© Pat Grimwood-Taylor 2017
The Application form for the ‘New Colony in South Australia’ from the Colonization Commissioners
(Rowland Hill, Secretary). Of the 3 copies recorded, this is the only one in a private collection.
The form contained extensive information about the colony with a map and details about land sales.
Applicants had to supply details of skills, marital status, references (from a physician and reputable
people) and have their application signed by a priest or magistrate.
Contents
A Brief Historical Background - the first 30 years
The South Australian Post Office & Postal Services
Frame 1 Inland Mail
Frames 2 & 3 Inland Routes and Intercolonial Mail
Frame 4 Overseas Mail via the Capes
Frames 5 & 6 The Crimean War Period Clipper Mail & Overland Route
Frame 7 Overland Routes via Southampton and Plymouth
Frames 8 & 9 Overland Routes via Marseilles, Brindisi and Trieste
Frame 10 Overland Route via Brindisi
Frame 11 & 12 Overland Routes via Brindisi and Naples
Frame 12 Overseas Mail to the Far East & Pacific
Tables of Inland, Intercolonial and Overseas Postage Rates
South Australia and My Family
My great great grandfather, Abraham Scott, travelled to Adelaide in 1840 on board Appoline. His
elder brother, Thomas Pinsent Scott, had already settled in the colony having arrived in 1837.
Thomas had set up business in Port Augusta, whilst Abraham became a highly successful merchant
in Adelaide.
In 1854 one of their younger brothers, Henry, joined Abraham in his business. They were a
formidable duo - Abraham the ambitious entrepreneur, Henry the astute but philanthropic
businessman. Both entered the Legislative Council, with Henry becoming Mayor of Adelaide.
They married sisters, descended from the Gooch Baronetcy in Suffolk, and were amongst the
leaders of Adelaide society. Henry and his wife Emily had no children but adopted a daughter.
Abraham and his wife Eliza had one son, Tom.
Thus, when my interest in ‘old letters’ began, South Australia was an obvious choice. I was
fortunate enough to acquire an archive of original 1839-1842 correspondence and then the late
John Bell offered me his exhibit collection - refusing to auction it and insisting that an Australian
should own it!
In the last 25 years several items have been sold, and bought, including one cover addressed to
my great great grandmother. It is the only ‘family’ item in the collection, but I am still searching…..
Front cover - Adelaide 5.2.1857 to Bannockburn 6.4.1857 carried on E.A.R.M. ships.
6d. single rate + 6d. French transit up to ½ oz.
1
A Brief Historical Background - the first 30 years
The settlement of southern Australia had its roots in that period of British history which also led to
the introduction of penny postage, and in 1840, to the first stamp. In the early 1830s a group of
entrepreneurs set about petitioning the Government to endorse colonisation of a remote and
hitherto unsettled area by free emigrants, without any convicts. As such, it would be unlike any
other Australian colony. On 15 August 1834 the South Australian Colonisation Act received assent,
and the following year a Board of Commissioners was appointed to control land sales and
emigration. Its chairman was Col. Robert Torrens, its secretary was Rowland Hill.
On 9 October 1835 the South Australian Company was formed by George Fife Angas, a wealthy
merchant who was also a member of the Board of Commissioners. The Company’s purpose was to
finance and support the sale of land to emigrants; the initial price of 20s per acre set by the Board
had stifled interest and the S.A. Colonisation Act required that land sales totalling £35,000 were
required before the Government would formally consent to colonisation. Thus Angas and his fellow
directors bought over 37,000 acres of land on condition that the S.A. Company did not seek any
monopolies in the new colony.
In early 1836 the first three ships departed London and Liverpool, landing at Nepean Bay, Kangaroo
Island in July and August. They were financed and equipped by the S.A. Company, and almost the
entire complement of passengers and crew were employees, including the manager Samuel
Stephens, bookkeeper Charles Hare, a master builder and apprentices, boat builders, ‘overseer of
flocks’ etc. Within a few months it became apparent that the lack of fresh water would necessitate
a move to the mainland and when the Surveyor-General Col. William Light arrived in August 1836,
he decided on the mainland site that would become Adelaide.
