The Post
The rider galloped up to the Doncaster Arms Hotel where he was met by the publican Robert Wilson. He handed over a small mail bag and Wilson offered him a refreshing mug of ale. They talked while he enjoyed his drink then Wilson opened the slip rails across Doncaster Road and the horse-man rode off along the trail to Warrandyte and the new Post Office in Cameron's store - a large tent with flags waving from the top of the tent poles.
Doncaster Arms Hotel (later called the Doncaster Hotel), at corner of Doncaster and Bismarck (later Victoria) Streets. DP0030
Ten years later, when a settlement was formed at Deep Creek, the mailman also hung a free bag on a tree outside Henry White's cottage in Andersons Creek Road.
Warrandyte had Victoria's last mounted postman when Bill McCulloch used to deliver mail on horseback along its many un-made hilly roads from 1950 to 1963.
The Doncaster and Templestowe Post Offices both opened in 1860.
Previously Templestowe mail was delivered to Heidelberg where anyone from Templestowe picked up the letters and delivered them. On Sunday the Post Mistress left letters in the window to be collected on the way to church.
James Field, who had the office in his store, was paid Ten (10) pounds a year and the mail was delivered three times a week.
Joseph Pickering, the first Post Master, became a respected member of the community. He formed Holy Trinity church and his youngest daughter, Kate, married Max Schramm. After a year, Tom Grant, a Baptist Minister, took over the Post Office. Grant left the district in 1865 so Joseph Pickering looked after the mail until 1868 when Mathew Hoare, licensee of the Doncaster Hotel, was given the appointment. The Post Office moved to the hotel.
The mail arrived on horse-back, leaving Melbourne at 7.30 a.m. The return mail left at 1.30 and arrived in Melbourne at 4.00 p.m.
When Mathew Hoare's children arrived home from school, they were sent out to deliver the letters that had not been collected during the day.
In 1871, the Post Office returned to Pickering's store. At East Doncaster the School was the Post Office. Kelso the Headmaster and Post Master opened it in 1887. He kept the mail on a table in the corner of the school room and the children took home any letters for their family after school.
Later, Zerbe built a store in Blackburn Road alongside the school and, in 1909, the P.M.G. appointed the store-keeper Mr. Otto Kuln as Post Master.
It was over forty years before another Post Office was opened in the district. The people of Donvale had to go to Mitcham every day to collect their mail. After the Donvale Store was built, they requested a Post Office without success.
Six years later, Jack Robinson went into town to the P.M.G. determined to get a local Post Office. After being fobbed off at the counter for some time he lost patience and strode into the Supervisors office demanding to be heard.
On 16th September 1929, the Donvale Post Office was opened in Mrs. Oate's store.
The local Post Office was one of the institutions of any small township. It was a meeting place where people talked as they waited for the mail to be sorted. Sitting behind the grille where letters are handed out, the Post Mistress becomes a personality in the district. She feels the pulse of the community and can be a friend in an emergency, or a source of information on local activities.
Now, with the many Post Offices in the City of Doncaster and Templestowe and mail delivered to houses, the Post Office has lost its once unique position in the Community.
