Aranda

Aranda Post Office

Located approximately 5 kms north west from the centre of Canberra Aranda is located in the district of Belconnen and was the first suburb established in that district. It is reported that during the construction of the suburb a temporary post office was established in a facility on the dirt track which was to become Belconnen Way. It is not known whether this report relates to the old Weetangerra Post Office which did not close until 30 November 1967 or if in fact there was a temporary facility established during construction. The latter seems unlikely. A post office with money order facilities was established at the Aranda shopping centre on Bandjalong Crescent Aranda on 2 December 1968. G E Tunks was appointed postmaster. The Canberra Times, reporting the opening the following day, described its location as Shop 5, Block 18 of the J.B. Young shopping complex. The office temporarily closed on 4 September 1974 owing to staffing difficulties (Canberra Times reported that nobody wanted the position of Postmaster) and reopened on 13 January 1975 under W T (Tom) McCall. The office subsequently closed on 27 March 1987. 

On opening the office utilized a relief date stamp ‘RELIEF 125 ACT AUST’ until an office specific date stamp was prepared. It subsequently utilized a Type 4A(i) ‘ACT’ post code 2614 date stamp use of which is recorded between 1970 and 1987.

Aranda Post Office (Australian National Archives)

Aranda Post Office Type 4A(i) ‘ACT’ post code 2614 date-stamp, 28 April 1970, together with definitive Registration label.

Aranda Post Office Type 4A(i) ‘ACT’ post code 2614 date-stamp, 10 June 1975

Aranda Post Office Type 4A(i) ‘ACT’ post code 2614 date-stamp, 27 March 1987 (closing day)

Aranda Post Office Type 4A(i) ‘ACT’ post code 2614 date-stamp, 27 March 1987 (closing day)