By December 1836 nine vessels had arrived, bringing 552 people to the colony. The first Governor,
Capt. John Hindmarsh, proclaimed the settlement a ‘province of Great Britain’ on 28 December
1836 and had all legal authority; the Legislative Council which was appointed by him in 1840 had
advisory powers only.
In 1837 land allotments began in Adelaide, the first newspaper was printed, the Supreme Court was
established and the first church service was conducted by Rev. T. Q. Stow on 19 December. The
S.A. Company built roads, bridges, mills, wharves and warehouses, financing almost all aspects of
development, often in exchange for further acreage.
During the following two years the population rose to over 6,000; by 1841 it was over 15,000.
Their reliance on imported goods and the frequency of ship arrivals is evident in all their surviving
correspondence. In 1838 the value of imports was £158,582 and exports just £6,442. By the early
1840s the irregularity of ships calling at Port Adelaide, the fall of prices in Britain and some crop
failures caused severe economic hardship, with public expenditure far outstripping revenue. The
colony was on the verge of failure. However the discovery of copper in 1842 at Kapunda saw the
start of a reversal in the colony’s fortunes, with mineral exports gradually increasing. In 1844 the
wheat harvest exceeded the settlers’ needs, exports almost equalled imports and public revenue
almost equalled expenditure. When copper was discovered at Burra in 1845, the economic outlook
was bright and the colony’s future assured.
In 1851, the population of N.S.W. was 178,668; Victoria 77,345 (but that would triple in 2 years!);
Tasmania 70,130; W.A. about 7,000 and South Australia 63,700. Ten years later, N.S.W.’s population
was 350,860; Victoria’s was 538,628; Tasmania’s 89,977; W.A.’s 15,593 and South Australia’s
126,830.
2
The South Australian Post Office & Postal Services
The first postmaster was Thomas Gilbert, the storekeeper, who was appointed in 1836. No postage
was charged on outgoing letters or incoming letters, although 1d. was paid to ships’ captains.
In December 1838 Gilbert resigned and Thomas Watts was appointed Postmaster-General. The
undated ‘Crown & Lion’ postmark, issued to Adelaide post office, was used on all outwards mail.
The first local Post Office Act was passed in 1839 with all letters for delivery within the Colony being
charged 3d. The first post offices were located in Adelaide, Port Adelaide (which had a ‘Crown’
undated postmark) and Port Lincoln. The first letter carrier was also appointed. By 1841 a further
3 post offices had opened, and a scale of postage rates enacted in the 1841 Post Office Act. This
also instructed marking of the outward rate on all letters. A large oval datestamp was issued in
1842 and used in the 3 main offices, with postmasters in other townships marking letters in
manuscript. Mail routes south and north of Adelaide had been established; the eastern route
opened the following year. Mail to coastal towns were delivered by local trading vessels.
Inland mails were initially delivered weekly or fortnightly, with more frequent service by road and
then rail as townships grew. Advertisements for letter-carriers appeared in the South Australian
Government Gazette, along with detailed timetables. Circular datestamps replaced the large oval
d.s. in 1845, with town c.d.s. in general use from about 1850. The first stamp - the 2d. value - was
issued 1 January 1855. On 26 October 1855 the 1d. and 6d. values were issued. Initially all were
printed by Perkins Bacon in London. By 1857 there were 110 post offices in the Colony.
Early mails overseas were carried privately, there being no formal service or contracts apart from
those between Europe and the East Indies. The British Government felt no compunction to provide
a service to South Australia; there were no convicts and thus no troops. Whilst ships called often
at Sydney or Melbourne, calls at Adelaide were less frequent.
In 1853 the S.A. Government participated in the first contract negotiated with the P & O Steam
Navigation Company. Subsequent contracts with P & O, other shipping lines, and the routes taken
are described within this display. Generally mail was routed via Galle and Aden to Suez, overland
to Alexandria and thence either via Marseilles or direct to Southampton or Plymouth.
