Postmaster-General of New South Wales

The Postmaster-General of New South Wales was a position in the government of the colony of New South Wales. This portfolio managed the postal department of the New South Wales Government and was in charge of all postal and communications services in the colony prior to the Federation of Australia, from 1835 to 1901.[1][2] Upon Federation, Section 51(v) of the Constitution of Australia gave the Commonwealth exclusive power for "postal, telegraphic, telephonic, and other like services".[3]

Postmaster-General of New South Wales
StyleThe Honourable
AppointerGovernor of New South Wales
PrecursorPostmaster of New South Wales
Formation21 October 1835
First holderJames Raymond
Final holderPaddy Crick
Abolished28 January 1901
SuccessionPostmaster General of Australia
Postmaster-General's Department

History

The first Postmaster of New South Wales, Isaac Nichols, was appointed by the military junta following the overthrow of Governor Bligh in the Rum Rebellion. Nichols retained the position when Governor Macquarie arrived in 1810, holding it until his death in 1819.[4] The post office was re-organised in 1835, with postmaster James Raymond being appointed as Postmaster-General, responsible for the various post offices throughout the colony. Raymond's replacement, Francis Merewether was appointed to the Legislative Council. With the establishment of responsible government in 1856, the position reverted to a civil service office. At first the postmaster-general reported to the Colonial Secretary, then the Colonial Treasurer.[5] In September 1865 the Governor declared that a member of the Legislative Assembly was capable of holding the office of Postmaster-General,[6] and James Cunneen was appointed, however his appointment as a minister did not give him a seat in cabinet.[7]

List of Postmasters-General
TitleNameParty affiliationTerm startTerm endTime in officeNotes
PostmasterIsaac Nichols Not a member of Legislative CouncilMarch 180918 November 18199–10 years[4]
George Panton16 November 181924 April 18299 years, 159 days[8][9]
James Raymond27 April 182920 October 18356 years, 176 days[10][11][12]
Postmaster-General21 October 183529 May 185115 years, 220 days
Francis Merewether Appointed position in Legislative Council9 June 185130 April 1852326 days[13]
William ChristieAppointed position in Legislative Council, until 18561 May 18521 October 186513 years, 153 days[14]
James CunneenNo party1 October 186521 October 18661 year, 20 days[7]
Joseph Docker22 January 186627 September 18682 years, 249 days[15]
Atkinson Tighe29 September 186826 October 186827 days[16]
Daniel Egan27 October 186816 October 18701 year, 354 days[17]
Joseph Docker16 December 187013 May 18721 year, 149 days[15]
George Lloyd14 May 18724 December 1872204 days
Saul Samuel5 December 18728 February 18752 years, 65 days[18]
John Burns9 February 187521 March 18772 years, 40 days[19]
Saul Samuel22 March 187716 August 1877147 days[18]
John Davies17 August 187717 December 1877122 days[20]
John Burns18 December 187720 December 18781 year, 2 days[19]
Saul Samuel21 December 187810 August 18801 year, 233 days[18]
Francis Suttor11 August 188113 November 188194 days[21]
Stephen Brown14 November 188122 August 1882281 days[22]
Alexander Campbell30 August 18824 January 1883127 days[23]
Francis Wright5 January 188327 May 1883142 days[24]
William Trickett28 May 18831 May 1884339 days[25]
James Norton2 May 18846 October 18851 year, 157 days[26]
John See7 October 188521 December 188575 days[27]
Daniel O'Connor22 December 188525 February 188665 days[28]
Francis Wright26 February 188619 January 1887327 days[24]
Charles Roberts Free Trade20 January 188716 January 18891 year, 362 days[29]
Henry Clarke Protectionist17 January 18897 March 188949 days[30]
Daniel O'Connor Free Trade8 March 188922 October 18912 years, 228 days[28]
John Kidd Protectionist27 October 18912 August 18942 years, 279 days[31]
Joseph Cook Free Trade3 August 189427 August 18984 years, 24 days[32]
Varney Parkes27 August 189813 September 18991 year, 17 days[33]
Paddy Crick Protectionist14 September 189928 February 19011 year, 167 days[34]

References
  1. "PFO-156 Postmaster-General". NSW State Records & Archives. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  2. "Part 6: Ministries 1856 to the present" (PDF). NSW Parliamentary Record. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  3. Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 s. 51(v).
  4. McMartin, Arthur (1967). "Nichols, Isaac (1770–1819)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. 2. Melbourne University Press. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 17 December 2020 – via National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
  5. "AGY-16 Colonial Secretary and Registrar of the Records of New South Wales". NSW State Records & Archives. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  6. "Proclamation: office of Postmaster-General". New South Wales Government Gazette (203). 29 September 1865. p. 2173. Retrieved 17 December 2020 – via Trove.
  7. Bowd, D G (1969). "Cunneen, James Augustine (1826–1889)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. 3. Melbourne University Press. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 17 December 2020 – via National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
  8. "Promotions and Appointments: George Panton to be Postmaster". The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser. 13 November 1819. p. 1. Retrieved 17 December 2020 – via Trove.
  9. "Death: George Panton". The Sydney Monitor. 25 April 1829. p. 8. Retrieved 17 December 2020 – via Trove.
  10. Parsons, Vivienne (1967). "Raymond, James (1786–1851)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. 2. Melbourne University Press. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 17 December 2020 – via National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
  11. "Appointment: James Raymond to be Postmaster". The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser. 28 April 1829. p. 1. Retrieved 17 December 2020 – via Trove.
  12. "Post Office". New South Wales Government Gazette (190). 21 October 1835. p. 740. Retrieved 17 December 2020 – via Trove.
  13. "Mr Francis Lewis Shaw Merewether (1811-1899)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  14. "Major William Harvie Christie (1808-1873)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  15. "Mr Joseph Docker (1802–1884)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  16. "Mr Atkinson Alfred Patrick Tighe (1827-1905)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  17. "Mr Daniel Egan (1803–1870)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  18. "Sir Saul Samuel (1820–1900)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  19. "Mr John Fitzgerald Burns (1833-1911)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  20. "Mr John Davies CMG (1839-1896)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  21. "Sir Francis Bathurst Suttor (1839-1915)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  22. "Mr Stephen Campbell Brown (1829-1882)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  23. "Mr Alexander Campbell (1812-1891)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  24. "Mr Francis Augustus Wright (1835-1903)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  25. "Mr William Joseph Trickett (1843-1916)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  26. "Mr James Norton (junior), (1824-1906)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  27. "Sir John See (1845–1907)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  28. "The Hon. Daniel O'Connor (1844-1914)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  29. "Mr Charles James Roberts (1846-1925)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  30. "Mr Henry Clarke (1822-1907)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  31. "The Hon. John Kidd (1838-1919)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  32. "Sir Joseph Cook (1860–1947)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  33. "Mr Varney Parkes (1859-1935)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  34. "Mr William Patrick Crick (1862–1908)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
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