AUSTRALIAN
POSTAGE
RATES
Compiled by Allan Oliver
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
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No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording
or otherwise without the prior permission of the author
Requests for such permission should be sent to
The standard copyright notice above protects my rights as the compiler and the presentation of the information given in the following pages.
The data presented in the following pages has been taken from various sources and I hereby give permission for this version to be used by collectors either as a computer file viewed on their own system or as a printed version, provided that, in both cases, the file remains in its full and unaltered state.
I would also request that any additional information to expand the listings be sent to my email address as given above, so that the updated information can be made available to collectors in a revised version
In addition to the postage rates, I have also included some other snippets of information that may be useful from the postal history viewpoint. I must stress however that Australian postal history is way outside my normal area of interest, and as such there may be major errors or omissions in the text.
When checking a cover for the rates, the reader should use the date of posting as shown by the cancellation as a starting point, and from there, work backwards to see when the rate and/or additional charges applied came into force.
ALLAN
1809
The first Postmaster of New South Wales, an ex-convict, Isaac Nichols, took the post in this year operating from his home in George Street, Sydney. His main job was to take charge of letters and parcels arriving by ship, to avoid the chaos of people rushing onto the ships as soon as they arrived at Sydney's wharves.
1825- Postal Act
The Postal Act of 1825 allowed the governor to fix postage rates and appoint Postmasters outside Sydney, enabling the first organized postal service.
1838
A regular Sydney-Melbourne overland service started
1849
Uniform postal rates were established by agreement between the colonies.
1853
The Concord or ‘Yankee’ style coach, made famous by the likes of Cobb and Co, John Gill, and Crane and Roberts, are used for carrying mail on their passenger routes.
1856
Monthly steamship sea mail to the United Kingdom established
1857
Money orders sold in Victorian Post Offices.
Postal and telegraph service combined in Victoria.
1859
Alise Barney, Postmistress at Brisbane General Post Office (GPO), became the most senior postal official following the creation of the colony of Queensland in that year.
1865
Traveling Post Offices (TPO) attached to trains were introduced in Victoria. They allowed mail to be sorted in transit, speeding up delivery to country areas. TPO’s commenced in the other Australian colonies during the 1870s. The last TPO was withdrawn in August 1985.
1 July 1867
Melbourne GPO opened on this date
1871
Savings bank facilities offered at post offices in New South Wales.
1874
Sydney GPO opened.
1875
Postcards first issued for sale in Australia.
21 August 1883
The Wodonga-Albury rail link was completed on 14 June and, from this date; mail could be transported between Melbourne and Sydney by rail.
1891
Bicycles first used by postmen in Warwick, Queensland
The separate colonies joined the Universal Postal Union
Hobart Post Office, Tasmania – circa 1900
1 January 1901
The six self-governing Australian colonies that formed the Commonwealth of Australia. These were New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland
1 March 1901
The colonial mail systems were merged into the Postmaster General's Department. This body was responsible for telegraph and domestic telephone operations as well as postal mail.
July 1902
Postage due stamps issued
The General Post Office, Sydney - 1905
1910
First use of motorized transport by a contractor for mail delivery between Isisford and Ilfracombe in Western Queensland.
1911
Introduction of the payment of the old-age pension at post offices
1 May 1911
Postage rates become standard between states
1914
Pilot, Maurice Guillaux, carried Australia’s first domestic airmail between Melbourne and Sydney – thought to be one of the longest airmail flights in the world and the first between two cities.
1919
First overseas air mail was carried between England and Australia. A regular service was not established until 1934.
1924
The last Cobb and Co road mail service was discontinued.
1930
World’s first, large-scale mechanized mail sorting system was introduced in Australia, and operational in the Sydney GPO.
Motorbikes became part of the PMG’s transport system. They were used by telegraph messengers to deliver telegrams and to clear telephone coin boxes
1934
A regular airmail service established
1935
First airmail flight between Adelaide and Darwin piloted by John Chapman and Bruce Cowan.
1939
Postal articles handled totaled 1.1 billion in this year.
1939 – 1945
Large scale recruitment of women to sort and deliver mail in place of men who had enlisted in the armed services during the Second World War.