The Crimean War and the recall of steamers to transport troops resulted in a series of short-lived
contracts, single voyage contracts and non-contract voyages negotiated with clipper lines for mail
destined for Britain and Europe. The route altered as these sailing vessels went via Cape Horn,
although some steamers which still served the East Indies and sailed via the Cape of Good Hope
were used occasionally. Accountancy marks on surviving letters indicate what proportion of the
postage paid was allocated between Britain and South Australia, depending on whether the colony
contributed to the contract cost.
During the 1860s P & O’s 2nd and 3rd contracts omitted a call at Adelaide and mails were forwarded
either to Melbourne, or more usually to King George’s Sound in Western Australia to meet the
steamer. The Adelaide call was reinstated in 1874 when P & O signed their 4th contract.
Local Adelaide letter 25.5.1856
2 x 1d. first issue for town rate.
4
In the 1860s & 1870s several denominations of adhesives were printed locally, and overprinted as
necessitated by rate alterations. The government Departmental overprints were issued for use
from 1868-1874; 54 departments had overprints, but only 78 covers are recorded.
The Telegraph Department merged with the Post Office on 1 January 1870. The Australian Colonies
were in the midst of negotiations to connect with the rest of the world via telegraph cable; the
overland link being within South Australia from Port Augusta to Port Darwin. It was completed in
August 1872 and enabled communications to and from all the colonies via Adelaide.
Further conflicts in Europe in the 1870s necessitated a change in routes and mail was diverted from
Marseilles to Brindisi and later to Naples. However as South Australia prospered, other shipping
lines joined P&O and entered into contracts. The Orient Line began its service in 1877; finally
reliable, frequent carriage of mail was assured.
The Pacific route was not properly organised until 1870, and then via Sydney; earlier attempts at a
viable service floundered because of difficulties in re-coaling and the cost of subsidies to the
colonies. The advent of the Panama Canal, as with the Suez Canal, significantly improved transit
times and popularity of routes.
South Australia joined the U.P.U. on 1 October 1891.
The earliest of 4 recorded
‘P.S.’ Private Secretary
departmental overprint
covers, 11.5.1870.
The 9th of 13 recorded
‘S.M.’ Stipendiary
Magistrate departmental
overprint covers,
8.12.1871.
Adelaide 26.10.1860
to Whitehaven
15.12.1860
Local printings.
5
Frame 1 - Inland Mail
Inland Rates on a variety of mail is included; Town Letters, OHMS letters, Departmental Overprint
Usages (P.S. Private Secretary, S.M. Stipendiary Magistrate, E.B. Education Board, S.G. Surveyor
General, A.G. Attorney General, L.T. Lands Title), Sample Post and The Gold Escort Cover.
The first post office operated from the stores hut on Kangaroo Is., and then from Gilbert’s general
store on the mainland. Local town letters were charged 3d. until 1845, then 2d., including those
between the 2 main townships of Adelaide and Port Adelaide, 7 miles distant. Other letters were
generally 4d., but the rate depended on distance rather than weight. In 1854 the rate for all letters
became 2d. The first stamps (printed by Perkins Bacon in London) were issued on 1 January 1855.
The 3 main routes for mail delivery were the northern route, through Gawler, the Barossa Valley
(named by Col. Light), Clare & Kapunda to Burra and beyond; the eastern route to Mt. Lofty,
Hahndorf (site of the first German settlement), Crafers, Wellington and across to the Murray River;
the southern route down to Morphett Vale, MacLaren Vale, Willunga and Encounter Bay (the latter
being the terminus of the first country mail route established early 1839).
Townships on the coast, including those of Port Lincoln and Port Augusta on the Spencer Gulf, and
Robe, were serviced by local trading vessels with advertised schedules.
POST OFFICE PORT ADELAIDE
The Crown undated handstamp,
used 1841-1851. 2d. rate for
letters between Adelaide and
Port Adelaide from 1845.
