Australian Post post office in Tasmania
Australia Post is the trading name of the Australian Postal Corporation (formerly Commission), an Australian government-owned corporation that provides postal services both locally and internationally, as well as operating retail outlets. Before colonial control of mail started in 1809, mail was usually passed on by ad hoc arrangements made between transporters, storekeepers and settlers. These arrangements were flexible and depended on cooperation of the country people. It was common for early settlers to ride many miles out of their way to deliver neighbours' mail that had been collected from informal distribution points.[4] The first organisation of a postal service in Australia commenced in 1809 with the appointment in Sydney of the first Postmaster of New South Wales. He was an English ex-convict, Isaac Nichols, who took the post operating from his home in George Street, Sydney. His main job was to take charge of letters and parcels arriving by ship, to avoid the chaos of people rushing aboard ships as soon as they arrived at Sydney's wharves. Nichols would pick up the mail and post a list of recipients outside his house.[5] He would advertise in the Sydney Gazette the names of all those who received mail. Recipients paid a fixed price of one shilling per letter to collect mail from Nichols' home, with parcels costing more depending on how heavy they were. VIP addressees were accorded personal delivery by Nichols.[6] The Postal Act of 1825 allowed the governor to fix postage rates and appoint postmasters outside Sydney, enabling the first organised postal service.[7] Letter deliveries began in 1828 and posting boxes first appeared in 1831.[6] Stamps were not required in those days, as the addressee paid for the letter, not the sender.[6] Postal services grew throughout the Australian colonies as they were established.
Size: 5298px × 7947px
Location: Tasmania, Australia
Photo credit: © Ken Hawkins / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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