WA - Perth CTO

Western Australia.
The Perth Chief Telegraph Office.

The following information is provided below:

details and images of the Central Telegraph Office;
date stamps in the Colonial (pre-1901) and Interim periods:
Chief Telegraph Office/ Perth, WA - these are all oval and made from rubber;
Chief Telegraph Office / G.P.O. Perth - ovals;
Perth/W.A. - these are circular;
date stamps in the Australian period (circular unless noted otherwise):
Perth E.T.O.;
C.E.T.O./Perth WA;
Chief Telegraph Office/Perth (circular and rectangular);
Chief Telegraph Office/Perth W.A.;
Chief Telegraph Office /G.P.O. Perth (bicoloured);
Telegraph Receiving Office/Perth. W.A.;
Telegraphs/Perth W.A.;
Telegraphs Perth/Western Australia;
Telegraphs/G.P.O. Perth (oval).
C.T.O. Perth.
See also Slogan cancellations used at Perth.

The Central Telegraph Office in Perth.

The first telegraph office in Perth was in a room in the Town Hall on the Barrack Street frontage. There were many probems which arose from the nature and position of that Office. For example, on 13 July 1872, the Fremantle Herald reported:

"A daring attempt to break into the Savings Bank, Perth, was made on Sunday night, during the hours of Divine Service.

About half-past seven o'clock a police constable named Bourke, who was on duty in-the neighborhood of the General Post Office, heard an unusual noise in the Telegraph Station and, listening attentively, he distinctly heard movements in the Battery Room. Jumping over the fence at the rear of the office he cautiously crept up to the window of the Battery Room and, after the lapse of a few moments, he observed a man in the act of crawling through the window. Springing from his place of concealment, the constable arrested the would-be burglar and conveyed him to the police station close by. A powerful jemmy and other house-breaking instruments were discovered at the Battery Room, and three marks on the window showing clearly that the jemmy had been used in affecting an entrance.

The man's name is Kelly. He was taken before the Local Magistrate on Monday, and fully committed for trial. His object, no doubt, was to gain admission through the Telegraph Office into the Savings Bank which adjoins the Battery Room".

On 15 April 1874, the Inquirer reported that "The Telegraph and Post Office is being proceeded with rapidly, and will, I think, be completed before the wire is placed. This building, no doubt, will be useful and fill a place, but as an ornament, pray don't mention it! The plan of the building is a lean to adjoining the cells at the lock-up".

But as Miranda Lambert sang "Storms never last do they baby ...". The West Australian of 30 June 1882 reported "The Government are inviting tenders for the erection of a new wing to the public offices at Perth, to occupy the site on which the Post and Telegraph offices now stand".

A new Perth P&TO was scheduled to be completed in about 1885.

As demands for services increase, so do the needs for facilities to meet those demands. The Western Mail of 22 May 1896 gave good news and bad news to its readers: "The Post Office officials have removed to the new building. Assistance is urgently needed in both the Post and Telegraph Department".

The Inquirer of 15 January 1897 wrote a piece about the "Busy Department" in the Perth Post and Telegraph Office where overcrowding was a major concern - at least to those who worked there.

But ... on Tuesday 2 November 1897, the Daily News reported:

"At about 8 o'clock last night, two youths employed on the third story of the General Post Office noticed smoke issuing from the lift which is used to convey messages from the receiving counter to the operating-room. They immediately gave the alarm to those on the premises, and also communicated with the fire brigade station.

An operator named Beilby showed considerable presence of mind by attaching one of the various hoses which are supplied by the department so as to be ready in case of emergency. He poured the water down the lift from the uppermost part of the building, while another official prevented the flames from extending to the Executive Council chambers. The water had the effect of speedily extinguishing the flames and, by the time that the brigade arrived, all danger of a serious conflagration had been averted.

The lift contains all the telegraph wires of the colony and, being constructed of gutta-percha and paraffine platting (the usual insulating material), they quickly conveyed the flames up the lift. The effect of this was that connection between the batteries and the operating-room was immediately suspended, communication with every station in the colony being cut off. As far as the chief lines were concerned, communication was restored in 45 minutes by the laying of special wires, under the supervision of Messrs. W. E. Ottaway and C. Richardson and, within the space of two hours, the whole service was in order.

The building being infested with rats, color is lent to the belief that they, having gnawed the insulating material in order to reach the paraffin, rendered it easily inflammable. The temperature again, during the past two days, favors the theory that thunderstorms might have existed in the neighborhood of some of the lines connected with Perth. In that case an extensive charge of the electric fluid would be conveyed to the head office and render ignition all the easier.