1958
Three-wheel ‘Mailster’ vehicles were used to deliver letters and parcels; however, motorbikes were not used to deliver letters until 1971.
October 1958
The Australian Prime Minister, Robert Menzies announced that the Government accepted the principals of decimalization. If re-elected, he would implement the conversion of Australia's imperial system to the decimal system
1959
After Robert Menzies re-election a Decimal Currency Committee was appointed in 1959 and a report was presented to the Government in 1960
1959
Domestic letter rate – 5d up to 1 ounce
4d per additional ounce
1960
After Robert Menzies re-election a Decimal Currency Committee was appointed in 1959 and a report was presented to the Government in 1960. Advantages of the change were considered to be worth the considerable cost of the conversion. The Government set 14 February 1966 as the target date for the introduction of Decimal Currency. This date became known as C-Day
1961
Postal articles handled totaled more than 2 billion over the year.
14 February 1964
Domestic letter rate – 4c up to 1 ounce
3c per additional ounce
1965
The Redfern Mail Exchange, the largest mechanized mail center in the Southern Hemisphere, opened in Sydney.
4 February 1966
UK forces airmail concession
6c per ounce
12 February 1966
All pre-decimal stamps withdrawn from sale at Post Offices but they still remain valid for use on mail
14 February 1966
Special delivery fee – charged per article in addition to the standard / domestic rate of postage
1 to 3 articles – 12c each
4 to 6 articles – 8c each
7 or more articles – 5c each
Aerogramme rate – 9c
Registration fee
20c in addition to the normal postage
Certified mail fee
5c in addition to normal postage
Acknowledgement of delivery fee
8c in addition to normal postage
Zone 1 airmail letter rate – 7c per ½ ounce
Zone 1 = Countries nearest Australia. Those known to be included are New Zealand and Papua New Guinea (after independence)
Note – This was a slight increase of the pre-decimal rate of 6d per ½ ounce
Zone 2 airmail letter rate – 10c per ½ ounce
Zone 2 = Fiji, Indonesia and Malaysia
Zone 3 airmail letter rate – 15c per ½ ounce
Zone 3 = more distant Asian and Pacific Island countries.
India, Japan, Philippines, China and Hong Kong
Zone 4 airmail letter rate – 20c per ½ ounce
Zone 4 = Canada and the United States of America
Also some Middle East countries including Saudi Arabia
Note – This was a direct conversion of the pre-decimal 2/- rate
At this time some of the former zone 5 countries were included in this class
1 September 1966
Underpaid articles service fee – Postage Due
16c plus the deficient postage
Meter impression showing the old currency
These were credited for postal use on a 1 to 1 basis
4d impression accepted as 4c postage
Dated 5 October 1966
1967
The world's first large-scale mechanical mail sorting system was introduced in Australia (according to Australia Post), and operational in the Sydney GPO in this year. This coincided with the introduction of the current system of 4-digit Postcodes in Australia
1 October 1967
Domestic letter rate – 5c up to 1 ounce
4c per additional ounce
Special despatch / Special Despatch Delivery service
Next day delivery between Capitols
Double the domestic or standard rate
Aerogramme rate – 10c
4c cover up rated by a 1c meter impression dated 12 October 1967
Paying the single rate in effect from 1 October 1967
14 February 1968
This is the last day on which pre-decimal stamps can officially be used on mail
30 September 1968
Special delivery fee – charged per article in addition to the standard / domestic rate of postage
1 to 3 articles – 20c each
4 to 6 articles –
7 or more articles –
1 October 1968
Registration fee
25c in addition to the normal postage
Acknowledgement of delivery fee
10c in addition to normal postage
Zone 1 airmail letter rate – 10c per ½ ounce
Zone 1 = Countries nearest Australia. Those known to be included are New Zealand and Papua New Guinea (after independence)
Zone 2 airmail letter rate – 15c per ½ ounce
Zone 2 = Fiji, Indonesia and Malaysia
Zone 3 airmail letter rate – 20c per ½ ounce
Zone 3 = more distant Asian and Pacific Island countries.
India, Japan, Philippines, China and Hong Kong
Zone 4 airmail letter rate – 25c per ½ ounce
Zone 4 = Canada and the United States of America
Also some Middle East countries including Saudi Arabia
1969
‘Post Office Preferred’ envelope specification details were announced.