1986 12 DTHS Newsletter
Doncaster township looking east, in 1900, taken from the Doncaster Tower. Shows Shire Hall, school, E. S. & A. Bank, and houses in the distance. In the grounds of the Shire Hall is a heap of left-over bricks, a privy, water hole, shed, and a picket fence along Council street The large tree in the school ground has been topped. DP0005
The township of Doncaster in 1880 viewed from the Doncaster Tower looking eastward. Buildings shown are the Doncaster school (later the E. S. & A. Bank and now demolished), Schramm's house, the Church of Christ, John Petty's house, and the Post Office. DP0019
Main Road, Doncaster1920, showing the Post Office, E. S. & A. Bank, Church of Christ, Ferry's bookmaker's shop, John Petty's hedge, W. J. May's (later Dr Commons') house, and a house adjacent to the post office on the west side (which may have been part of the Tower Hotel and removed to this site) DP0020
The Doncaster Post Office
One hundred and twenty years ago, on 17th May, 1860, the Doncaster Post Office was opened. Joseph Pickering, who had been in the district for over ten years, was appointed Postmaster. Pickering, a devout Anglican, was a respected member of the community. His children became leaders in the district. Arthur was a clergyman. Fred and John ran a butchers' shop. Fred was well known for his treatment of sick animals, and Kate married Max Schramm. They were well respected in Doncaster. |
| Dodds Wine Shop |
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| Newsagency - Argus and Age |
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| E Rolf Grocer and Produce |
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| EJ Symons Newsagency |
The Post Office was in a general store built on the front of Dodds shingle roofed wine shop. Having their own Post Office was a boon to the township. The earliest settlers had to make their own arrangements for collecting mail, first from Melbourne and later from Kew. It was an improvement when mail was delivered to Warrandyte for a loose bag was dropped at Doncaster.
After a year the Post Office was taken over by Tom Grant, a Baptist minister. His church, known as "Grant's Chapel", was directly across the road. Grant left the district in 1865 so Joseph Pickering looked after the mail till 1868 when Mathew Hoare, licensee of the Doncaster Arms Hotel, was given the appointment. The Post Office moved to the hotel. The same year Mathew Hoare was elected to the Templestowe Roads Board.
The mail arrived on horseback. Leaving Melbourne at 7.30 a.m., the rider dropped a mail bag at the hotel and rode on to Warrandyte. The return mail left at 1.30 p.m. and arrived in Melbourne at 4.00 p.m. When Mathew Hoareës children arrived home from school, they were sent out to deliver the letters that had not been collected during the day.
Often runaway sailors would find their way to the hotel. Mathew Hoare would befriend the men and hide them in the thick bush where they would work for their keep cutting timber.
In 1871, the Post Office returned to Pickering store. Joseph Pickering had died the previous year and his son John was running the business. The Post Office was transferred to the trustees, Peck, Lawford, Gill and Culliford. One of the trustees, James Gill, was appointed Postmaster in 1872. Gill had been a farmer in Templestowe renting land from James Read. Pickering had been paid £10 a year for his services, but, with the increase of mail, Gill received £20.
The rear of the store that had once been (Dodds) wine shop was leased to Charles Griffen, who erected a bake oven and became Doncaster's first baker. Griffen had a farm in Doncaster Road near the present golf links.
In 1875, James Culliford bought the store and became Postmaster. The next year, Henry G. Reynolds came to Doncaster from Collingwood and took over from Culliford. He held the position of Postmaster for thirty years. When Reynolds came out from England, his future wife, Annie Lousia, was on the same ship. They arrived in Melbourne on a Friday and were married on Sunday. Reynolds advertised himself as grocer, draper, general storekeeper, boot and shoe dealer and carpenter. When he travelled to Melbourne to collect for the store, he used to carry parcels, for a fee. Henry Reynolds was elected to the Shire of Bulleen in 1885 for three years. When the Shire of Doncaster was formed, Reynolds was elected to the new council in 1891. On his election, Reynolds said - "I will give the same service on the council as I have given the people of Doncaster for the past sixteen years."
In 1900 Harry, Reynolds' son, went into Melbourne to learn morse code in preparation for a telegraph being installed. Harry then taught his sister Beatrice. The store then became a Post and Telegraph Office. Beatrice had been looking after the Post Office side of the business when early in the new century she married Ted Symons. Henry Reynolds retired in 1906 and moved into a house alongside the store. Six years later he died.