The accident exemplified the truth of the adage that misfortunes never come singly for, since Sunday, the line between Perth and Adelaide via Coolgardie, has been interrupted for the first time since its erection, rendering it necessary for all Coolgardie district business to be transmitted via Perth over the coastal line. The fire last night had the effect of further delaying messages.

It may be mentioned that the Perth-Adelaide line is expected to be put in proper order early this moning, owing to the excellent work done by lineman Graham of Eyre, who has travelled over 85 miles of a waterless stage in two days".

The West Australian of 3 December 1898 reported "No further developments became known yesterday in connection with the robbery of £900 from the telegraph manager's room on Thursday. Mr. Sholl, Postmaster-General, on being seen, said nothing further had transpired. The matter was still in the hands of the detectives and he had heard nothing from them. During the day it was rumoured that several arrests had been made but, on inquiry last night, it was ascertained that there was no truth in the rumour".

Telegraph Operators at the G.P.O in 1898.
Scanned from Souvenir of the Postal, Telegraphic and Telephone Departments of Western Australia, GPO Perth Christmas 1898.

Telegraph Messengers at the G.P.O. in 1898.
Scanned from Souvenir of the Postal, Telegraphic and Telephone Departments of Western Australia, GPO Perth Christmas 1898.

Personnel:

June 1869: Mr. James Coates Fleming was the first Operator in the Perth Telegraph Office.

In April 1891, an important cricket match was held between the Post and Telegraph Department and the Public Works Department. The Post and Telegraph Department team was:

Richard A Sholl, A H Williams, E A Letch, L Ogborne, W Grundy, J P Sullivan,
W J Croft, J H Leach, F W Milbank, C Hyde, A C Baldock.

Date stamps used at the Chief Telegraph Office, Perth.

Colonial/Interim period rubber date stamps.

Chief Telegraph Office/ Perth, W.A.
RO2 - CTO. 8 pointed stars separate text. Used in violet: 16 June 1899. Size: 28 × 43 mm (e = 0.76). Rated: RRR. Number in the Census: 1.	16 June 1899. Used on WC-DO-5A.
RO6 - CTO. Uncoloured boxes with dot in centre in the text band. Right box is horizontal. Used in blue: 7 September 1891 - 21 July 1893. Dimensions: 26 × 41 mm (e = 0.77). Rated: RR. Number in the Census: 4.	7 September 1891. Applied in light blue. Used on WC-DO-4B.
Used in green: 24 April 1894. Dimensions: 26 × 41 mm (e = 0.77). Rated: RRRR. Number in the Census: 1.	Used on WC-DO-4B.
Used in purple: 1 November 1894 to 27 November 1895. Dimensions: 26 × 41 mm (e = 0.77). Rated: RR. Number in the Census: 4.	1 November 1894. Used on WC-DO- 4C.
	27 November 1895. The left box is over-inked.
RO6 - CTO. Stars in text band. Used in purple: 19 September 1896. Dimensions: 27 × 45 mm (e = 0.80). Rated: RRR. Number in the Census: 1.	19 September 1896. Used on WC-DO-4Cb.
RO6 - CTO. Stars in text band. Used in magenta: 10 May 1906. Dimensions: 29 mm × 44 mm (e = 0.75). Rated: RRR. Number in the Census: 2.	10 May 1906. Major break in outer frame. Applied in magenta. Used on WI-DO- ?
	6 June 1906. Major break has deteriorated further. Used on WI - DO - 1B.
RO7 - CTO. Coloured squares in text box. Left box horizontal. Used in red: 22 February 1901. Dimensions: 30 × 42 mm (e = 0.70). Rated: RRRR. Number in the Census: 1.	22 February 1901. Used on WC-DO-5A.
RO7 - CTO. Filled circles separate text. Used in violet: 30 January 1906 and 7 February 1906. Size: 29 × 50 mm (e = 0.81). Rated: RRRR. Number in the Census: 2.	30 January 1906.
	7 February 1906.
Chief Telegraph Office/ G.P.O. Perth.
RO2 - CTO. Used in violet: 27 January 1950 and 6 February 1950.. Size: 29 × 48 mm (e = 0.80). Rated: RRRR (not recorded elsewhere). Number in the Census: 2.	27 January 1950.

Superintendent of Telegraphs/
Perth W.A.

