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By Fitzroy
One of the first things needed in a new community of even a hundred persons
is a Post Office, and as a rule it is a matter that receives prompt attention
from all Governments. In early times till the town was a large enough to warrant
the erection of a building and the appointment of a Postmaster to attend to
those duties exclusively, it was the custom to appoint a her storekeeper of
some other business of repute to act as temporary Postmaster. The pay was
always small and the responsibility considerable, consequently it was not
a position that every storekeeper desired. It was recognised by some that
it brought custom, but any advantage in that direction must have been inconsiderable.
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Rockhamptons First Post Office Building |
The writer believes P. D. Mansfield, the general storekeeper whose premises
were near the back of the present Queensland National Bank, was the first
Postmaster to be appointed in Rockhampton, and he accepted the duties in connection
with his business. This appointment was in 1860. Mansfield apparently found
the position not to his liking, for in 1861 John E. Rutherford, a chemist,
whose shop was at the corner of Denham and Quay Streets, where the Bank of
New South Wales is situated, was appointed. Rutherford's shop being near the
first "Bulletin" office, which was burnt to the ground in August,
1862, had a very narrow escape from being burnt out also, but fortunately
every time it caught the fire was put out before it made much headway. Finally
the conflagration was subdued, and Rutherford's shop and was a saved though
damage was done to the content and the building a little scorched. The mails
were apparently were uninjured.
Whether this escape prompted the government to make proper provision for
the requirements of the people, or the risks Rutherford had undergone caused
him to resign the position, is not known to the writer, but soon after John
Smith was appointed Postmaster, and premises erected, or provided, on what
was then known as the Flat, or about the center of the block bounded by East,
Fitzroy, Bolsover and Denham Streets. It was a miserable little building to
be named a Post Office, but it was better than having to waits till the temporary
officials were ready to dispense betters.
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Rockhampton Post Office 1900 |
By this time the population had increased considerably, and after the arrival
of every steamer a few hundred people would assemble outside the office awaiting
betters. Not a few of those awaiting delivery would comment in and uncomplimentary
terms on the slowness of the sorters, every word of which could be heard quite
clearly. Occasionally these remarks and quips were amusing, if sarcastic,
and must have been annoying to the listeners.
Next a little makeshift building was erected were the Post Office now stands,
and served requirements till a two-storey brick building was erected and opened
in 1866. This was a really handsome building for those days, but the people
were not to well pleased when it was found that Maryborough Post Office was
built from the plans drawn for Rockhampton, and the Maryborough plans given
to Rockhampton. This was done because timber and material were so much cheaper
in Maryborough, and Rockhampton and had to put up with the inferior building.
That building lasted for over 20 years, and then the present handsome freestone
building was erected, which presumably meet all present requirements though
the day may not be distant when a still larger building and will be required.
It was a few years before letter carriers were introduced, but it was during
John Smith's term of Office. About 1870 Smith died and was succeeded by J.
E. D. Daly, with Donald McPherson as assistant. Then followed D. Paterson,
D. Costa, W. Woolcock, T. R. Dickens, Beach, J. D. Murphy, the Postmaster
appointed to succeed Mr Murphy is Mr T. McKee.
Readers will understand that till 1865 Rockhampton was not connected with
any other town by telegraph. The English mail had to be carried right round
the coast by mail steamer, and the latest news from London was about two months
old when it reached Rockhampton. When Rockhampton was connected with the south
by telegraph the chief items of news were telegraphed from Albany on the arrival
of the mail steamer. That system was in a vouge for some years till at length
the overland telegraph a from Darwin to Adelaide was established, and then
Rockhampton was placed in daily contact with the rest of the Empire, and the
world.
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Rockhampton Post Office Building 2001 |
The first Telegraph connection that Rockhampton had with southern cities
was in a roundabout way, a from Brisbane to Toowoomba, Dalby, Hawkward and
Banana. The urgency of telegraphic connection with the west and north was
by time fully recognised, and contracts were carried out so rapidly that in
the early Seventies Rockhampton was connected with all the chief centres in
the state.
The first Telegraph offers in Rockhampton was a small affair, fixed up in
C. Cripps's chemist shop, at the corner of Denham and Quay Street, who had
succeeded J. P. Rutherford. A. H. Bauer a German, Afterwards of Clermont,
assisted in making the connections, and his brother, W. D. Bauer, was the
first Telegraph Master. Bauer was succeeded by O. G. Langley, who gave place
to E. L. Hanna, who will be remembered by many, Hanna remained in Rockhampton
twenty-two years, and saw the telephone introduced. He was promoted to chief
of the Queensland Telegraph Service, and died about twelve years ago in Brisbane.
With the advent of T. R. Dickens the positions of Postmaster and Telegraph Master were combined and have remained so since in most places. Both the Post and Telegraph offices at Rockhampton carry large staffs, and both services are noted for the celerity and accuracy with which it dispatches its business.