The name Reynolds is commemorated by Reynolds Road in East Doncaster for Henry Reynolds had owned a large farm in the Deep Creek area. His son Harry became a farmer in East Doncaster. His farm was in Doncaster Road near Blackburn Road. After her father had retired, Beatrice and Ted took over the store and renamed it Symons Store. Ted added to the front to include a grocery section. He sent out postcards of Main Road, Doncaster, with a message written on the back. "Ladies and Gentlemen of Doncaster and surrounding districts. I am here to stay and would like you to help me carry on a cash grocery business. My order man will wait on you for orders and all goods supplied by me will be first class and at Melbourne prices."
In 1912, after Henry Reynolds had died, his wife Annie Reynolds presented the business to her daughter Beatrice. On the transfer she wrote that the only payment was "Love and affection".
Ted Symons enlisted during the First World War. He was sent overseas but died of asthma on the ship. Ted had always had a weak chest and Beatrice remembered with regret the cold winter mornings harnessing the horse ready for Ted to go out in all weather delivering the papers.
The work of running the business eventually became too much for Beatrice, so in 1917, E. Rolf took over the grocery part of the store. Again the building was enlarged, but Rolf only stayed for three years. The store was left with the Post Office, papers, school books and sweets.
In 1919 a public phone was installed at the Post Office. It has a party line with the cool store and was from the Box Hill Exchange. The phone was provided as the result of a request by fruitgrowers who needed to be in touch with jam factories. Two years later the government cool store and Doncaster Hotel each had their own telephone and during the next years more telephones were installed in the district.
In January, 1922, Beatrice Symons moved with her family to Bairnsdale. W. Fidler became Postmaster for the next five years. During the three years after Fidler left, Walhouse Dalrymple and F. E. Hoare held the position. Then in 1930, A. J. Aflick, who had been in the district for three years, took over officially as Postmaster. For nineteen years he ran the Post Office and store with the help of his father and brother.
In 1949, the office went to A. J. Williams, who was Postmaster and well known member of the community, for thirteen years. In 1954, Williams moved the office to a building across the road, almost in the same position as Tom Grant's Chapel. A brick front was added to the old store. Eight years later, after a fire, the building was demolished and Doncaster Central Arcade was built on the site.
During the 1960's the Post Office moved back across the road to a new shop and then moved to its present position in Doncaster Shoppingtown.
Irvine Green writing in 1980 05 DTHS Newsletter. Reprinted in 2000 03 DTHS Newsletter.
McLaren Edwd. p.m. Main Road, Doncaster. Directory of Victoria 1929 & 1930
Mr & Mrs McLaren came to Doncaster with two daughters, Ellie (as she was usually called) and Jean.
Ellie McLaren was mostly in the Post Office and her younger sister, Jean, helped in the Newsagency and sweet shop.
Afflich A.J. p.m. Main Road, Doncaster. Directory of Victoria 1932 & 1933
Mr Afflich was assisted in the Post Office, Newsagency and deliveries by his daughter, Marjorie, and his son, Walter. Marjorie and Walter also assisted Mrs Afflich in the sweet shop.
From memory only, I think the P.M.'s came in the following
Order: William Fidler, E Walhouse, E McLaren, E J Dalrymple, F E Hoere and A J Afflech.
1980 09 DTHS Newsletter
1887 - A Post Office was opened in the East Doncaster School in Blackburn Road. 1987 03 DTHS Newsletter
803 Mountain Highway BAYSWATER, KNOX CITY
This single storey simulated stone and weatherboard building was erected, about 1900,near an important road junction by Mr Freeman for Mr Harry Dodd. The wine shop is of local historical significance in that it was associated with the prosperous wine industry of Lilydale area in that era. The Dodd family held a liquor licence from 1899. The building is also significant as it was used as a boarding house in addition to being the headquarters of the Dodd family bus service with regular local trips and holiday excursions to the Dandenongs.
http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/vhd-images/places/000/187/701.jpg
http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/66006
After a year the Post Office was taken over by Tom Grant, a Baptist minister. His church, known as "Grant's Chapel", was directly across the road. Grant left the district in 1865 so Joseph Pickering looked after the mail till 1868 when Mathew Hoare, licensee of the Doncaster Arms Hotel, was given the appointment. The Post Office moved to the hotel. The same year Mathew Hoare was elected to the Templestowe Roads Board.