1 July 1970
Special despatch / Special Despatch Delivery service renamed Priority Paid
Next day delivery between Capitols
Double the domestic or standard rate
Note – Both at the beginning of the service and later when the service was expanded to cover new areas, some articles sent through the normal postal services were selected by Australia Post to be put through the Priority Paid system instead. These items are paid at the normal rate but rubber stamped “Priority Paid – Test Article” or similar.
Certified mail fee
10c in addition to normal postage
1 October 1970
Domestic letter rate – 6c up to 1 ounce
6c per additional ounce
Messenger delivery fee – charged per article in addition to the standard / domestic rate of postage
25c per article
50c per parcel
Overseas express delivery fee
25c in addition to the usual airmail rate
Registration fee
30c in addition to the normal postage
Acknowledgement of delivery fee
15c in addition to normal postage
1971
Surface air lifter rates introduced
No details available at this time
Motorbikes used to deliver letters
14 February 1971
This is the last date that pre-decimal stamps can be exchanged at the post offices. At this date all pre-decimal stamps were demonetised
1 October 1971
Domestic letter rate – 7c up to 1 ounce
7c per additional ounce
Messenger delivery fee – charged per article in addition to the standard / domestic rate of postage
40c per article
60c per parcel
Aerogramme rate – 12c
Overseas express delivery fee
40c in addition to the usual airmail rate
Registration fee
50c in addition to the normal postage
Certified mail fee
15c in addition to normal postage
Acknowledgement of delivery fee
25c in addition to normal postage
Zone 1 airmail letter rate – 12c per ½ ounce
Zone 1 = Countries nearest Australia. Those known to be included are New Zealand and Papua New Guinea (after independence)
Zone 2 airmail letter rate – 20c per ½ ounce
Zone 2 = Fiji, Indonesia and Malaysia
Zone 3 airmail letter rate – 25c per ½ ounce
Zone 3 = more distant Asian and Pacific Island countries.
India, Japan, Philippines, China and Hong Kong
Zone 4 airmail letter rate – 30c per ½ ounce
Zone 4 = Canada and the United States of America
Also some Middle East countries including Saudi Arabia
1 October 1973
Domestic letter rate – 7c up to 20 grams
7c per additional 20 grams
Messenger delivery fee – charged per article in addition to the standard / domestic rate of postage
50c per article
70c per parcel
Special despatch / Special Despatch Delivery service renamed Priority Paid
Next day delivery between Capitols
20c per 20 grams
See also the note under 1 July 1970
Aerogramme rate – 14c
Overseas express delivery fee
50c in addition to the usual airmail rate
Registration fee
75c in addition to the normal postage
Certified mail fee
25c in addition to normal postage
Acknowledgement of delivery fee
30c in addition to normal postage
Zone 1 airmail letter rate – 10c per ½ ounce
Zone 1 = Countries nearest Australia. Those known to be included are New Zealand and Papua New Guinea (after independence)
Zone 3 airmail letter rate – 15c per 10 grams
Zone 3 = more distant Asian and Pacific Island countries.
India, Japan, Philippines, China and Hong Kong
Zone 4 airmail letter rate – 25c 10 grams
Zone 4 = Canada and the United States of America
Also some Middle East countries including Saudi Arabia
1974
International Priority Paid mail service to the United Kingdom and USA introduced.
1 October 1974
Domestic letter rate – 10c up to 20 grams
10c per additional 20 grams
Messenger delivery fee – charged per article in addition to the standard / domestic rate of postage
25c per article up to 500 grams
50c per article over 500 grams
Special despatch / Special Despatch Delivery service renamed Priority Paid
Next day delivery between Capitols
30c per 20 grams
See also the note under 1 July 1970
Aerogramme rate – 20c
Overseas express delivery fee
65c in addition to the usual airmail rate
Registration fee
$1 in addition to the normal postage
Certified mail fee
30c in addition to normal postage
Acknowledgement of delivery fee
40c in addition to normal postage
Zone 1 airmail letter rate – 15c per 10 grams
Over 50 grams charged 15c per 20 grams or part of
Zone 1 = Countries nearest Australia. Those known to be included are New Zealand and Papua New Guinea (after independence)
Zone 2 airmail letter rate – 20c per 10 grams
Over 50 grams at 20c per 20 grams or part of
Zone 2 = Fiji, Indonesia and Malaysia
Zone 3 airmail letter rate – 25c per 10 grams
Over 50 grams charged 25c per additional 20 grams or part of
Zone 3 = more distant Asian and Pacific Island countries.