The Gold Escort Cover – the only intaglio ‘GOLD ESCORT’ seal recorded on any gold rush mail
worldwide. From February 1852-December 1853 bullion was transported on 18 coach journeys
from Mt. Alexander, Victoria to Adelaide.
Bendigo, Vic. (undated) to Gawler, S.A. 12.8.1852, via Adelaide 9.8.1852.
6
Frame 4 - Overseas Mail via The Capes
Featuring the earliest (Feb 1837) letter from Kangaroo Is., in South Australia and other 1838 India
Letters to Britain. There being no formal contracts for the carriage of mail from the colony, mail
was taken by any ship that called- generally clippers linking with East India packets, or those sailing
via Cape Horn to the east coast of North America or Britain. Throughout the late 1830s and early
1840s deliberations took place between Britain and all the Australian colonies on the necessity,
practicality, cost and manner in which a regular service could be provided. As almost all
communications were by clipper at these dates, the entire process was obviously incredibly slow.
In 1844 the Toulmin brothers began a service from Britain to Sydney with return packets operating
from 1846; the South Australian Post Office directed that mail be forwarded from June 1847 to
Sydney. This service terminated in 1849 and it was not until 1852 that contracts for steamer
services were eventually agreed with the Australian Royal Mail Steam Navigation Co. (via Cape of
Good Hope every 2 months) and the Peninsula & Oriental Steam Navigation Co. The A.R.M.s
Australian was the first steamer to leave Adelaide on 5 October 1852. The contract was shortlived
- less than a year- although non-contract sailings continued into 1853. P&O’s service, connecting
with its already established India route, was more successful and several further contracts were
negotiated into the 1880s. Early examples to Hanover, France, Canada and USA feature.
The earliest cover overseas from South Australia – from S.A. Co.’s bookkeeper Charles Hare,
on Kangaroo Is., 27.2.1837 to London 23.8.1837.
No outward rate marked.
Adelaide 30.12.1846 to
Nelson, NZ 7.3.1847 via
Wellington.
Crown Paid datestamp
used Nov 1846-April 1852.
9
The earliest recorded cover
to Canada
Morphett Vale 27.3.1846 to
Montreal 23.10.1846, via
Cape Horn to London.
Large oval GENERAL POST
OFFICE ADELAIDE S.A.
1st cds used
Feb 1842-May 1846.
The Toulmin Packet
Adelaide 2.3.1847 to
London 28.8.1847 via
Cape Horn.
Port Adelaide 28.9.1853 to
Bordeaux 15.12.1853 via
Cape of Good Hope to
Falmouth.
Non-contract A.R.M. sailing.
Colonies & C. Art 13.
Adelaide 17.3.1853 to
Hanover 4.7.1853 via
Cape of Good Hope to
London.
A.R.M.s final contract
voyage.
10
Frames 5 & 6 - The Crimean War Period Clipper Mail & Overland Route
The first P&O contract dated 1 January 1853 provided a service to and from the Australian colonies
linking at Singapore (later Galle) to the already existing route; the Chusan was their first vessel to
leave Adelaide on 13 April 1853. Concurrently other single voyage contracts were negotiated with
the General Screw Steam Ship Co., Gibbs Bright, White Star and others to fill the gaps created by
the termination of the Australian Royal Mail contract. There were also several ‘non-contract’
voyages used to carry mails. A formal longer contract with G.S.S.S. Co. which again provided a
service every 2 months was eventually signed in March 1854.
However, when the British Government recalled the steamers from the Australian routes to carry
troops during the Crimean War, P&O and G.S.S.S. were unable to fulfil their contracts. In order to
provide a mail service to the colonies, short-term and then longer contracts were negotiated with
clipper lines, mostly using the longer Cape Horn route.
In June 1855 the Black Ball Line and White Star Line contracted for monthly sailings until December,
thus providing 2 services each month. These contracts were renewed for a further year, but none
called at Adelaide and mail had to be forwarded to Melbourne.