RO6 - SOT

Used in green: 22 August 1900.

Size: 27 × 43 mm )e = 0.78)

Rated: RRRRR (not recorded elsewhere).

Number in the Census: 1.

22 August 1900.

Image by courtesy of Malcolm Brown, W.A.

Cover with the Superintendent oval in green shown above.
Official OHMS cover sent from the SHIP MAIL ROOM at Perth to Kograh, Sydney, NSW.

Perth/W.A. RC2 - P: PERTH at top and W.A. at base but there is no reference to Telegraph Office. Unrecorded in PMI or elsewhere. Applied in various colours - see below.
Thick letters. Double circle indistinct in parts. Used in green: 2 October 1912. Size: 34 mm. Rated: RRR. Number in the Census: 1.	2 October 1912. Used on Collect telegram WI-DO-5Ab with rare COLLECT hand stamp.
Thick letters. Double circle indistinct in parts. Top appears to be broken. Used in violet. 9 and 19 September 1913. Size: 33 mm. Rated: RRR. Number in the Census: 2.	9 September 1913.	10 September 1913. Used on WI-DO-5.
Thin letters. Distinct double circle. Used in blue: 14 November 1913, 15 November 1915 (2). Size: 33 mm. Rated: RRR. Number in the Census: 3.	14 November 1913. Used on WI-DO-5.	15 November 1915. Used on WI-DU-3.
	22 July 1916. On piece - used on an interim period delivery form.
Thin letters. Distinct double circle. Used in magenta: 31 July 1912 and 4 May 1917. Size: 34 mm. Rated: RRR. Number in the Census: 2.	31 July 1912. Used on WI-DO-5Ab.	4 May 1917. Used on AE-DO-1C.

Australian steel circular date stamps.
Perth / E.T.O./ (Electric Telegraph Office) Western Australia. O index above base. 3 mm side arcs. Used in violet: 1 September 1906. Diameter: 25 mm. Rated: RRRR. Number in the Census: 1.	1 September 1906.
Characteristics: O index above base. 3 mm side arcs. Used in black: 22 April 1907 to 22 February 1912. Diameter: 25 mm. Rated: RR. Number in the Census: 15.	22 April 1907 Earliest recorded date. Used on WI-DO-2.	22 May 1909. Used on WI-DU-2.
	10 December 1910. Used on the WI-DO-3.
	22 February 1912. Latest recorded date. Used on the very rare WI-DO-4 with part of a TELEGRAM stamp showing - the remainder of the stamp being on the other side of the form. Only two forms are recorded with this stamp.
C.E.T.O./ Perth W.A.
There are two types of date stamp with this inscription: date stamp with a 28 mm diameter: Used: 30 January 1918 and 6 July 1921. Diameter: 28 mm. Rated: RRRR. Number in the Census: 2.	30 January 1918. Used on AE-DU-1A.	6 July 1921. On piece with a circular steel COLLECT handstamp in blue (just visible in the top left corner).
larger date stamp : Used in black: 30 January 1918 and 24 June 1925. Diameter: 32 mm. 5 mm side arcs Rated: RRR. Number in the Census: 2.	24 June 1925.
C.E.T.O. Perth/W.A. Perth moved to top heading. Used in purple: 26 October 1929. Diameter: 30 mm. 3 mm side arcs. Rated: RRRR. Number in the Census: 1.	26 January 1929.
Chief Telegraph Office/ Perth - W.A. Circular steel date stamp. Has an upright G and 3 mm side arcs. Used in black: 28 September 1936 to 23 December 1936. Diameter: 28 mm. Rated: RR. Number in the Census: 5.	28 September 1936. Used on AB-GSF-36. A variation of this date stamp (dated 7 November 1930), is shown elsewhere on a telegram to Penfold's Wines. It appears to have had CHIEF removed.	23 December 1936.
Has a wider G than earlier format and dots for separation. Has a 1 mm arc between Perth and WA. Used: 29 May 1939 to 17 November 1947. Diameter: 30 mm. Rating: RRRR (unrecorded by P.M.I.). Number in the Census: 3.	29 May 1939. Premier Auction 116 Lot 3374.	17 November 1947. On AW-DO 10B (45).
Chief Telegraph Office/ Perth. Letters are more rounded. Used: 8 April 1953 to 26 December 1956. Diameter: 31 mm. Rated: R.	8 April 1953.	5 February 1955. Used on AW-DO-10C (52) , on AW-GG-54A and AW-GCF-54B.
Chief Telegraph Office/ Perth. Has a dash between CHIEF and PERTH. Used in violet: 28 May 1960.. Diameter: 32 mm. Rated: RRR. Number in the Census: 1.	28 May 1960.