The mail arrived on horseback. Leaving Melbourne at 7.30 a.m., the rider dropped a mail bag at the hotel and rode on to Warrandyte. The return mail left at 1.30 p.m. and arrived in Melbourne at 4.00 p.m. When Mathew Hoareës children arrived home from school, they were sent out to deliver the letters that had not been collected during the day.
Often runaway sailors would find their way to the hotel. Mathew Hoare would befriend the men and hide them in the thick bush where they would work for their keep cutting timber.
In 1871, the Post Office returned to Pickering store. Joseph Pickering had died the previous year and his son John was running the business. The Post Office was transferred to the trustees, Peck, Lawford, Gill and Culliford. One of the trustees, James Gill, was appointed Postmaster in 1872. Gill had been a farmer in Templestowe renting land from James Read. Pickering had been paid £10 a year for his services, but, with the increase of mail, Gill received £20.
The rear of the store that had once been (Dodds) wine shop was leased to Charles Griffen, who erected a bake oven and became Doncaster's first baker. Griffen had a farm in Doncaster Road near the present golf links.
In 1875, James Culliford bought the store and became Postmaster. The next year, Henry G. Reynolds came to Doncaster from Collingwood and took over from Culliford. He held the position of Postmaster for thirty years. When Reynolds came out from England, his future wife, Annie Lousia, was on the same ship. They arrived in Melbourne on a Friday and were married on Sunday. Reynolds advertised himself as grocer, draper, general storekeeper, boot and shoe dealer and carpenter. When he travelled to Melbourne to collect for the store, he used to carry parcels, for a fee. Henry Reynolds was elected to the Shire of Bulleen in 1885 for three years. When the Shire of Doncaster was formed, Reynolds was elected to the new council in 1891. On his election, Reynolds said - "I will give the same service on the council as I have given the people of Doncaster for the past sixteen years."
In 1900 Harry, Reynolds' son, went into Melbourne to learn morse code in preparation for a telegraph being installed. Harry then taught his sister Beatrice. The store then became a Post and Telegraph Office. Beatrice had been looking after the Post Office side of the business when early in the new century she married Ted Symons. Henry Reynolds retired in 1906 and moved into a house alongside the store. Six years later he died.
The name Reynolds is commemorated by Reynolds Road in East Doncaster for Henry Reynolds had owned a large farm in the Deep Creek area. His son Harry became a farmer in East Doncaster. His farm was in Doncaster Road near Blackburn Road. After her father had retired, Beatrice and Ted took over the store and renamed it Symons Store. Ted added to the front to include a grocery section. He sent out postcards of Main Road, Doncaster, with a message written on the back. "Ladies and Gentlemen of Doncaster and surrounding districts. I am here to stay and would like you to help me carry on a cash grocery business. My order man will wait on you for orders and all goods supplied by me will be first class and at Melbourne prices."
In 1912, after Henry Reynolds had died, his wife Annie Reynolds presented the business to her daughter Beatrice. On the transfer she wrote that the only payment was "Love and affection".
Ted Symons enlisted during the First World War. He was sent overseas but died of asthma on the ship. Ted had always had a weak chest and Beatrice remembered with regret the cold winter mornings harnessing the horse ready for Ted to go out in all weather delivering the papers.
The work of running the business eventually became too much for Beatrice, so in 1917, E. Rolf took over the grocery part of the store. Again the building was enlarged, but Rolf only stayed for three years. The store was left with the Post Office, papers, school books and sweets.
In 1919 a public phone was installed at the Post Office. It has a party line with the cool store and was from the Box Hill Exchange. The phone was provided as the result of a request by fruitgrowers who needed to be in touch with jam factories. Two years later the government cool store and Doncaster Hotel each had their own telephone and during the next years more telephones were installed in the district.
