The first postal service to the Tambaroora Gold Field was in July 1852 with the movement of mail initially being undertaken by Mounted Troopers with the Meroo Escort and being delivered to Mr. B.G. Sheridan the appointed Post Master. Shortly after Tenders for the Conveyance of Mail were advertised.
15 Jul 1852 - Establishment of Postal communication, Introduction of a weekly mail service to Tambaroora Creek
Source: (002) Pg.3, dtd 15 Jul 1852
Newspapers by TROVE, National Library of Australia
Image File Name - _18520715_03_smh_002_074
2 Aug 1852 - Post Office Established - Establishment of a Post Office at Tambaroora
The first known Post Office building occupied Lot 1 Section 20 on the corner of Mudgee Rd and Bent St, it shows the building in a deteriorating condition. Comments regularly being made about its state of disrepair. The image below is part of the Holtermann collection so would have been taken between 1872 and 1873.
The First Post Office at Lot 1 Section 20
Image Courtesy of the Holtermann Collection, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW
The Second Post Office
A brief background to the eventual occupation of Lot 12 Section 3 as the future Post Office began in 1872 when a
newspaper article
in Feb 1872 noted that Mrs. Beard was about to build a new store and dwelling house, the brick store and dwelling house was to be built on Lot 12 Section 3, coincidently the reference to her hotel in the newspaper article is the "Railway Hotel" on Lot 1 Section 4A.
An image from the Holtermann Collection looking up Mudgee Rd shows a timber vertical slab building with corrugated iron roof on the Lot at the time that particular Holtermann image was taken. This is supported by the image of the blacksmith shop located on Lot 13 which shows the southern wall of the vertical slab building in the left of the image. Whereas in another Holtermann Collection image the image of C.E. Wrights chemist shop on Lot 11 shows in the right of the image vacant land. This confirms construction work took place in 1872 as per the newspaper article. An image taken by an unknown photographer circa 1900 looking over the township does show a brick building with front verandah located on this site.
On completion of the new building Harriet Beard leased the Lot to James Tingle who was noted as being a storekeeper, she retained this Lot until she passed away in 1906.
On 14th May 1873 land was surveyed at Lot 1 Section 10 later known as Section 23 for a Post Office, the Plan (12-1710) was submitted to the Surveyor General in September 1873 but in the same year the Plan was annotated that it was "Not required for Post Office site see Misc. 73-6364" and again in 1889 the Plan was annotated as being "Not suitable for Post Office site see Misc. 89-15832".
An archaeological excavation was undertaken on Harriet Beards Lot 12 Section 3 in 1975 by the University of Sydney, the following link will take you to the NSW Archaeology Online web site page for this report, the item of interest is on page 162.
The Australia Post Historian stated in the Archaeological Research Paper undertaken for the building that Post Offices shared space within public buildings or businesses and did not have buildings dedicated specifically for Post Office business, this may only refer to situations in rural area's.
The building was used as a General Store when built and due to the dilapidated state of the existing Post Office at Lot 1 Section 20 arrangements were made to occupy space in the General Store at Lot 12 Section 3.
The Envelopes below are just two examples of the thousands of letters that would have passed through the Tambaroora Post Office in its life time.
1856 - This letter was addressed to Mr. Young Esq., of 112 Strand London. It originated at Tambaroora Post Office in late April 1856. Mr. Young was in fact Murdo Young the owner of "The Sun" newspaper, the address was where the newspaper was located. The Post Office stamp detail cannot be read.
Image File Name - envelope_young_112_strand_london_1856_back
The envelope below was sent to On Chong and Co. in George Street Sydney from a Chinese Store in either Tambaroora or Hill End. It is interesting to note that the letter below left Tambaroora on the 11th Sep 1874 and arrived in Sydney overnight on the 12th Sep 1874.
1874 - On Chong Chinese Storekeeper was in fact On Chong and Company, they were established on the 26 March 1868 when they took over the business of Sin Guong Lee and Company. On Chong became a large Importer and Exporter and was a major supplier to Chinese Storekeepers in regional areas.
Image File Name - envelope_chinese_on_gay_back_1874
1874 - On Chong Chinese Storekeeper was in fact On Chong and Company, they were established on the 26 March 1868 when they took over the business of Sin Guong Lee and Company. On Chong became a large Importer and Exporter and was a major supplier to Chinese Storekeepers in regional areas.
Image File Name - envelope_chinese_on_gay_back_1874
26 Apr 1923 - Closure of the Post Office - Loss of Priveledge after 60 years
Source: (160) Pg.22, 26 Apr 1923
Newspapers by TROVE, Courtesy of the National Library of Australia
Image File Name - _19230426_22_mgnwr_160_000
BALD HILL POST OFFICE
16 Nov 1858 - New Post Office for Bald Hill, Its location is unknown
Source: (647) No.185, Pg.1927, 16 Nov 1858
NSW Government Gazettes by TROVE,
Courtesy of the National Library of Australia
Image File Name - _18581116_185_1927_nswgg_647_011
HILL END POST OFFICES
23 Jul 1869 - Post Office Established at Hill End, Its location is unknown
Source: (045) No.160, Pg.1871, 23 Jul 1869
NSW Government Gazettes by TROVE, Courtesy of the National Library of Australia
Image File Name - _18690723_160_1871_nswgg_045_004
Occupants and Structures on this Lot
Post Office
Lots 1 Section 16, Tambaroora Street, Hill End
Note 1:
Newman's second Post Office, Hill End. The Post Office occupied space next to the Great Western Store. Originally purchased by William T. Pullen, 1 Nov 1871 (653)
Click on the Image to ENLARGE
Image courtesy of: Holtermann Collection, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW
