Lanyon Post Office

Lanyon Post Office

Lanyon Post Office was opened on the 1st May 1860 at Lanyon Station, 23 kms south south west of Queanbeyan. The name of the first post master was H.H. Stone. Alexander .W CUNNINGHAM occupied the position on 1st August 1860 on a salary of 12 pounds per annum. His sureties were Andrew CUNNINGHAM, grazier of Lanyon and William Foxton HAYLEY, surgeon of Queanbeyan.

A.W CUNNINGHAM was succeeded by Andrew Jackson CUNNINGHAM on 1st November 1867. Sureties were Andrew and John CUNNINGHAM, graziers of Lanyon. CUNNINGHAM’s salary was increased to 14 pounds per annum on 1st July 1875. CUNNINGHAM was succeeded by Thomas DUTTON, Store keeper and school teacher at Lanyon Station on 1st September 1875 and he remained in the position until 1st July 1880.

Lanyon Post Office was closed on 31st January 1882.

A postal inspector subsequently visited the area in an attempt to find a successor for DUTTON. A son of Mr Leopold Fane De Salis M.P., George Fane De Salis, agreed to operate a receiving office for mails and the office was opened as Tharwa as it was in the parish and close to the mountain of that name. Although known as Tharwa it was actually situated at Cuppacumbalong Station approximately 1 mile from Lanyon. The property was owned by the Fane De Salis family.

Lanyon Post Office utilized a Numeral Canceller (Obliterator) NC 306 and a Type 1A (C71) date-stamp (1867-1880).

Lanyon numeral cancellation ‘306’, Freeman Type 2R38, cancelling 2d blue on cover addressed to Ms Smith, St. John’s Parsonage, Canberra. 2 December 1876 Lanyon Type 1A date stamp on obverse. Canberra & Queanbeyan back stamps reverse.  De Salis correspondence Ex Alan Salisbury.

Canberra numeral cancellation ‘371’, Freeman Type 2R38, cancelling 2d blue on cover addressed to Ms Smith, c/o G. Fane De Salis, Tharwa, Lanyon. 13 August 1881, Lanyon Type 1A date stamp on obverse. Canberra & Queanbeyan back stamps reverse.  De Salis correspondence Ex Alan Salisbury.

Lanyon numeral cancellation ‘306’, Freeman Type 2R38, cancelling 2d blue on cover addressed to Ms Smith, The Parsonage, Canberra. 25 October 1881 Lanyon Type 1A date stamp on obverse. Canberra & Queanbeyan back stamps reverse.  De Salis correspondence Ex Alan Salisbury.