In January, 1922, Beatrice Symons moved with her family to Bairnsdale. W. Fidler became Postmaster for the next five years. During the three years after Fidler left, Walhouse Dalrymple and F. E. Hoare held the position. Then in 1930, A. J. Aflick, who had been in the district for three years, took over officially as Postmaster. For nineteen years he ran the Post Office and store with the help of his father and brother.
In 1949, the office went to A. J. Williams, who was Postmaster and well known member of the community, for thirteen years. In 1954, Williams moved the office to a building across the road, almost in the same position as Tom Grant's Chapel. A brick front was added to the old store. Eight years later, after a fire, the building was demolished and Doncaster Central Arcade was built on the site.
During the 1960's the Post Office moved back across the road to a new shop and then moved to its present position in Doncaster Shoppingtown.
Irvine Green writing in 1980 05 DTHS Newsletter. Reprinted in 2000 03 DTHS Newsletter.
Corrections
Mrs Jean Beavis has very kindly supplied the following corrections to the article on the Doncaster Post Office in the last newsletter.McLaren Edwd. p.m. Main Road, Doncaster. Directory of Victoria 1929 & 1930
Mr & Mrs McLaren came to Doncaster with two daughters, Ellie (as she was usually called) and Jean.
Ellie McLaren was mostly in the Post Office and her younger sister, Jean, helped in the Newsagency and sweet shop.
Afflich A.J. p.m. Main Road, Doncaster. Directory of Victoria 1932 & 1933
Mr Afflich was assisted in the Post Office, Newsagency and deliveries by his daughter, Marjorie, and his son, Walter. Marjorie and Walter also assisted Mrs Afflich in the sweet shop.
From memory only, I think the P.M.'s came in the following
Order: William Fidler, E Walhouse, E McLaren, E J Dalrymple, F E Hoere and A J Afflech.
1980 09 DTHS Newsletter
Doncaster Post Offices - History
- Doncaster PO 17/5/1860.
- Doncaster Business Centre DC 23/5/1994; closed 30/8/1996.
- Doncaster Central PO 6/11/1967; renamed Doncaster Heights PO 2/9/1968.
- Doncaster Delivery Centre Renamed from Bulleen Delivery Centre DC c.-/9/1993; closed 16/4/1999.
- Doncaster East (1) PO 8/8/1887; renamed Doncaster East Delivery Centre DC 22/7/1990.
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| Doncaster East Post Office 1969 - premierpostal.com 5032720 |
- Doncaster East (2) Replaced Tunstall Square PO 23/7/1990; closed c.-/4/2011.
- Doncaster East (3) LPO 16/7/2012.
- Doncaster East Delivery Centre Renamed from Doncaster East DC 23/7/1990; replaced by Templestowe Delivery Centre 16/4/1999.
- Doncaster Heights Renamed from Doncaster Central PO 2/9/1968; LPO 18/10/1993.
- Doncaster Village PO 1/10/1960; closed 13/1/1969
1887 - A Post Office was opened in the East Doncaster School in Blackburn Road. 1987 03 DTHS Newsletter
Dodds Wine Shops were a "chain" with headquarters in Bayswater ??
Wine Saloon803 Mountain Highway BAYSWATER, KNOX CITY
This single storey simulated stone and weatherboard building was erected, about 1900,near an important road junction by Mr Freeman for Mr Harry Dodd. The wine shop is of local historical significance in that it was associated with the prosperous wine industry of Lilydale area in that era. The Dodd family held a liquor licence from 1899. The building is also significant as it was used as a boarding house in addition to being the headquarters of the Dodd family bus service with regular local trips and holiday excursions to the Dandenongs.
