The First Post Office, Melbourne

First Post Office at Melbourne 1841 
(Source: Watercolour by W. F. E. Liardet, State Library of Victoria)

Bullock team and cart on a dirt road, small wooden Post Office building with shingled roof, tents, established house belonging to John Batman in the distance.

The Post Office today is under pressure due to changes in the way the population communicates. The Port Phillip District population relied on the Post Office for their communication needs.

Michael Cannon, in his book “Old Melbourne Town. Before the Gold Rush,” states “Up to 1841, less than 5,000 letters a year to Melbourne addresses were involved. By 1843, the number had increased to more than 28,000 overseas letters a year.”

POST OFFICE, MELBOURNE – 1841

Source: “Kerr’s Melbourne Almanac and Port Phillip Directory for 1841”