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Magill Post Office

As early as 1850, postal services operated out of a variety of premises on Magill Road including on the corner opposite the Tower Hotel. However, from 1882 until 1967, they operated out of these premises at 613 Magill Road; the first purpose built post office in Magill. In 1967, new premises were opened further down at 556 Magill Road and the building was sold in 1970.

South Australians were lobbying the government as early as 1850 for the need for faster mail delivery. The arrangements in 1851 were that the mail for Magill closed at the General Post Office in Adelaide daily at 10:45 am. It didn’t however arrive in Magill until 12:10 pm and the return mail to Adelaide then took until 2pm to be delivered at the GPO each day1. It was not until 1864 that the mail line was extended from Magill to Norton Summit. Horse trams were used to carry the mail to and from the city in the early days.

The suburban post offices were important to the local residents, not just for mail delivery but also for people advertising goods or services for sale.  As an example, the following advertisement was in The Express and Telegraph in January 1879, ‘TO be LET, on very reasonable terms, a WHEELWRIGHT'S SHOP. Apply by letter " R. O.," Magill Post-Office'. 2

In 1880, £800 was listed in the government’s supplementary estimates for the erection of the Magill Post Office and Telegraph Station, including the site3.   The final cost was approximately £922 ($1844).

During 1881-2 there were deputations to the government about the delays regarding the decision for the location of the Post Office but eventually it was built and opened in mid 1882. The building has been described as ‘a sandstone building with brick quoins and arching. It has a gabled corrugated iron roof behind the more recent shopfront and parapet wall.’ (Campbelltown Heritage register)

The South Australian Advertiser reported on 6 November 1882 that Mrs Shoobridge had ‘taken charge of the Magill Post Office’. She was Post Mistress until 1888 when she moved to Angaston4.

Another Post Mistress of note was Miss Annie Vaughan who held the position from May 1888 to June 1910. Annie Vaughan was the daughter of Richard Vaughan, founder of the East End Market. She was an accomplished singer and had sung at the opening of the Adelaide Town Hall on June 20, 1866. She refused offers to go to London to continue her singing career, preferring to stay in Adelaide and work with her father. When she was in her sixties she became Post Mistress at Port Victoria and then in 1888 at Magill5.  When Annie retired from the Post Office, a farewell event was held at the Magill Institute. She 'was presented with an illuminated address and a purse of sovereigns. Speeches were made by Messrs. W. P. Hughes (who presided), R. Wadmore, A. H. Roberts, T. Brooks, J. T. Hohnes, and D. D. Murphy.' It was noted that she had 'taken a prominent part in connection with many local movements and her departure from the town is much regretted.'6 She died aged 90 in 1934.

Mrs Mary Bagot Galloway was Post Mistress from 1910 to 1916. Salaries for postal assistants in 1910 was £110 per year ($220)7, 8 . Other people and their salaries at this time included Sidney Clarence Kennedy. He was firstly a telegraph messenger, grade I and was paid £52. In 1910 he was promoted to be letter carrier, grade II., with a salary of £60 9.

Staff at the Post Office were provided with special transport from the city. The Mail 7 June 1947 reports that the special transport for workers would leave the city at 6:30 am, 7:30 am and 8:30 am for Post Offices in the suburbs, including the Magill Post Office10.

In February 1901 burglars attempted to remove the safe from the Post Office. However, they found it securely screwed down so were unable to remove it. They were, therefore, compelled to 'move on' without having obtained anything to recompense them for their trouble11.’

Again, in February 1904, there was another burglary, involving shots being fired by the nearby bakers who were trying to stop the robbery.

‘The Commissioner of Police (Col. Madley) remarked—

"The affair was certainly a sensational one. From all accounts it appears that at about half-past 3 two burglars made an attempt to enter the Magill Post Office. There is no doubt about this; the marks on the door are conclusive enough for anything. Alongside the post office is Mercer's bakery establishment, and the attention of a couple of the employees was attracted by the noise outside. The men went out, and one fellow, who was armed with a shot gun, fired at the burglars. One of the latter replied by throwing a jimmy and other instruments at their assailants. Then they decamped with the bakers in hot pursuit. Twice the baker with the gun fired at the flying robbers, but they managed to escape12.’  

The building itself underwent a few changes over the years. In 1922, 1927, 1940 and 1959, minor alterations, additions, repairs and painting were done to maintain the building. The tender for the 1959 repairs was £1,506. Interestingly in May 1932, tenders were called for the ‘installation of sanitary fittings’, presumably an indoor bathroom. At this time, several other post offices in the state were also being similarly remodelled13.

Since the building was sold by the government in 1967, it has been used as an electoral office, doctor’s surgery, an insurance broker’s office and more recently as a restaurant.

Researched and compiled by Di Booker, a volunteer with the Campbelltown Library “Digital Diggers” group.

If you have any comments or questions regarding the information in this local history article, please contact our Local History Officer on 08 8366 9299 or history@campbelltown.sa.gov.au.

References

  1. South Australian Gazette and Mining Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1847 - 1852), Saturday 14 December 1850, page 3 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/195941323
  2. The Express and Telegraph (Adelaide, SA : 1867 - 1922), Thursday 23 January 1879 p 1 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/73072074
  3. South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), Thursday 14 October 1880 p 5 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/43141123
  4. The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), 6 November 1882,  page 1 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/33626567
  5. News (Adelaide, SA: 1923 – 1954), 21 July 1934 page 6 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/128841672
  6. The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889-1931), 24 June 1910 page 9 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5283827
  7. Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), Saturday 2 July 1910, p 15 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/88503455
  8. The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889-1931), Mon 7 Nov 1910, Page 10  https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5206166
  9. Daily Herald (Adelaide, SA : 1910 - 1924), Tuesday 17 May 1910, page 6 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article103879761
  10. The Mail (Adelaide, SA : 1912 - 1954), Saturday 7 June 1947, p 2  https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/55886831
  11. South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), Tuesday 19 February 1901, page 4 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/54554557
  12. Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1869 - 1912), Thursday 18 February 1904, p 1 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/200808254
  13. News (Adelaide, SA: 1923 – 1954), Sat 7 May 1932, page 8 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/129053496