Manuka

Manuka Post Office

A non-official post office was established in the newsagent’s shop at the northern corner of the Arcade in Franklin Street, Manuka, officially opening on 1 May 1935 under Postmistress, Ms. Eva Yelland, the office becoming an Official Post Office on 2 January 1942 with Mr F Crossman appointed as Postmaster on 20 February 1942. Dale reports Crossman’s appointment as taking place on 19 May 1945 when official conditions were introduced and Bemboka Post Office, where Crossman was located, was reduced in status.

A Turley cover (with enclosure in the hand of Postmistress, Eva Yelland) confirms the Post Office's opening as 1 May 1935 (See below).

In 1943 the office was relocated to a small building in Furneaux Street and on 19 October 1957 to a larger store in Franklin Street. The office is located in premises at the corner of Franklin Street and Flinders Way.

As at February 2020, Manuka Post Shop was operating from The Terrace, Shop 20, 18 Flinders Way, Griffith, ACT. This area is an extension of the original Manuka shopping precinct.

On opening day 1 May 1935, no date stamp had been issued and instead a double circle ‘Post Office Canberra FCT’ stamp (purple ink), manuscript altered to read Manuka, was employed. The first registered mail item processed was an envelope addressed to Mr R. Turley (red provisional label No. 1876). The manuscript on the date stamp is in the hand of Eva Yelland.

A Type 2C ‘FCT’ date stamp was subsequently issued and use is recorded in 1936 - 1937. Type 2C ‘ACT’ date stamp with use between 1941 & 1965 is recorded as is a Type 3(i) ‘ACT’ between 1953 & 1978. Type 3D(i) date stamps x 2 ‘ACT’ are recorded as being used between 1969 & 1990. A Type 3E(i) ‘ACT’ date stamp is recorded between 1967 & 1988 and a Type 4A(i)(T) ‘ACT’ post code 2603 is recorded between 1990 & 1995. A rubber date stamp was introduced on 7 March 1973 for the purpose of cancelling First Day Covers for philatelic purposes. The Office subsequently became a limited philatelic sales centre in 1978.

Priority Paid Relief '187' was seen used at the Office on 15 June 1988.

Manuka Post Office 1950 (NAA)

1 May 1935 double ring Canberra FCT rubber date stamp, manuscript altered to Manuka FCT, on registered Turley cover to Victoria. Provisional red registration label manuscript Manuka and note indicating that it is “ first registration issued. Sorry no lower numbers. Bears alteration on date stamp. No proper stamp being yet supplied”. Opening day of Manuka Post Office. Manuscript in hand of Eva Yelland, Postmistress. A rare cover.

25 November 1936 Type 2C Manuka FCT cds cancelling 2d & 3d S.A Centenary on registered cover to Melbourne. Blue registration label overprinted in violet Manuka FCT.