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Commonwealth legislation
This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.
These regulations, effective 30 June 1902 under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901, created a single national framework for Australia’s postal, telegraph and telephone services. They set how mail, money transfers, telegrams and telephone connections are handled, charged and operated across the states.
They affected the public, businesses, press and rural users by replacing inconsistent state rules with uniform rates, procedures and technical standards—enabling reliable coast‑to‑coast communication.
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Direct links to the current provisions in Postal, Telegraphic and Telephone Regulations.
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
Commonwealth of Australia.
Postmaster-General’s Department,
5th June, 1902.
H
IS Excellency the Governor-General in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, by and with the advice of the Executive Council thereof, in exercise of the powers conferred by the Post and Telegraph Act 1901, has been pleased to make the following Regulations, to take effect on and from the 30th day of June, 1902, and to revoke on and from that date Regulations in force in any State under any of the State Acts specified in the First Schedule to that Act, so far as they are inconsistent with these Regulations.
JAMES G. DRAKE,
Postmaster-General.
GENERAL REGULATIONS.
SUNDAY ARRANGEMENTS.
Postal.
1. Country Post Offices, where mails arrive late on Saturday night or on Sunday, shall, if required by the Deputy Postmaster-General, open for the delivery of Correspondence for one hour before or after Divine Service, as may be considered most convenient to the public.
Telegraphic.
2. An officer must be in attendance at the Chief Telegraph Office of each State throughout the day and night to attend to inquiries. He will receive telegrams for transmission to similar offices within the Commonwealth at ordinary rates for press and double the ordinary rates for other telegrams; to certain principal offices in each State to be specified by the Deputy Postmaster-General, which are in call at 9 p.m., at the foregoing rates; to New Zealand, Great Britain, and Foreign Countries at ordinary rates.
Telegrams may also be handed in at 9 p.m. at the principal offices before-mentioned for transmission at the rates quoted above.
HOLIDAY ARRANGEMENTS.
3. On Christmas Day and Good Friday the same arrangements shall be observed as on Sunday; and on other Public Holidays the arrangements shall be as follow :—
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="width:547.2pt; border-collapse:collapse"><tbody><tr style="height:63.45pt"><td style="width:324.65pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:middle"><p class="Style20" style="text-align:center; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span></span></p></td><td style="width:200.6pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:middle"><p class="Style19" style="text-align:center; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span class="FontStyle96" style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:normal">New Year’s Day, Easter Monday, King’s Birthday, Boxing Day, and other Holidays proclaimed throughout the Commonwealth.</span></p></td><td style="width:142.15pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:middle"><p class="Style19" style="text-align:center; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span class="FontStyle96" style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:normal">Other days proclaimed Holidays in any State.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:23.5pt"><td style="width:324.65pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Style23" style="margin-top:6pt; text-align:justify; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span class="FontStyle80" style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:normal">General Post Office—</span></p></td><td style="width:200.6pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Style20" style="text-align:justify; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span></span></p></td><td style="width:142.15pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Style20" style="text-align:justify; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span></span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:21.15pt"><td style="width:324.65pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p class="Style23" style="margin-left:20.6pt; text-indent:-9pt; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span class="FontStyle80" style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:normal">The Delivery Office, Dead Letter Office, Registration Office, and office for sale of postage stamps to be open</span><span style="width:14.63pt; text-indent:0pt; display:inline-block"></span></p></td><td style="width:200.6pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p class="Style23" style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span class="FontStyle80" style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:normal">From 9 to 12 noon </span><span style="width:75.2pt; font-family:'Lucida Console', monospace; display:inline-block">............</span></p></td><td style="width:142.15pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p class="Style23" style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span class="FontStyle80" style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:normal">As on ordinary days.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:4pt"><td style="width:324.65pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p class="Style23" style="margin-left:20.6pt; text-indent:-9pt; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span class="FontStyle80" style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:normal">Private boxes to be open as usual.</span></p></td><td style="width:200.6pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p class="Style20" style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span></span></p></td><td style="width:142.15pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p class="Style20" style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span></span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:9pt"><td style="width:324.65pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p class="Style23" style="margin-left:20.6pt; text-indent:-9pt; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span class="FontStyle80" style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:normal">The country mails usually despatched in the afternoon and evening, also the coastwise, Inter-State, and foreign mails, to close</span><span class="FontStyle80" style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:normal"></span></p></td><td style="width:200.6pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p class="Style23" style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span class="FontStyle80" style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:normal">At 12 noon, unless otherwise specially intimated.</span></p></td><td style="width:142.15pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p class="Style23" style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span class="FontStyle80" style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:normal">As on ordinary days.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:12.1pt"><td style="width:324.65pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p class="Style23" style="margin-left:20.6pt; text-indent:-9pt; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span class="FontStyle80" style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:normal">The first delivery only to be effected by postmen.