.

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

Petersham.

The Post Office at Petersham was established when the previous name of Norwood was changed on 1 July 1872.

A Telegraph Office was established on 6 May 1874. The merger of the two branches to form a Post & Telegraph Office was effected on 9 October 1893.

Pyrmont.

A Telegraph Office was opened at Pyrmont on 22 September 1882. On 27 November 1882, it was merged with the Post Office together with a Money Order Office and a Commonwealth Bank Savings Branch.

A previous Post Office had opened as Pyrmont on 1 April 1853. It changed name to Harris Street on 27 November 1882.

A rubber circular TELEGRAPHS date stamp (RC1 - T) was issued to the Office:

Used: 17 November 1962.

Diameter: mm.

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

A Telegraph Office was opened on the course in 1870. It was closed on 18 January 1938 and reopened on 15 October 1938. There is no record of when it closed.

It is unlikely that a special date stamps was issued to the Office.

Redfern.

The Telegraph Office opened on 19 July 1875.

Tenders were called for the construction of a new Post & Telegraph Office in September 1871.

The Foundation Stone for yet another new Post & Telegraph building - on the corner of George and Redfern Streets - was laid at a special ceremony on 17 December 1881. It opened for business on 1 February 1883. A turret clock costing £250 was installed in 1890.

Riverwood.

An Official Post Office was opened at Riverwood on 1 February 1958 when there was a change of name from Herne Bay.

A rubber circular TELEGRAPH OFFICE date stamp (RC1 - TO) was issued to Riverwood:

Used: 19 February (19)85.

Size:

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

Rockdale.

The Telegraph Office opened on 25 November 1889. This Office was amalgamated with the Post Office on 11 February 1890.

1. TELEGRAPH OFFICE.
   
   RC3 - TO
   
   Used in violet: 5 August 1944 - 10 October 1948.

Diameter: 30 mm.

Rated: R.

Number in the Census: 15+.

 

RC3 - TO

Used in red: 6 May 1944.

Diameter: 30 mm.

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

6 May 1944.
Used on AW-DU-10Ba.

2. TELEGRAPH OFFICE at the top in 2.5 mm high letters.
   
   
   RC1 - TO.

Used: 3 July 1948 and 13 December 1958.

Diameter: 30 mm.

Rated: RR.

Number in the Census: 7.

13 July 1948.
Used on AW-DO-10A (46).

13 December 1958.
Used on AA-DO-13B.

3. TELEGRAPH OFFICE in 3 mm high letters.
   
   RC1 - TO.

Used in violet: 17 October 1952 and 20 March 1957.

Diameter: 30 mm.

Rated: R.

Number in the Census: 10.

17 October 1952.
Used on AW-DO-10BB (50).

20 March 1957.
Used on AW-DO-13B.

The Telegraph Office opened on 1 February 1878. The Post Office had opened about 1846 when the Kissing Point Post Office (opened 1 October 1841) changed its name to Ryde.

The Post and Telegraph Offices merged on 1 July 1895.

Ryde Post & Telegraph Office about 1915.

A rubber circular TELEGRAPHS date stamp (RC1 - T) was issued to the Office:

Used in violet: 11 February 1982.

Diameter: 31 mm.

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 1.

11 February 1982.

St. Leonards.

Newspapers carried the following announcement:

A BRANCH Post and Telegraph Office for the transaction of Postal, Money Order, Government Savings Bank and Telegraph business, was established on the 25th January instant, at ST. LEONARDS.

This office will be opened to the public daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and also on Saturday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. for the receipt of Government Savings Bank deposits.

The Telegraph Office opened on 6 January 1890.

Waverley.

A Post Office was opened on 1 January 1858.
The Telegraph Office opened on 8 July 1876 before combining with the Post Office on 3 July 1878.

There was a change of name to Bondi Junction on 11 September 1939.

On 12 August 1940, the Charing Cross Office was renamed Waverley.

The Office was issued with a rubber circular TELEGRAPHS date stamp (RC1-T):

Use: 15 September 1949.

Diameter: 30 mm.

Rated: RR.

Number in the Census: 4.

15 September 1949.
Used on AW-DO-10BBb (48).