After the first Telegraph Offices were established on the Hobart Town to Launceston line in 1857, considerable efforts were made, as funds became available, to open other Offices along lines to areas of need for telegraphic communication.
By 30 April 1872, there were Telegraph Offices at Hobart, Launceston and Low Head and ten other Offices - Bothwell, Campbell Town, Kempton (Green Ponds), Longford, Melton Mowbray, Mount Nelson, Nine Mile Springs, Oatlands, Pontville and Ross.
On 14 April 1874, the Gazette notified "that the telegraph stations will be open on Sunday evenings from 9:00 to 9:30 for the convenience of persons having urgent business with the department".
The earliest recorded use of a Tasmanian date stamp on a telegram is at Green Ponds on 3 October 1874.
A listing of Telegraph Offices in Tasmania is shown below. Hyperlinks lead to further details about that office or to an overview of the Tasmanian lines.
The tables can be copied into an Excel spreadsheet for further sorting and research. Highlight the cells required and follow the usual COPY steps (highlight table, press CTL-C then CTL-V in your spreadsheet).
First letter of Office name. | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H |
I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q |
R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
A | Telegraph Office | Region | Opening year | Notes |
Abbottsham | north-west | 1900 | ||
Alberton | north-east | 1885 | Closed in 1893. Reopened in 1898 | |
Alberton | north-east | 1898 | ||
Antill Ponds | Hob-Laun line | TMLR | ||
Apslawn | north-east | 1902 | Cancellation on telegraph forms only known in mss from 23 January 1902 for several months. First cds is 28 June 1927. | |
Arthur River | north-west | 1914 | No cancellation known. | |
Avoca | north-east | 1876 |
B | Telegraph Office | Region | Opening year | Notes |
Barrington | north-west | 1899 | nth of Sheffield prob Latrobe line | |
Beaconsfield | north-east | 1881 | ||
Beltana | south-east | 1896 | ||
Bishopsbourne | north-west | 1878 | ||
Bismark | south-west | 1897 | CN to Collinsvale 1915 | |
Boat Harbour | north-west | 1892 | ||
Boobyalla | north-east | 1882 | ||
Bothwell | Hob-Laun line | by 1865 | ||
Branxholm | north-east | 1885 | ||
Bridport | north-east | 1882 | Closed in 1892 | |
Brighton | Hob-Laun line | 1870 | PO opened 1 June 1832 and CN to Pontville 1895 | |
Brighton | Hob-Laun line | TMLR | ||
Buckland | south-east | 1876 | ||
Burnie | north-west | 1876 | CN from Emu Bay in 1840s |
C | Telegraph Office | Region | Opening year | Notes |
Cambridge | 1893 | Combined with Railway TO | ||
Cambridge | Hobart | 1891 | ||
Campania | south-east | TMLR | ||
Campbell Town | Hob-Laun line | Jan 1861 | ||
Campbell Town | Hob-Laun line | TMLR | ||
Cape Barren Island | Flinders Island | |||
Cape Portland | Only known as a telegraph Station and not a Post Office. | |||
Carlton | south-east | 1898 | ||
Carrick | north-west | 1878 | ||
Chudleigh | north-west | 1878 | ||
Circular Head | north-west | 1876 | CN to Stanley in 1882 | |
Cleveland | Hob-Laun line | 1876 | ||
Colebrook(see Jerusalem) | south-east | |||
Comstock | north-west? | 1891 | near Queenstown?? | |
Coppington | south-east | 1881 | ||
Corinna | north-west | 1885 | CN from Royenrine 1882. Closed 1905. | |
Corinna (Rovenrine) | north-west | 1882 | ||
Corners | south-east | TMLR | ||
Cressy | north-west | 1879 | ||
Currie | King Island | |||
Cygnet | south-west | 1885 | CN from Port Cygnet in 1895 to Lovett; CN to Cygnet in 1915. |
D | Telegraph Office | Region | Opening year | Notes |
Dee | south-west | 1892 | ||
