In
August 1858 a petition was signed by 141 residents of the locality known as Bald
Hills. The petition was accompanied by recommendations that a local storekeeper,
Mr. Walter Beames, junior, be appointed as the first postmaster, as he was
considered: “a fit and proper person to undertake the duties and
responsibilities of the situation of postmaster.”In the early 1860s there was a deterioration in the mail service from Sofala
to Bald Hills. The postmaster and a number of residents petitioned for a trooper
“who always goes with the down escort to Sofala” to bring the mail for Bald
Hills with him on his return journey.
Later the police discontinued the carriage of the mails by their troopers and
as the population at Bald Hills was not sufficient to warrant the expense of a
regular office, it was decided to close the post office from 1st may 1863.
In 1866 rich gold reefs were discovered in the district, which was then known
as Hill End. By 1869 the population had grown greatly. On 27th June 1869,
tenders were called for the conveyance of the mail between Tambaroora and Hill
End. It was advised that in the event of the tender being taken up that William
Graham Cochrane should be appointed as postmaster. There were no acceptors for
the original tender, but William Cochrane submitted an offer to carry the mails
either by horse or by foot.
The post office was opened under the name of Hill End on 1st August 1869 in
the charge of W. G. Cochrane. On 1st October 1870, Cochrane tendered his
resignation, and nominated Mrs. Mary A. Kerr as postmistress. Mrs. Kerr had been
postmistress at Cassilis. Mrs. Kerr took charge of the post office on 1st
November 1870.
Mr. Alfred Newman, an auctioneer and sharebroker, succeeded Mrs. Kerr in
charge of the post office on 1st July 1871. Money order facilities were extended
to Hill End at the time of Newman’s appointment.
William J. Slack, formerly a postmaster at Tambaroora, succeeded Newman as
postmaster on 1st April 1872. In April 1873 Slack obtained permission to rent
more suitable premises fro Mr. Thomas Wythe. This building was situated in Short
St., in the centre of the town. Up to this time premises owned by Mr. Henry
Stuart, had been used for a post office. Slack kept agitating for a new post
office and it was occupied about 1st September 1874. It was situated on part of
the reserve which had been set aside for the Public School.
John Gallagher, a junior operator, was appointed on 21st August 1871. then
Richard Johnson was appointed telegraph station master at Hill End on 1st
January 1872. In 1873 William McIlrick had been appointed as an operator. A
telegraph messenger was also employed.
William Raper succeeded Richard Johnson on 1st April 1874. Raper was
designated as an operator. William Raper was appointed as being telegraph
station master in 1875 and the date of his appointment to this position was
given as 1st April 1874. He was assisted by a telegraph messenger.
Thomas Channon was appointed telegraph station master on 24th January 1876.
Charles Chapple succeeded Channon on 1st October 1877. His assistant was a
telegraph messenger.