South
Australia
FIRST STAMPS ISSUED 1
January 1855.
CURRENCY
1855, sterling.
State of the
Commonwealth of Australia between longitudes 1290E and 1410E. Originally part
of New South Wales under the Act of 1788, which set the boundary at 1350E.
However, when the first settlements began in the area of Adelaide, there was no
allegiance to Sydney and the area was declared a British colony in December
1836. The boundary was moved to its present location in 1859.
South Australia became
self-governing in 1856 and was given control of the Northern Territory in 1863.
It was federated into the Commonwealth in 1901 and continued to administer
Northern Territory until 1911.
Postal History
Upon the
foundation of the colony in 1836, the first postmaster, Thomas Gilbert of
Adelaide, was appointed. Handstamps were introduced at Adelaide at about the
same time. In 1839 the expansion of the service began and POs were opened at
Port Adelaide and Port Lincoln, with smaller offices at Willunga and Encounter
Bay. Unusually, the first inland mails were carried by the Mounted Police.
In 1840 there were 6 POs, and
41,000 letters and 50,000 newpapers were mailed. By 1860 the corresponding
figures were 146 POs, 1,360,000 letters and 1,000,000 newspapers. South
Australia was served by P & 0 steamers 1852-5 and again from 1859 onwards,
thus providing a link to Britain and Europe.
Seventy-five POs were open when
stamps were issued in 1855, and they were equipped with a numeral cancellation
which had a number in a diamond set within a series of bars. Within two years
circular datestamps began to be introduced and from 1858 they were used almost
exclusively.
In 1891 the colony joined the UPU
and in 1901 it was federated into the Commonwealth, but continued to use its
own stamps until 1913.
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