Deloraine | north-west | 1885 | ||
Deloraine | north-west | L&WR | Had TO at station in 1871 | |
Devonport | north-west | 1874 | ||
Don (see Devonport) | north-west | 1874 | ||
Dora | north-west | 1898 | maybe ne of queenstown Closed same year 1898 | |
Dover (see Port Esperance) | south-west | |||
Duck River | north-west | 1876 | PO 1 November1873 and CN to Smithton in 1895. | |
Dundas | north-west | 1893 | Combined with Railway TO. 5 k east of Zeehan, Closed 1894 | |
Dundas Junction | 1891 | Closed in ??; reopened 1895 but closed again in 1897. |
E | Telegraph Office | Region | Opening year | Notes |
Eaglehawk Neck | south-east | 1885 | Tenders called January 1873. The first Eagle Hawk Neck Post & Telegraph Office opened from 1875-1877. | |
East Strahan | north-west | 1891 | ||
Egg Lagoon | King Island | |||
Elderslie | south-west | 1891 | ||
Ellendale | south-west | 1897 | ||
Ellesmere (see Scottsdale) |
north-east | |||
Emita | Flinders Island | |||
Emu Bay (see Burnie) | north-west | |||
Epping | Hob-Laun line | 1891 | ||
Evandale | Hob-Laun line | CN to Western Junction. 1885 | ||
Evandale | Hob-Laun line | L&WR | ||
Evandale | Hob-Laun line | TMLR | ||
Exton | north-west | L&WR |
F | Telegraph Office | Region | Opening year | Notes |
Falmouth | north-east | 1876 | ||
Fentonbury | south-west | 1897 | ||
Fingal | north-east | 1876 | ||
Flinders Island | north-east | Wireless/Radio | Listed under AWA Coastal Radio Stations. | |
Forcett | south-east | 1892 | ||
Forest | south-east | 1896 | ||
Forth | north-west | 1874 | ||
Frankford | north-west | 1897 | ||
Franklin | south-west | 1878-1884 |
G | Telegraph Office | Region | Opening year | Notes |
Gean's Plains | 1900 | |||
Geeve's Town | south-west | 1878 | CN to Geeveston in 1888 | |
Geeveston (see Geeve's Town) |
south-west | |||
George Town | Hob-Laun line | 1857 | ||
George's Bay | north-east | 1876 | CN to St Helens in 1882 | |
Gladstone | north-east | 1882 | ||
Glengarry | north-west | 1897 | ||
Glenlusk | south-west | 1896 | NW of Hobart to Bridg. | |
Glenora | south-west | 1885 | ||
Glenorchy | Hobart | 1891 | See Prestige 190 Lot 1477. | |
Glenorchy | Hob-Laun line | 1885 | ||
Glenorn | 1893 | Combined with Railway TO. | ||
Gormanston | north-west | 1894 | ||
Gould's Country | north-east | 1880 | Originally Kunnarra | |
Government House | Hobart | 1880 | ||
Grassy | King Island | |||
Green Ponds | Hob-Laun line | by 1865 | PO renamed Kempton in 1895 but town name changed in 1838 |
H | Telegraph Office | Region | Opening year | Notes |
Hamilton | south-west | 1872 | ||
Hastings | south-west | 1880 | ||
Hayley | north-west | L&WR | ||
Heazlewood | south--west | 1892 | Closed 1897. Not sure of spelling | |
Heemskirk (Remine) | north-west | |||
Henty | 1890 | Closed in 1892 | ||
High Thorpe | 1899 | |||
Hillend | 1899 | closed 1900 | ||
Hobart | Hob-Laun line | TMLR | ||
Hobart Town | Hob-Laun line | 1857 | ||
Hobart West | Suburban |
I | Telegraph Office | Region | Opening year | Notes |
Ida Bay | south-west | 1891 | Closed in 1893. | |
Irish Town | north-west | 1898 | ||
Iron Store | 1900 |
J | Telegraph Office | Region | Opening year | Notes |
Jericho | Hob-Laun line | 1878-1884 | ||
Jerusalem | TMLR | TMLR |
K | Telegraph Office | Region | Opening year | Notes |
Kellevie | south-east | 1896 | ||
Kellevie | south-east | 1898 | ||
Kempton (see Green Ponds) |
south-west | |||
King Island | King Island | 1902 | References the various Offices on the island. | |
Kingston | south-west | 1878-1884 | ||
Kingston Beach | south-west | 1900 | ||
Koonya | south-east | 1891 |
L | Telegraph Office | Region | Opening year | Notes |