India, Japan, Philippines, China and Hong Kong
Zone 4 airmail letter rate – 30c per 10 grams
Over 50 grams charged 30c per additional 20 grams or part of
Zone 4 = Canada and the United States of America
Also some Middle East countries including Saudi Arabia
1 July 1975
On this date separate government commissions were created to undertake the operational responsibilities of the PMG. One of these was the Australian Postal Commission trading as Australia Post.
1 September 1975
Domestic letter rate – 18c up to 20 grams
18c per additional 20 grams
Special despatch / Special Despatch Delivery service renamed Priority Paid
Next day delivery between Capitols
25c flat rate plus any applicable airmail rates
See also the note under 1 July 1970
Aerogramme rate – 25c
Overseas express delivery fee
90c in addition to the usual airmail rate
Surface air lifted rate
$1 plus 80c per 250 grams
Registration fee
$2 in addition to the normal postage
Certified mail fee
50c in addition to normal postage
Acknowledgement of delivery fee
50c in addition to normal postage
Zone 1 airmail letter rate – 25c per 10 grams
Over 50 grams charged 25c per 20 grams or part of
Zone 1 = Countries nearest Australia. Those known to be included are New Zealand and Papua New Guinea (after independence)
Zone 2 airmail letter rate – 30c per 10 grams
Over 50 grams at 30c per 20 grams or part of
Zone 2 = Fiji, Indonesia and Malaysia
Zone 3 airmail letter rate – 35c per 10 grams
Over 50 grams charged 35c per additional 20 grams or part of
Zone 3 = more distant Asian and Pacific Island countries.
India, Japan, Philippines, China and Hong Kong
Zone 4 airmail letter rate – 40c per 10 grams
Over 50 grams charged 40c per additional 20 grams or part of
Zone 4 = Canada and the United States of America
Also some Middle East countries including Saudi Arabia
1 November 1975
Reduced domestic rate for Christmas cards posted between 1 November and the 31 December
15c
1 November 1976
Reduced domestic rate for Christmas cards posted between 1 November and the 31 December
15c
1 October 1977
Messenger delivery fee – charged per article in addition to the standard / domestic rate of postage
90c per article up to 500 grams
$1-20c per article over 500 grams
1 November 1977
Reduced domestic rate for Christmas cards posted between 1 November and the 31 December
15c
1 January 1978
Messenger delivery fee – charged per article in addition to the standard / domestic rate of postage
$1-50c per article
1 July 1978
Domestic letter rate – 20c up to 20 grams
20c per additional 20 grams
Special despatch / Special Despatch Delivery service renamed Priority Paid
Next day delivery between Capitols
30c flat rate plus any applicable airmail rates
See also the note under 1 July 1970
Aerogramme rate – 30c
Overseas express delivery fee
$1-35c in addition to the usual airmail rate
Zone 1 airmail letter rate – 30c per 10 grams
Plus 10c per additional 10 grams or part of
Zone 1 = Countries nearest Australia. Those known to be included are New Zealand and Papua New Guinea (after independence)
Zone 2 airmail letter rate – 35c per 10 grams
Plus 15c for each additional 10 grams or part of
Zone 2 = Fiji, Indonesia and Malaysia
Zone 3 airmail letter rate – 40c per 10 grams
Over 50 grams charged 10c per additional 10 grams or part of
Zone 3 = more distant Asian and Pacific Island countries.
India, Japan, Philippines, China and Hong Kong
Zone 4 airmail letter rate – 50c per 10 grams
Plus 30c per additional 10 grams or part of
Zone 4 = Canada and the United States of America
Also some Middle East countries including Saudi Arabia
1 November 1978
Reduced domestic rate for Christmas cards posted between 1 November and the 31 December