South Australia refused to contribute to the cost on all the contracts (some being for one voyage
only), and so accountancy marks on letters denoted the share of postage due to Britain- either 5d.
of the 6d. rate if Britain paid, and 1d. if paid by the colony. If the cost was equally shared, 3d. was
noted. Multiple rate covers show accountancy marks of ‘6’ or ‘10’ (only one recorded of the latter).
During 1856, with hostilities in the Crimean War coming to an end, the Admiralty sought to reinstate
contracts using steamers on the Australian route. The European & Australian Royal Mail Co. was
awarded the contract, but due to logistics and economics and bad luck (their vessels Oneida and
Emeu both encountering difficulties), could not sustain the service and it was taken over by the
Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. from 1 July 1858. Neither company provided a call at Adelaide, so
again mails were forwarded to and from Melbourne. The route was via Suez and overland, with
ships landing mails at either Southampton or Marseilles. Mail via France attracted additional
postage and prepayment of postage was compulsory.
The increased speed and convenience of calling at Nepean Bay in South Australia was proposed and
eventually when P&O’s second contract was negotiated in 1859, South Australia regained a direct
overseas mail route but only until the following year, when it was again abandoned.
The earliest stamped
overseas cover
Adelaide 3.1.1855 to
London 17.3.1855 on
G.S.S.S. Argo.
Strip of 3 first issue
(1 Jan 1855) 2d.
printed in London by
Perkins Bacon.
11
Black Ball Line contract
sailing of Marco Polo.
Greenock 17.3.1856 to
Hanover 24.5.1856.
1st issue 2d. and 6d.,
pen cancels!
Adelaide 22.9.1855
to Bury St. Edmunds,
Black Ball Line
Donald Mackay.
‘6’ paid in cash.
‘d5’ accountancy.
AUSTRALIAN PACKET
PAID LIVERPOOL cds.
Mt. Remarkable 3.9.1856
(m/s) to Catterick 30.12.1856
on White Star Line Red Jacket.
‘3d’ accountancy.
Adelaide 1.6.1855 to
Exeter 22.9.1855,
Black Ball Line
Boomerang.
Registered (‘6’ paid
in cash); ‘5’ red m/s
accountancy.
12
Gibbs Bright Line sailing
Adelaide 10.8.1857 to
Edinburgh 18.10.1857.
‘d1’ accountancy,
6d. local printing.
Adelaide 27.6.1864 to
Mauritius 24.8.1864,
via Galle & Aden on P&O
from King George’s Sound.
1s. double rate, local printing.
European & Australian Royal Mail
Co. contract sailing
Adelaide 10.3.1857 to
Devizes 9.10.1857.
‘d5’ accountancy.
Adelaide 10.3.1857
to Preston 9.5.1857.
Double rate, with
only recorded ‘d10’
accountancy.
This, and cover above, carried
on same voyage of
E.A.R.M. Co. European.
13
Frame 7 - Overland Routes via Southampton/Plymouth
Shortly after the commencement of P & O’s second contract, the Adelaide call was again terminated
after the June 1860 sailing. Mail was forwarded to King George’s Sound or Melbourne. The
situation did not change until the fourth contract in 1874. The route continued via Galle to Suez,
overland to Alexandria and on to either Southampton or Marseilles. Letters addressed to Britain,
Germany, Denmark and USA are included, along with Cross-Border (S.A. & N.S.W.) combination
covers to Britain. The Orient Line commenced their operations in 1877, with a call at Adelaide
and onwards via Suez to Plymouth.
The only recorded S.A./N.S.W. combination cover
with imperforate issues.
Moorna N.S.W. 21.7.1859
to Bristol 15.10.1859 via
Adelaide 4.8.1859.
The only recorded double rate
S.A./N.S.W. combination cover.
Wentworth N.S.W. 30.9.1872
to Scotland 5.12.1872
via Adelaide 2.10.1872.
Adelaide 29.5.1866 to
Leipzig 22.7.1866.
2d. overseas printed
paper rate,
‘1’ credit from S.A.