</span></p></td><td style="width:200.6pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p class="Style20" style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span></span></p></td><td style="width:142.15pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p class="Style20" style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span></span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:11.9pt"><td style="width:324.65pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p class="Style23" style="margin-left:20.6pt; text-indent:-9pt; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span class="FontStyle80" style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:normal">The Parcels Office to be open </span><span style="width:119.08pt; text-indent:0pt; font-family:'Lucida Console', monospace; display:inline-block">...................</span></p></td><td style="width:200.6pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p class="Style23" style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span class="FontStyle80" style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:normal">From 9 a.m. to 12 noon </span><span style="width:55.48pt; font-family:'Lucida Console', monospace; display:inline-block">.........</span></p></td><td style="width:142.15pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p class="Style23" style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span class="FontStyle80" style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:normal">As on ordinary days.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:13.55pt"><td style="width:324.65pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p class="Style23" style="margin-left:20.6pt; text-indent:-9pt; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span class="FontStyle80" style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:normal">The Money Order Office to be open </span><span style="width:93.81pt; text-indent:0pt; font-family:'Lucida Console', monospace; display:inline-block">...............</span></p></td><td style="width:200.6pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p class="Style23" style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span class="FontStyle80" style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:normal">From 9.30 a.m. to 12 noon </span><span style="width:42.98pt; font-family:'Lucida Console', monospace; display:inline-block">.......</span></p></td><td style="width:142.15pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p class="Style23" style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span class="FontStyle80" style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:normal">As on ordinary days.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:12.1pt"><td style="width:324.65pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p class="Style23" style="margin-left:20.6pt; text-indent:-9pt; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span class="FontStyle80" style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:normal">The Chief Telegraph Office to be open </span><span style="width:82.71pt; text-indent:0pt; font-family:'Lucida Console', monospace; display:inline-block">.............</span></p></td><td colspan="2" style="width:346.75pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p class="Style23" style="text-align:center; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span class="FontStyle80" style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:normal">As on ordinary days.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:21.15pt"><td style="width:324.65pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p class="Style23" style="margin-left:20.6pt; text-indent:-9pt; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span class="FontStyle80" style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:normal">Branch Offices in the Cities and Suburban and Country Offices to be open</span><span style="width:12.19pt; text-indent:0pt; display:inline-block"></span></p></td><td style="width:200.6pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p class="Style23" style="margin-left:12.9pt; text-indent:-12.9pt; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span class="FontStyle80" style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:normal">From 9 to 12 noon and if they do not ordinarily close at 6 p.m., from 6 to 8 p.m.</span></p></td><td style="width:142.15pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Style23" style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span class="FontStyle80" style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:normal">As on ordinary days.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:12.85pt"><td style="width:324.65pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p class="Style23" style="margin-left:20.6pt; text-indent:-9pt; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span class="FontStyle80" style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:normal">The first delivery only to be made by postmen.</span></p></td><td style="width:200.6pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p class="Style20" style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span></span></p></td><td style="width:142.15pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p class="Style20" style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span></span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:14.4pt"><td style="width:324.65pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p class="Style23" style="margin-left:20.6pt; text-indent:-9pt; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span class="FontStyle80" style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:normal">The iron pillar receivers and letter-boxes in the city and metropolitan suburbs to be cleared</span></p></td><td style="width:200.6pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p class="Style23" style="margin-left:12.9pt; text-indent:-12.9pt; widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span class="FontStyle80" style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:normal">Only at the ordinary hours in the morning.</span></p></td><td style="width:142.15pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Style23" style="widows:2; orphans:2; font-size:10pt"><span class="FontStyle80" style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:normal">As on ordinary days.</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table>
Note.—The above will not apply to local holidays gazetted for special purposes upon which days offices will be open as on ordinary days.
If British and Foreign mails arrive, or are despatched on any of the above-mentioned holidays, special arrangements must be made to suit the public convenience.
POSTAL REGULATIONS.
LETTERS.
No letter may be of inconvenient form or dimensions, or contain any article likely to injure any person or the contents of the mail-bags.
Letters not fully prepaid, or posted wholly unpaid, shall be charged double the deficiency on delivery.
LATE FEES.
On letters posted in the Commonwealth, for delivery therein, the late fee shall be 1d. each; and
On letters posted for transmission to places beyond the Commonwealth—each a single rate of postage.
POST-CARDS.
1. Single postcards, and reply or double cards, may be transmitted to the places and at the rates prescribed and in force in the various States.
2. Single cards must bear the heading “Postcard” on the face, and reply cards the heading “Postcard with Reply Paid” on the face of the first half, and “Reply Postcard” on the face of the second part.
3. Private cards (single and reply), bearing adhesive stamps, may also be t
This is an opening excerpt, not the complete document.