Lady Bay | South-west | 1889 | Closed in 1893. | |
Latrobe | north-west | 1874 | ||
Launceston | Hob-Laun line | 1857 | ||
Launceston | Hob-Laun line | L&WR | ||
Launceston | Hob-Laun line | TMLR | ||
Lefroy (see Nine Mile Springs) |
north-east | |||
Leven | north-west | 1874 | CN to Ulverstone in ??? | |
Linda | north-west | 1899 | Near Queenstown Closed 1966 | |
Lisdillon | south-east | 1885 | ||
Loccota | Flinders Island | |||
Longford | Hob-Laun line | 1871? | ||
Longford | Hob-Laun line | L&WR | ||
Lottah (see Lower Junction) |
north-east | Very complex naming - http://tps.org.au/bb/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=256 | ||
Lovett (see Cygnet) | south-west | CN to Lovett in 1895 and then to Cygnet in 1915. | ||
Low Head | Hob-Laun line | 1857 | ||
Low Head Station | Hob-Laun line | Sub. Teleg. | ||
Lower Barrington | north-west | 1899 | 2 km south of Barrington. | |
Lower Junction (see Lottah) |
north-east | 1885 | ||
Lymington | north-east | 1885 | See NOTE below table. | |
Lymwood | King Island |
NOTE: Lymington is a difficult identification as there were two towns with the same name. | |||
Lymington was 20 miles from Launceston in the north-east region. The PO here was opened on 17 September 1876. | |||
It changed its name to Nile on 16 September 1890 only to renamed Lymington North on 9 September 1891. | |||
Finally, on 6 February 1901, it was renamed Nile. | |||
Lymington was also 4 miles from Cygnet in the south region. Its Post Office was opened on 1 Ovtober 1890. | |||
On 9 September 1891, it was renamed Lymington South but renamed Lymington on 1 January 1917. | |||
On 31 May 1968, the Lymington Post Office was closed. |
N | Telegraph Office | Region | Opening year | Notes |
Nabeena | south-east | 1891 | 10 k NE of Pt Arthur | |
Naracoopa | King Island | |||
New Norfolk | south-west | by 1865 | ||
New Norfolk Road | south-west | TMLR | ||
Nine Mile Springs | north-east | 1870 | CN to Lefroy in 1881 | |
Nook | north-west | 1899 | ||
Norfolk Plains (see Longford) |
north-east | CN to Longford in 1856 | ||
North Motton | north-west | 1899 | ||
North Mt. Lyell | north-west | 1899 | ||
Northdown | north-west | 1900 | ||
Nubeena | south-east |
O | Telegraph Office | Region | Opening year | Notes |
Oatlands | Hob-Laun line | Jan 1861 | ||
Oatlands | Hob-Laun line | TMLR | ||
Oceana Junction | Telegraph Station only - no canceller. | |||
Orford | south-east | 1894 | ||
Orrville | north-west | 1898 | closed 1900 | |
Ouse | south-west | 1876 | ||
Oyster Cove | south-west | 1878-1884 |
P | Telegraph Office | Region | Opening year | Notes |
Parattah | south-east | 1882 | ||
Penghana |
north-west | Closed and CN to Queenstown November 1896. Both names were still used in 1900 Walch's Almanac. |
||
Penguin | north-west | 1876 | ||
Peppermint Bay | south-west | 1878-1884 | Now Woodbridge | |
Perth | L&WR | L&WR | ||
Perth | north-west | 1890 | ||
Perth | north-west | 1890 | ||
Pieman | north-west | 1898 | ||
Pine Road | north-west | 1899 | ||
Pine Road West | north-west | 1899 | ||
Pontville (see Brighton) | south-west | |||
Port Cygnet | south-west | 1878-1884 | CN to Lovett in 1895; CN to Cygnet in 1915. | |
Port Esperance | south-west | 1879 | PO opened 6 February 1856 and CN to Dover in 1895 | |
Pyngana | north-east | 1899 | In the Blue Tier |
Q | Telegraph Office | Region | Opening year | Notes |
Queenstown | north-west | 1896 | CN from Penghana November 1896. |
R | Telegraph Office | Region | Opening year | Notes |
Railton | north-west | 1892 | ||
Ranelagh Junction | south-west | 1900 | ||
Regatta Point | north-west | 1900 | ||
