Tharwa

Tharwa Post Office

Following the closure of Lanyon Post Office on 31 January 1882 a postal inspector visited the area in an attempt to find a successor for the former post master Thomas 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, known as Tharwa ( in parish of Tharwa and near mountain of same name). A Receiving Office was opened at Cuppacumbalong Station approximately 1 mile upstream from Lanyon on 1st February 1882. The property was owned by the Fane De Salis family. George Fane De Salis was paid 5 pound per annum and remained in the position until he resigned on 1st December 1882. He was replaced by Edward P. Foster who held the position until 10 June 1886. George Fane De Salis again took over the role following Foster’s resignation.

On 17 September 1894 approval was given for the status of the office to be raised to post office. A petition of residents including William Farrer and H Fane De Salis sought to have David J. Gregory appointed Post Master however, Sidney G. Bambury who operated the Tharwa Ferry was appointed. In January 1895 money order facilities were established and mails were being carried to Freshford, Booroomba and Tidmanbilly on horseback. The route terminated at Rock Valley Station.

On 1st May 1896 Mrs May Bambury became postmistress and following her resignation Mr Patrick Sheedy took up the role on 9th March 1897. Sheedy remained Post Master until December 1948 having served in the role for 51 years and 9 months. He was succeeded by Mrs Ruth Wheeler who operated the office from her home about 60 yards from the old office. Mrs Wheeler was still in the role in 1978. The office is located in the Tharwa General Store, operated by the Jeffrey family.

As at February 2020, Tharwa Licensed Post Office, continued to trade from the Tharwa General Store, 11 North Street, Tharwa A.C.T. having survived a major bushfire which came within a kilometre of the Village during the previous week. 

Tharwa Post Office utilized a Numeral Canceller (Obliterator) NC 1735 and a type 1D(i) (C74) date-stamp (1895-1916). Subsequently type 2A date - stamp (later altered to FCT) and 2C (ACT) date stamp 1949. A type 3D( i ) is recorded in use between 1976 and 1990. N.S.W single letter cut-down ‘ K ‘, recorded used in 1923.

Tharwa Post Office 1969 - Residence of Mrs Ruth Wheeler, Postmistress

Tharwa numeral cancellation ‘1735’. Freeman Type 4B cancelling 2d blue on cover addressed to George Fane De Salis, Throsby, Newtown. Tied with 3 January 1896,  H&T Type 1D(i) Tharwa date stamp. Queanbeyan & Newtown back stamps reverse.  De Salis correspondence Ex Alan Salisbury.

Richmond numeral cancellation ‘4‘, Freeman Type 3R16 cancelling 27 March 1904, OHMS Cover addressed to W. Farrer Esq, Wheat Experimentalist, Lambrigg, Tharwa, and tied with 29 March 1904, H&T Type 1D(i) Tharwa arrival date stamp. Richmond & Granville date stamps to obverse. Granville, Goulburn & Queanbeyan date stamps to reverse.  De Salis correspondence Ex Alan Salisbury.

Numeral cancellation ‘1735’ Type 4B canceling 1d red with 15 August 1910, Type 1D(i) Tharwa NSW date stamp on real picture postcard addressed to Miss Charlotte Fane De Salis, London England. The card originates from the recipient’s sister Emily who describes the photo as 2 old yellow box, coming up to our old Gum Tree on the road to Gregory’s gate on the left hand side. It is likely that the two young women in the photo are members of the De Salis Family and the photo was taken at Naas where Gregorys and the De Salis’ had properties. De Salis correspondence Ex Alan Salisbury.

Type 1D(i) Michelago NSW date stamp cancelling 1d red on post card addressed to Miss Emily De Salis, Lambrigg, Tharwa. Card dated 18 July 1910 and bears 20 July 1910 Type 1D(i) Tharwa NSW backstamp to front. Emily was the fourth daughter of George and Mary Fane De Salis. The card is from Ms Isabel Ryrie, Danehurst, Michalego. Isabel was the daughter of William and Grace Dudley, one of four children born to the couple. William was the younger brother of Major General Sir Granville Ryrie. Isabel was approximately 7 years old at the time of writing this card, her birth being recorded at Cooma in 1903. De Salis correspondence Ex Alan Salisbury.

1 December 1913,  H&T Type 1D(i) Tharwa date stamp on 1d red Kangaroo.

22 February 1915,  H&T Type 1D(i) Tharwa date-stamp tying 1d red GV to small cover addressed to Miss E. Fane De Salis, Soglio, Micalago. De Salis correspondence Ex Alan Salisbury.

1923 Great Britain cover addressed to Mrs Farrer, Lambrigg, Tharwa, New South Wales with 1 ½ d brown tied by Shepperton MIDDX cds. British “More to Pay/2d”  & “T/20/L” handstamps. Postage due 1d pair tied by NSW single letter cut-down  ‘ K ‘  relief cds used at Tharwa (likely during period of transition from N.S.W. to F.C.T date-stamp).

23 February 1933 H&T Type 2C Tharwa, F.C.T. cds tying 2d red GV to piece, H&T list Type 2A (subsequently altered to “ F.C.T “ However, no dates listed and not sighted. Type 2C “A.C.T.” appears to be a recut of the Type 2C FCT.

6 April 1951 H&T Type 2C Tharwa A.C.T. cds tying 3 1/2d blue GVI to piece




27 May 1960 H&T Type 2C Tharwa A.C.T. cds tying 5d blue QEII to piece

16 September 1981, H&T Type 3D(i) date stamp cancelling 24c Outward Bound AP pre-stamped envelope No. 037 FDC. Outward Bound Australia operates from a site near Tharwa and has done so since 1978.

Tharwa Licensed PO rubber date-stamp incorrectly inscribed NSW 

Tharwa Licensed Post Office rubber date stamp 12 February 2020