http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/vhd-images/places/000/187/701.jpg
http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/66006
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| Doncaster Post Office 1907. Woman & Child on verandah. Age and Leader advertisements. DTHS-dp0130. CollectionsVic791899 Daniel Harvey Collection |
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Doncaster Post Office 1914. Built by JosephPickering in 1866. Mr Symons became post master in 1907. Age' and 'Leader' newspaper signs. Room at side of Post Office has verandah Advertising Age AustralianJournal. DTHS-dp0137 |
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| Joseph Pickering and his wife Eliza, the parents of Kate Schramm wife of Max Schramm. Joseph Pickering was a store-keeper and post master in Doncaster Road, opposite the present municipal offices. DTHS-dp0281 |
Eliza Pickering, wife of Joseph Pickering, was born in 1814. In 1833 she married Joseph Pickering. In 1847 their daughter Kate was born. They emigrated to Victoria in the late 1840s. Mrs Pickering died in 1886.
Templestowe 1946, the aftermath of the second world war caused significant delays in obtaining a telephone service and meat ration cards were still being provided in 1948.
Note: Ration card was a separate item i.e. not linked to Postmaster General letter
Templestowe 1946, the aftermath of the second world war caused significant delays in obtaining a telephone service and meat ration cards were still being provided in 1948.
Note: Ration card was a separate item i.e. not linked to Postmaster General letter
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| BillChivers Facebook |
106 Years of Postal Service at Doncaster
Just over one hundred and six years ago, on the 17th May 1860, the Post Office began its long history of service in the Doncaster - Templestowe area by opening a small non-official post office at Doncaster. Six weeks later, a non-official post office also opened at Templestowe.
Because of the non-official status of both offices, it has been a fairly difficult task to piece together a list of persons who, over the years, have acted either as postmaster or postmistress at Doncaster and Templestowe. It will be noticed that a gap occurs in the records of both offices between the years 1884 and 1915.
DONCASTER
A post office opened on 17th May, 1860, and operated in conjunction with a small store. The first postmaster was J. Pickering, who received an annual remuneration based on a percentage of postal business transacted, and in the first year, this amounted to £10 ($20).
The first mail service operated " To and from Kew and Warrandyte, by way of Doncaster" and mail was conveyed three days a week by horseback.
On the 8th April 1861, Mr Pickering was succeeded by T. W. Grant, who had charge of the Doncaster Post Office for the next seven years.
The "Victorian Gazetteer" for 1865 provides on interesting account of what Doncaster was like at that time. The town is described as being "ten miles north-east of Melbourne, with which place it has communication only by dray track to Heidelberg and Kew, and thence by omnibus". The "Gazetteer" goes on to mention that "there are two shoe manufactories and a wheel manufactory. The only hotel is the "Doncaster". The population numbers about 200 persons, most of whom are engaged in agriculture or wood carting."
During 1868, the post office was taken over by M. D. H. Hoare, who managed it until 1872 when it was transferred to James Gill. The remuneration now averaged £20 ($40) per annum, on indication that the little community was steadily growing. The mail service had now increased from three to six days a week. Mail closed at Melbourne at 7.30 p.m., arriving in Doncaster at 9.55 a.m. Outward bound mail closed at Doncaster Post Office at 1.30 p.m., and arrived in Melbourne at 4 p.m.
James Gill was succeeded by James Culliford in 1874, who was in turn followed by H. G. Reynolds in 1876. Mr Reynolds was still postmaster at Doncaster in 1884, during which year a total of 6,074 letters were handled, and the total postal revenue amounted to £50 ($100). Exactly one half of the postal revenue earnt was paid to Mr Reynolds in wages.
The "Victorian Gazetteer" for 1879 shows that Doncaster had now become "an agricultural district, consisting principally of market gardens. The nearest diggings is Anderson's Creek, where gold has been obtained for many years. The nearest villages are Templestowe, three miles north of Doncaster; Nunawading, two miles south; and Germantown, about one mile from Doncaster. The only means of communication between Melbourne and Doncaster, via Kew, is the mail coach, which conveys passengers to and fro, but arrangements must be made with the contractor of the mail, as the vehicle does not run regularly every day. The mail is conveyed sometimes on horseback. The only public institution is the Athenaeum Hall, where all public meetings are held, in connection with which is a public library, free to all".