Remine (see Heemskirk) | north-west | Remine closed 1896 | ||
Riana | north-west | 1899 | ||
Richmond | south-east | 1876 | ||
Ringarooma | north-east | CN from Tunnack in 1882. | ||
Rocky River | south-west | 1900 | ||
Rosebery | north-west | 1898 | ||
Ross | south-east | by 1865 | PO from 1832 but building completed in 1889 TO separate | |
Ross | south-east | TMLR | ||
Royenrine (see Corinna) |
north-west | CN to Corinna. | ||
Rumsey Huts | 1897 |
S | Telegraph Office | Region | Opening year | Notes |
Salt Water River | south-east | 1900 | ||
Saltwater River | south-east | 1900 | ||
Sassafras | north-west | 1900 | ||
Scamander | north-east | 1897 | ||
Scottsdale | north-east | 1882 | PO opened at Ellesmere on 29 November 1865 but CN to Scottsdale in 1893. | |
Settlement Cove | Flinders Island | |||
Sheffield | north-west | 1881 | ||
Shipwright's Point | Hobart | 1878-1884 | ||
Sisters Creek | north-west | 1900 | ||
Smithton | north-west | 1876 | CN from Duck River in 1895. | |
Somerset (see Somerset River Cam) |
north-west | |||
Somerset River Cam | north-west | 1876 | Somerset River Cam PO opened 1864 and CN to Somerset in 1963 | |
Sorell | south-east | 1876 | ||
Southport | south-west | 1879 | A "murderous" office!! | |
Spring Bay | south-east | 1876 | PO opened on 28 Feb 1832 and closed later in the year. Reopened 1836 and renamed Triabunna in 1881 | |
Springfield | north-east | 1900 | ||
Springs | 1891 | TO 18 April 1891; PO 17 October 1912; TO 1 May 1929; closed 30 November 1942. | ||
St. Helens |
north-east | CN from George's Bay in 1882. | ||
St. Marys | north-east | 1876 | ||
Stanley (see Circular Head) | north-west | 1876 | ||
Stirling | 1899 | |||
Stowport | north-west | 1899 | ||
Strahan | 1893 | Combined with Railway TO | ||
Strahan | north-west | 1893 | ||
Strathblane | south-west | 1890 | ||
Swan Island | north-east | Closed in 1893 lighthouse island off Boobyalla operating in 1889. | ||
Swansea (see Waterloo Point) |
south-east | 1876 | Waterloo Point PO opened on 6 September 1832 and CN to Swansea about 1863 |
T | Telegraph Office | Region | Opening year | Notes |
Table Cape | north-west | 1876 | PO opened about 1856 and CN to Wynard in 1882 | |
Taranna | south-east | 1885 | ||
Thirlstane | north-west | 1900 | ||
Thomas Plains (see Weldborough) |
north-east | 1885 | ||
Tonganah | north-east | 1899 | ||
Torquay (see Devonport) |
north-west | |||
Triabunna | south-east | CN from Spring Bay in 1881. | ||
Tunbridge | 1893 | Combined with Railway TO | ||
Tunbridge | Hob-Laun line | 1876 | Combined with Railway Office in 1893 | |
Tunnack | south-east | 1882 | CN to Ringarooma in 1882 |
U | Telegraph Office | Region | Opening year | Notes |
Ulverstone | north-west | 1874 | CN from Leven. |
W | Telegraph Office | Region | Opening year | Notes |
Waratah | north-west | 1882 | P&T Office. | |
Waterloo | south-west | 1890 | Closed 1895 | |
Waterloo Point |
south-east | CN to Swansea about 1863. | ||
Weldborough (see Thomas Plains) |
north-east | 1885 | Both names used in Walch's Almanac 1900 | |
Wesley Vale | north-west | 1900 | ||
Westbury | north-west | 1883 | ||
Westbury | L&WR | 1871 | ||
Whitefoord | south-east | 1900 | ||
Whitemark | Flinders Island | 1902 | ||
Wihareja | north west | |||
Windmill Hill | north-east | A telegram is noted in Ingles (1975, p109, 117) with the only known date stamp. | ||
Winkleigh | north-west | 1897 | ||
Wynard (see Table Cape) |
north-west |
Z | Telegraph Office | Region | Opening year | Notes |
Zeehan | north-west | 1889 | PO opened 1 Oct 1888 as Mount Zeehan and CN in 1890. | |
Zeehan East | north-west | 1899 |