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Australia Post's History
Below is a brief description and chronological listing of Australia Post's History

1809 - Isaac Nichols, ex-convict, assumed the duties of the first Postmaster in Sydney.

1828 - Australia's first postman was appointed in Sydney, a private servant of George Panton, the Sydney Postmaster.

1838 - First overland mail service operated between Sydney and Melbourne.

1838 - First adhesive postage stamp issued. World's first stamped stationery solely intended for prepayment postage sold in Sydney. World's first commemorative issue stamp sold in NSW to mark 50 years of colonisation in Australia.

1841 - The first official post office was constructed in Melbourne on the present GPO site

.1844 - The first letter box was provided - one per town.

1849 - Uniform postal rates were introduced with agreement from the colonies

1852 - Compulsory prepayment of postage introduced in NSW.

1855 - First rail mail run completed from Sydney to Parramatta.

1856 - Monthly sea mail to England by steamship commenced.

1875 - Postcards were first issued in Sydney GPO.

1891 - Colonies joined with the Universal Postal Union.

1897 - World's first charity stamps were issued.

1901 - Federation of the Commonwealth of Australia. Government established the Postmaster-General's Department to provide postal services to the nation.

1913 - The first stamp designed for the Commonwealth was released to the public - a kangaroo in a map of Australia.


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