Canberra Parliament House (Old)

Canberra Parliament House Post Office

(Old Parliament House)

Federal Parliament was originally convened in Melbourne, Victoria. Dale reports that an official post office was established at Parliament House, Canberra, towards the end of 1926. However, Hopson & Tobin report the opening date as 19 September 1927. There was also a temporary post office at the building for its opening on 9 May 1927 as there was also at nearby Camp "D", established for visitors attending the opening.

Until 1941 the post office only opened during sittings of the Parliament. The post office was originally located in the south-western corner of Kings Hall. However, from 1953 it was located on the lower floor at the foot of the stairs leading from the main entrance.

A Type 2A ‘PARLIAMENT HOUSE CANBERRA FCT’  (26mm) date stamp is recorded between 1927 and 1938 and a Type 2A(T) (33mm) between 1930 and 1933. A Type 2A ‘PARL’MT HOUSE CANBERRA ACT’ is recorded between 1944 and 1960 and  Type 3D(ii) x3 ‘ACT’ date stamps are recorded between 1963 and 1986. A Type 4D ‘ACT’ post code 2600 is recorded between 1971 and 1987.  Priority Paid Relief date stamp '207' was seen used at the Office on 25 July 1986 and was still in use in November 1986.

A.C.T. cut down Relief 'A' is recorded used at the Office on 23 June 1949.

New Parliament House opened in 1988.

Canberra Parliament House Post Office 1969 (NAA)



Federal Parliament House Victoria date stamp 21 May 1918

Federal Parliament House Victoria date stamp (1923) prior to relocation to Canberra

\

A.C.T cut down Relief  'A ' date stamp 23 June 1949 on Registered cover to Sydney

Canberra Parliament House (New)

Canberra Parliament House Post Office

(New Parliament House) 

New Parliament House, located on Capital Hill at the rear of the Old Parliament House was opened on May 9 1988, 61 years to the day of the opening of the original building. The opening was attended by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the second and the Duke of York. It is serviced by a post office located in the public area of the first floor at the front of the building.

On opening, date stamps and stationary from the Old Parliament House were relocated to the new building.

Canberra Parliament House rubber date stamp 17 November 2017

Camp "D"

Camp  “ D “

Camp “D” was a civilian camp for interstate camping motorists attending the Official Opening of Parliament House in Canberra on 9 May 1927.

Cubicles for auxiliary postal purposes were placed in the front external bay on the western side of the No. 1 Secretariat Building in close proximity to the Camp.

A POST OFFICE CAMP “D” F.C.T double-ring datestamp in violet is recorded used at the facility on 9 May 1927, (see my article in Australian Journal of Philately No. 135 March 2016 - http://aps.org.au/aps-journals-public-access/  ). Use of the datestamp is believed to have been very limited.