14
Frames 8 & 9 - Overland Routes via Marseilles, Brindisi & Trieste
The early East India steamers connected with P & O steamers; mail being taken overland, and then
onwards to Marseilles. This same route (as an alternative to the Southampton service) was used
by the European & Australian Royal Mail Co., and the Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. following the
Crimean War. Most mail for north America was carried on this route also, then by Cunard or Allan
Lines across the Atlantic as it was faster and more frequent than early trans-Pacific sailings.
The rate for the faster route was higher, and mail was endorsed ‘via Marseilles’.
In late 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War mail was diverted to either Brindisi or Trieste. Italian
steamers were used and the rate increased to 1s.1d. until December. Only 2 sailings were affected
from Australia.
In 1871, with the opening of the Suez canal and the adoption of the Brindisi route by P&O, the rate
was reduced to 9d.
Crafers 7.10.1876 to
London 30.11.1876.
Underpaid, hence 1/- hs
struck in Adelaide
(unrecorded).
Port Adelaide 12.11.1879 to
Denmark 27.12.1879 via
Plymouth & London.
The earliest recorded cover to
Denmark.
Adelaide 11.2.1856 to
London 28.4.1856.
MORE/TO/PAY
Franked 1s.8d. with
5d. due;
‘6/10’ accountancy to
Britain, ‘8’ to France.
15
Adelaide 11.3.1858
to London 4.5.1858.
1s. local printing.
Adelaide 11.11.1858
to Glasgow 5.1.1859.
Local printings 1d.,
2d. & 6d.
The earliest recorded
Late Fee cover.
3 x 6d. for 6d. rate +
French transit + 6d. late
fee to catch connecting
steamer to P&O Jeddo at
King George’s Sound.
Adelaide 26.7.1861
to Chipping Norton
16.9.1861.
1s.9d. triple rate.
16
Adelaide 12.9.1870 to
London 31.10.1870.
1s.1d. rate required for
Brindisi route but
franked 10d. op. on 9d.
Adelaide 3.1.1872 to
Buckeburg, Germany.
Franked 2s. for 1s. double rate
+ 1s. Austrian postage; 1/- in
red accountancy to Britain,
6 (Austrian schillings) inland
postage due.
Only 2 covers recorded
‘via Trieste’.
Adelaide 2.2.1870 to
Wemyss Bay 22.3.1870.
Faint MARINE P.O.
Late fee 9d. + double 10d.
rate.
Adelaide 26.7.1865 to
Pennsylvania, via
London & Boston.
17
Frame 10 - Overland Route via Brindisi
Further mail to Britain, Germany, Norway, France, USA and Canada carried under P&O’s 4th and
5th contracts and the Orient Line services. Covers with multiple frankings and overprints, cross-
border combinations, the hand-illustrated cover to Redditch and the unique Dead Letter packet
addressed to France are included.
The rate was reduced to 8d. from 1876 – 1882 and thereafter was 6d. Mail to north America
attracted an additional 2d. transatlantic postage. In 1883 the cholera epidemic briefly forced a
route change to Venice.
Port Adelaide 26.2.1876 to
Norway via Bologna & Leipzig.
9d. rate + 4d. registration fee.
The only recorded cover to
Norway.
The only recorded Dead Letter Packet.
Adelaide 21.2.1880 to Paris 2.4.1880 via London & Calais.
Registered OHMS.
Adelaide
5.9.1878 to
Wemyss Bay
21.10.1878.
4s.8d. (op)
for 7 x 8d.
18
Adelaide 19.1.1882 to Redditch 28.2.1882.
2s.4d. for triple rate plus 4d. registration fee.
Adelaide 19.9.1878 to
Caledonia, Lower Canada.
10d. op for 8d. rate plus
transatlantic 2d.
Adelaide 17.8.1880 to
Prussia 28.10.1880.
3d. op.
Adelaide 26.6.1880
to London.
