Urgent rates for telegrams were introduced during the Colonial years - especially in Queensland. For a discussion of the way in which the Colonies adapted to this new concept, see elsewhere.
There were 15 main types of Australian urgent rate transmission forms issued between 1917 and 1974. The instruction about the phasing out of Urgent Rate forms is given elsewhere.
The images in the right column below represent the general type of format for the heading of each of these issues. There are variations in colour and layout within each type of form indicated. Further details of each type are obtained by clicking on the appropriate hyperlink.
The early formats are rated between "Scarce" to "Rare" unused while used forms are almost unknown - especially for the War period and before.
All except for one form (type 10), the urgent rate delivery forms were printed on various shades of pink/salmon/orange paper.
The first form for an URGENT RATE telegram in Australia was introduced in Queensland in 1893.
URGENT TELEGRAM in two lines.
Form number E.T. 1a.
Telegraph charges in CASH REGISTER box on left.
Printed on brown paper.
AE-TU-2.
URGENT TELEGRAM in one line.
Panel of text with charges underneath heading.
Form not sighted.
URGENT TELEGRAM in one line.
Charges begin underneath CASH REGISTER box.
Text under heading begins with "Accepted".
Has CONSECUTIVE No. in lower left corner of form (not shown here).
Printed on orange paper.
TELEGRAM/URGENT RATE in one (TU-4B) or two (TU-4A) lines.
Open panel of text under heading with charges.
In "Office Use" box, second entry is "To".
Printed on dark pink paper.
TELEGRAM - Urgent Rate in smaller letters.
Form number changed to T.G. 41A.
The same format as above (for AU-TU-4B) - open panel of text under heading with charges.
Has an advertisement at the top and the message across the centre of the form refers to the reverse side where there are three advertisements.
AB-TU-6:
TELEGRAM/URGENT RATE in two lines in a central box.
Has boxes on either side of central boxed heading.
No advertisements or telegraph charges.
Three advertisements on reverse.
Existence of the form yet to be confirmed.
TELEGRAM/Urgent Rate - the font for the latter in smaller letters.
Form number changed to T.G. 41A.
Cash Register box to the left of the heading.
Has a boxed "FOR QUICK SERVICE .." advertisement in the lower left corner.
Under the box is the Schedule number and printing date.
Has three advertisements within a box on the reverse side.
There are several advertisements used on various forms.
Has a small central box under the single line above with TELEGRAM - Urgent Rate in smaller letters.
Form number is T.G. 41A.
Has boxes on either side - for CASH REGISTER and AFFIX STAMPS ... and CHARGES respectively.
Has 5 lines of 5 boxes for the message.
Has a small advertisement for MULTIPLE TELEGRAMS in the lower left corner
(see image under the main scan).
Has one large advertisement with a Hermes figure on the reverse side.
Heading has a wide pink stripe as an emergency measure because of war-time restrictions.
Form below the stripe is not coloured.
Box to the right of the central heading box is only "STAMPS HERE".
Heading changed to URGENT TELEGRAM in two lines in a central box.
Boxes on both sides of heading but only the left box references CASH REGISTER.
Has a box in the lower left corner for CHARGES FOR URGENT RATE TELEGRAMS.
Reverse side has a single line URGENT TELEGRAM in blue.
URGENT TELEGRAM in two lines in a central box. Printed in red on white paper.
Has a box in the lower left corner for telegraph charges.
Reverse side has a single line URGENT TELEGRAM in red (see below).
URGENT TELEGRAM in two lines in a central box.
Four dotted lines in "TO" box.
Has CASH REGISTER entries on both sides.
Lower left corner is either blank or has the "Sender's ..." notice.
Reverse side is blank.
URGENT TELEGRAM in two lines in a central box but much narrower
than that for types 9 and 10.
Two or three dotted lines in "TO"; box.
Lower left corner has the "Sender's ..." notice.
Reverse side is blank.
URGENT TELEGRAM in two lines in a central box.
New heading of POST OFFICE COMMUNICATIONS AUSTRALIA.
URGENT TELEGRAM in a reverse printed box under AUSTRALIAN POST OFFICE heading.
Printed on light brown or bright yellow or pink paper.