The "Gazetteer" goes on to say that "Doncaster itself is the most elevated position within ten miles of Melbourne. From the situation of the post office a splendid view is obtained not only of the surrounding country, which in itself is really grand, but a fine view of the bay is also obtained, and steamers can be seen passing. The population of Doncaster is about 500. There are four places of worship in the township - Church of England, Lutheran, Primitive Methodist, and Christian Brethren. There is now a race-course in Doncaster, where annual races take place, known as the Doncaster Races".
By 1882, there was a State school, and a second hotel (the "Post Office Hotel"), had been established.
In August 1889, Doncaster made news headlines throughout Australia when the Box Hill and Doncaster Tramway Company Ltd., established the first electric tramway service within the continent. In fact, many claim it was the first of its type in the Southern Hemisphere. The service operated between Box Hill and Doncaster for a period of seven years, the last tram running on the 6th January, 1896.
The "Australian Handbook" for 1895 tells us that communication between Melbourne and Doncaster was now by "train to Box Hill, thence by electric tram to Doncaster. Hotels - "Doncaster", "Morning Star" , "Meader's", and "Tower" with a tower 200 feet high, from which there is a splendid view of the surrounding country". Apparently the " Post Office Hotel" had a fairly short life! There were now two State schools within the Doncaster district, a police station, a Shire hall, a bank, and three stores. The "Handbook" also informs us that there were 196 dwellings in the shire, 278 ratepayers, and that the population totalled 1,092.
Returning to the Doncaster Post Office, we find that in 1916 the office was under the management of Mrs B. Symons. Early in 1919, telephone facilities became available when a party line with two phones was provided.
During January of 1922, William Fidler became postmaster, followed by W. E. Walhouse in 1927, E. McLaren in 1928, E. J. Dalrymple in 1929, F. E. Hoare in May 1930, and A. J. Affleck in September 1930.
In 1947, a small automatic telephone exchange was established at Doncaster, and another was provided at Doncaster East in 1955.
During 1949, Mr A. J. Williams took over the management of the Doncaster Post Office and remained there for thirteen years, being succeeded by N. J. Falconer in 1962. Finally, in July 1963, Mr J. Robinson, the present postmaster was appointed.
In December 1963, a modern automatic exchange incorporating the latest developments in crossbar switching equipment, was opened at Doncaster East. It provided facilities for 3,000 lines. Two years later, in December 1965, a new automatic exchange opened at Doncaster, providing facilities for 2,000 lines.
At the end of August 1966, there were 1,655 lines actually in use at Doncaster, and 1,982 at Doncaster East.
In addition to the Doncaster Office, a post office opened at Doncaster East on 8th August 1887 and another at Doncaster Village in 1960. During the past financial year, a total of almost 2 1/4 million postal items were handled at the Doncaster Post Office, a sharp contrast to the 6,074 letters handled there in 1884! Mr. Robinson is assisted by two female counter assistants, five postmen, and one junior postal officer.
TEMPLESTOWE
A post office first opened at Templestowe on the 1st July 1860, about six weeks after the establishment of the Doncaster Office. The first postmaster was Mr J. Field, who operated the office in conjunction with a store, and who received an annual average remuneration of £10 ($20).
The first mail service operated "To and from Heidelberg and Templestowe, three times a week", and connected with the daily mail coach running between Melbourne and Heidelberg via Alphington.
During 1881, management of the post office passed from Mr Field to Mr T. Stockdale. Postal records show that in 1884 the postal revenue for the year amounted to £23.8.0d, of which £15 ($30) was paid to Mr Stockdale for his services. A total of 2,788 letters were handled at Templestowe that year.