19
Frames 11 & 12 - Overland Routes via Brindisi & Naples
Includes mail addressed to Britain, Germany, Austria, Denmark and Russia, with newspaper
wrapper and printed papers, the book parcel from the Botanic Gardens and registered letters
carried by P&O (their 5th & 6th contracts) via Brindisi. In 1877 the Orient Line commenced their
service to Europe via Naples; thus South Australia had a twice-monthly steamer service for
overseas mail. The route via the Cape of Good Hope was therefore terminated in 1880 although a
‘long sea route’ was introduced in 1889 with a cheaper rate of 4d. for letters going direct to
Plymouth rather the quicker route via Naples. Other shipping lines also commenced operations,
such as the Norddeutscher Lloyd in the late 1880s.
In 1882 the Egyptian War caused steamers to be diverted temporarily from Naples to Plymouth.
The far north of the colony, the ‘Northern Territory’, had a permanent settlement from 1869;
originally called Palmerston but also known as Port Darwin. The construction of the overland
telegraph from Port Augusta had necessitated surveys and the establishment of a township on
Australia’s northern coast so as to facilitate the cable link with Netherland’s East Indies. The
overland telegraph line was completed on 22 August 1872, but mail addressed overseas was
generally sent via homebound steamers on the Torres Strait route to Sydney, and thence to
Adelaide to catch Orient Line or P&O vessels.
Adelaide 24.9.1886 to
Tunbridge Wells 1.11.1886.
O.S. overprints replaced
departmental overprints in
1874.
Adelaide 19.6.1883 to
Hannover 8.9.1883.
One of 3 disinfected
covers recorded.
20
Port Darwin, Northern
Territory 6.11.1886 to
London 3.1.1887 via
Sydney & Adelaide.
Via coastal steamers
to Adelaide for Orient
line Cuzco to Suez,
P&O Mongolia to
Brindisi.
Adelaide 23.1.1882 to
Bethany, West Virginia USA
23.5.1882, via Plymouth,
London & New York.
8d. overprint for 6d. rate via
Plymouth +2d. transatlantic.
INSUFFICIENTLY STAMPED
VIA BRINDISI.
Adelaide 15.7.1889 to
Copenhagen 19.8.1889.
The only recorded
registered cover to
Denmark.
Adelaide 13.2.1886 to
Larnaca 24.3.1886,
via Suez & Port Said.
SHIP MAIL ROOM
ADELAIDE duplex.
The only recorded
cover to Cyprus.
21
Frame 12 - Overseas Mail to the Far East & the Pacific
Early mail to the East Indies and Far East was carried by sailing ships and then steamers to connect
with the existing P&O service. Two examples, including the only recorded pre-U.P.U. cover from
Adelaide to Hong Kong, are displayed.
In the 1840s-1860s letters addressed to the north American continent were carried on ships either
via Britain or occasionally direct across the Pacific on the infrequent sailing vessels. Steamers faced
the logistical difficulty of re-coaling and so early attempts to provide a viable service failed. It was
also faster to send letters addressed to the American east coast (including Canada) via the
transatlantic route prior to the opening of the New York-San Francisco railway in 1869. The Pacific
islands became strategically significant from the late 1860s onwards not only for their trading
potential, but also because of the safe harbours and coaling possibilities. Samoa was an example;
British, German and US interests all vied for dominance and established consuls and ports.
When contract negotiations and route discussions for the Australian service were being held in the
late 1850s, the route via Panama and across the Pacific was proposed as an alternative (or
additional) to the existing route via Suez. Rowland Hill campaigned against it, arguing that Victoria
received the greatest proportion of Australian mails and Melbourne was geographically closer to
Britain via Suez, than via the Pacific. It was also more economical given the coaling logistics, and
faster if mail went via France. The idea was abandoned and it was a decade later that the Australian
colonies agreed with New Zealand to fund a service across the Pacific and contracted with the
Pacific, New Zealand & Australian Royal Mail Co. Steamers left Sydney approximately monthly
from June 1866-December 1868 when the service ended due to the heavy subsidies and non-
profitability.