Rubber rectangular date stamps - Chief Telegraph Office.

Chief Telegraph/ Office/ Perth - W.A.

Rectangular rubber date stamp (RRH - CTO).

Used: 12 January 1905.

Size: 27 × 37 mm.

Rated: RRRR (not listed elsewhere).

Number in the Census: 1.

12 January 1905.

Used on WI-DO-1A.

Chief Telegraph Office/G.P.O. Perth.

Rectangular rubber date stamp
(RRH - CTO).

Used: 11 Feb 1957 to
24 March 1958.

Size: 25 × 52 mm.

Rated: RRRR (Unrecorded by P.M.I.).

Number in the Census: 3.

11 February 1957.
Used on AA-DO-13A (ERD).

Chief Telegraph Office/ G.P.O. Perth.

Rectangular rubber date stamp
(RRH - CTO).

Used: 29 May 1963 to
1 February 1966.

Size: 25 × 47 mm.

Rated: RRRR (Unrecorded by P.M.I.).

Number in the Census: 2.

1961
31 July 1961.

Used on AA-DO-13B.

1 February 1966.

Used on AA-DO-13D.

Chief Telegraph Office/G.P.O. Perth.

Rectangular rubber date stamp (RRH1 - CTO) with frame.
Bicoloured date stamp - blue and red.
(Only bi-colour date stamps recorded across
all Australia/Colonial Postal administrations).

Used: 12 June 1976.

Size:30 × 49 mm.

Rated: RRRRR (Unrecorded elsewhere).

Number in the Census: 1.

12 June 1976.
Used on AA-DO-13D sent by Charles Court (Premier of Western Australia) to Charles Pegler for his Queen's Birthday Honour).

Rectangular rubber date stamp (RRH - CTO) without frame.

Used: 12 June 1976.

Size: 33 × 51.5 mm.

Rated: RRRRR (Unrecorded elsewhere).

Number in the Census: 1.

3 November 1882.
Used on AT-DO-15B.

Image kindly supplied by Malcolm Brown of WA.

Telegraph Receiving Office/
Perth, W.A.

Oval rubber date stamp RO7 - TRO.

Unlisted elsewhere.

Used in purple: 14 April 1905 (and 3 April ????.

Size: 31 × 49 mm (e = 0.77).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 2.

14 April 1905
(year blocked out but a 2nd date stamp on the form
for confirmation of the year).

Used on WI-DO-1A.

3 April (no year discernable).

Telegraphs/Perth W.A. There are four formats for this inscription: 1. Two line date - month before day. Has letter "A" under the heading above the date. Small dots for separation. Used: 23 August 1902 to 19 September 1902. Diameter: 21 mm. Rated: RRRR.	23 August 1902.	19 September 1902. Inscription below the heading is unclear.
2. Two line date - month before day. More pronounced dots for separation. Used: 18 Ju(ne) 1903 to 28 May 1910. Diameter: 21 mm. Rated: RRR. Number in Census: 5.	5 April 1905.	28 May 1910. Used on WI-TO-2Aa.
3. Two line date - day before month. More pronounced dots for separation. Used: 22 May 1903 to 28 May 1910. Diameter: 21 mm. Rated: RRR. Number in Census: 2. Some examples have the first date line inverted.	6 November 1906. Used on a notification of a non-delivery.
4. One line date and larger size. Used: 3 May 1917 to 10 January 1935. Diameter: 28 mm. Rated: RRRR. Number in Census: 4.	3 May 1917.	10 January 1935. Premier Auction 116 Lot 3373.
Telegraphs. Perth/ WESTERN AUSTRALIA. No separation markers. Usage: 3 April 1930 to 30 March 1931. Diameter: 26 mm. Rated: RRRR.	3 April 1930. Used on AB-DO-6B.	30 March 1931.
Telegraphs/ G.P.O. Perth. Rubber oval date stamp (RO2 - T). Usage: 1 December 1949. Size: 34 × 43 mm (e = 0.61). Rated: RRRR. Number in the Census: 1.	1 December 1949.
Perth C.T.O. Unframed date stamp like for other Capital City Chief Telegraph Offices. Used: Possibly 1966. Size: Rated: RRR.	No example seen for imaging.