In 1885, a postmistress whose name is not known, took charge of the Templestowe Office. From that year until 1915, when we find Mr J. Hunter in charge, little is known concerning the management of the office. Mr Hunter was succeeded by S. Johnson in 1919, followed by J. Orgill in 1923, L. J. Wilson in 1924, A. J. Barrett in 1926, E. P. Kent in 1927, D. F. Leitch in 1928, Mrs B. Forge in 1933, B. Morley in 1934, S. Guerin in 1935, J. H. Keep in 1953, and finally Mr J. S. Jenkins in 1963.
A manual telephone exchange was provided at the post office in 1912, and four numbers were allotted that year. These were as follows:
1 Post Office; 2 Upper Yarra Hotel (J . Finn); 3 "Looranna House" (T. F. Sheridan); 4 Templestowe Hotel (P . Sheahan)
An external automatic exchange was provided in 1949 and a new 1,000 line installation, employing the latest crossbar switching equipment, was installed in 1957. By the end of August 1966, 545 lines were in actual use.
Prior to 1963, the post office was located within a small general store operated by Mr J. Keep. This was moved to make room for a service station and the office now operates in conjunction with a newsagency. A post office opened at Templestowe Lower in 1915, and another at Templestowe Heights in November 1964.
During the past twelve months, a total of 364,172 postal items were handled at the Templestowe Post Office.
Source: Extract from: Prepared by Derek N. Baker, Post Office Historian, Victoria, 1966. Produced by Forms Unit. If any reader can supply any information concerning the two offices during that period, the Historian would be pleased to receive letters addressed care of Public Relations Section, Royal Mail House, 255 Bourke Street, Melbourne.
The Doncaster Post Office
Recently the old clock donated to Doncaster Post Office by Mr. E. Zerbe Shire President in 1911 was discovered and given to the Historical Society. This could be an ideal opportunity to review the history of the post in Doncaster.
Nearly 140 years ago on the 17th May 1860, the Doncaster Post Office was opened. Joseph Pickering who had been in the district for over ten years was appointed Postmaster. The first building was in a general store built on the front of Dodds shingle roofed wine shop. The earliest settlers had to make their own arrangement for collecting mail from Melbourne and Kew.
After a year the Post Office was taken over by Tom Grant, a Baptist minister. This gentleman left the district in 1865, so Joseph Pickering looked after the mail till 1868 when Matthew Hoare, licensee of the Doncaster Arms Hotel was given the appointment. The Post Office moved to the hotel. The same year Hoare was elected to the Templestowe Roads Board.
The mail arrived on horseback. Leaving Melbourne at 7.30am, the rider dropped a mail bag at the hotel and rode on to Warrandyte. The return mail left at 1.30pm and arrived in Melbourne at 4.00pm.
When Matthew Hoare's children arrived home from school, they were sent out to deliver the letters that had not been collected during the day.
In 1871, the Post Office returned to Pickering's store. Joseph Pickering had died the previous year and his son John was running the business. The Post Office was transferred to the trustees, James Gill was appointed Postmaster in 1872. Pickering had been paid 10 pounds a year for his services, but with the increase in mail Gill received 20 pounds. The rear of the store that had once been a wine shop was leased to Charles Greffen, who erected a bake oven and became Doncaster's first baker.
In 1875 James Culliford bought the store and became Postmaster. The next year Henry Reynolds arrived from Collingwood and took over from Culliford. He held the position of Postmaster for thirty years.
Reynolds advertised himself as grocer, draper, general storekeeper, boot and shoe dealer and carpenter. When he travelled to Melbourne to collect for the store, he used to carry parcels for a fee. Henry Reynolds was elected to the Shire of Bulleen in 1885 for three years. When the Shire of Doncaster was formed he was elected to the new council in 1891. On his election Reynolds said "I will give the same service on the council as I have given the people of Doncaster for the past sixteen years."
Source: 1999 12 DTHS Newsletter
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