In 1870 the US consul in N.S.W. agreed with the New Zealand Postmaster General to establish a
regular Sydney-Auckland-Honolulu-San Francisco service and a contract was signed with the
Californian, New Zealand & Australian Mail Line. Letters were to be prepaid, 6d. per ½ oz. This
service lasted until 1873.
Further short-lived arrangements were made until 1875 when the Pacific Mail Steamship Co.
contracted to provide a service for 10 years. Mail was forwarded to Sydney to catch the steamers,
which called at Auckland, Fiji, Honolulu and San Francisco.
South Australia prematurely adopted the U.P.U. rate in 1 Jan 1891 for 37 days. On 1 October they
were formally admitted and the 2 ½ d. rate became a reality.
Adelaide 16.5.1878 to
Hong Kong 23.6.1878.
2 x 3d. overprints + 2 x 9d.
for 2s. rate above ½ oz.
The only recorded cover
to Hong Kong.
22
Adelaide 30.4.1882?
to Apia, Samoa.
The only recorded
cover to Samoa.
Kapunda to Ontario,
Canada 22.5.1871, via
Sydney & San Francisco.
N.S.W. 6d. single rate,
10c US postage due.
Carried privately to
catch Californian, NZ &
Australian Mail Line
steamer from Sydney.
The only recorded S.A.
cover sent on this
service.
Adelaide 5.9.1887
to South Carolina
9.10.1887,
via San Francisco
1.10.1887.
Top Camp N.T.
25.1.1891 to
Wimbledon 9.5.1891.
‘TOO LATE’ at
Camooweal.
23
Inland Rates
Date Destination Rate to ½ oz.
1839 All town letters (Adelaide) 3d
Encounter Bay (first mail route) 6d
1841 Town letters (to 4 oz.) 3d
Local letters (up to 15 miles) and letters delivered by sea (eg. Pt. Lincoln) 4d
Morphett Vale (up to 20 miles) 5d
Gawler, Willunga, Noarlunga (up to 30 miles) 6d
Kapunda (up to 50 miles) 7d
Encounter Bay (up to 80 miles) 8d
Burra (up to 120 miles) 9d
OHMS and newspapers Free
1845 Town letters (to 4 oz.), Adelaide to Pt. Adelaide 2d
All other towns 4d
1854 All inland letters, inc. OHMS letters 2d
1882 Newspapers ½d
Intercolonial Rates
Date Route Rate
1838-1841 No outward rate marked 3d inwards N.S.W.4d inwards Tasmania
1841 Ship letter 6d to ½ oz., 3d per ½ oz. to 2oz.
1853 Ship letter or overland 6d
1861 Newspapers Free
1870 Ship letter 3d
1874 Ship letter or overland 2d
1882 Newspapers 1d
Overseas Rates
Date Route Rate
1838-1841 No outward rate marked
1841 All destinations, via Cape Horn or Suez direct to UK
6d to ½ oz., 3d per ½ oz. to 2oz. + inward rates
1854 Printed papers 2d
1839-1843 Via Marseilles to UK 2/8d per ½ oz. inc. French 10 dec.
1843 Via Marseilles to UK 1/4d per ½ oz. inc. French 10 dec.
1857 Via Marseilles to UK 1/- per ½ oz. inc. French 6 dec.
1863 Via Marseilles to UK 10d per ½ oz.
1869 Via Brindisi to UK 1/1d per ½ oz.
1870 Via Brindisi to UK / to France 9d per ½ oz. / 1/3d per ½ oz.
1876 Via Brindisi to UK / to France 8d per ½ oz./10d per ½ oz.
Via Brindisi or Naples to USA 8d per ½ oz. + 2d transatlantic
Pacific route to USA 8d per ½ oz.
1882 Via Naples to UK 6d per ½ oz.
Via Naples to USA 6d per ½ oz. + 2d transatlantic
Pacific route to USA 6d per ½ oz.
1889 Long sea route direct to Plymouth 4d
1891 All routes – U.P.U. 2½d per ½ oz. Postcards 1d
24