Canberra (I)

Canberra (I)

The first official record of the Canberra Post Office is 7^th of February 1860 when the residents of Canberra, Duntroon and Yarralumla petitioned for the establishment of a post office. A subsequent petition was made on 14th October 1861. On 1st January 1863 Andrew Wotherspoon took up duty as Postmaster at Canberra on a salary of 12 pounds per annum. The post office was located near St John’s Church of England in the stone building attached to the blacksmiths.  Wotherspoon later resigned and was replaced by Francis Williams on 10th July 1863. In 1878 Ebenezer Booth who operated the local store, 150 yards from the post office was appointed. His appointment was short lived and he was replaced by Thomas Whitehead who had bought Francis William’s business. William’s sureties included the Campbells of Duntroon. On the 1December 1878 he was replaced by John Warwick who took over the premises and operated as a  blacksmith. On 1 February 1880 Warwick was replaced by Mrs E Abernethy, wife of the teacher at the church of England School at Canberra. The post office was relocated to the residence near the school house. On 2nd June 1913 the name of the office was changed to Ainslie and later Canberra City.

Canberra  Post Office utilized a Numeral Canceller (Obliterator)  NC 371 and a Type 1A (C71) date-stamp (1864-1884). Type 1D(i) (1886-1913).

Canberra NSW 19 April 1866 cover to London, England via Southhampton  and redirected to Hyde Park Gardens with the payment of an additional 1d in England. Freeman Type 2R38 numeral cancellation 371 of Canberra on 6d NSW and H&T Type 1A Canberra cds 19 April 1866 reverse. Also Type 1A Ginninderra NSW 19 April 1866, Sydney NSW and London backstamps. Cover believed to have originated from Edward Ward who was employed as a gardener by William Davis at Ginninderra. He married Margaret Collins at St John’s Canberra in 1857.  A very rare piece of Canberra postal history.

28 April 1880 cover addressed to Ms Smith C/o Honorable WJ Foster, Thurnby, Newtown Sydney (Foster was Attorney General in the Parkes Government) from her father the Reverend P.G. Smith. The Rector’s signature on rear of cover. Freeman Type 2R38 371 numeral cancellation of Canberra together with H&T Type 1A Canberra NSW date stamp 28 April 1880 on 2d NSW. Queanbeyan, Sydney and Newtown backstamps. De Salis correspondence Ex Alan Salisbury.

15 March 1883 cover addressed to George Fane De Salis Esquire MLA, Union Club Sydney with Freeman Type 2R38 371 numeral cancellation of Canberra cancelling 2d blue.Sydney, Queanbeyan and Canberra backstamps.

12 June 1884 cover addressed to Mrs George De Sallis (note double ‘l') Queanbeyan. Freeman Type 3R12 numeral cancellation of William Street cancelling 2d (2 x 1d ) red. Queanbeyan crossed out and Canberra in blue post office pencil across top of envelope. William Street, Sydney and Queanbeyan back stamps. Manuscript ‘Canberra June 13 84’ reverse. Manuscript in the hand of the then postmaster George Kinleyside (see Canberra Post Office file part 1 National Archives of Australia). Nothing on official file to indicate reason for date stamp and numeral obliterator not being used. De Salis correspondence Ex Alan Salisbury,

23 February 1898 cover addressed to Mrs G. Fane De Salis, Lambrigg, Tharwa Via Queanbeyan. Freeman Type 2R38 371 of Canberra cancellation together with 3 November 1905 H&T Canberra Type 1D(i) cds  

2 November 1905, 1 1/2d lettercard addressed to Mrs G. Fane De Salis, Soglio, Micalago Freeman Type 2R38 371 of Canberra cancellation together with 3 November 1905 Canberra Type 1D(i) cds. Yass and Goulburn back stamps.