Wilberforce Post Office

The town of Wilberforce is located on the northern bank of the Hawkesbury River about seven kilometres from Windsor, New South Wales. According to records in the National Archives of Australia (https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ListingReports/ItemsListing.aspx), mail services were conducted in the town by William Jasper from 1842. In 1855 the citizens collected a petition of names asking the Post-Master General of NSW for the provision of an official post office. A resident, John Robinson was suggested as a suitable person to run the service. Robinson initially agreed then unexpectedly withdrew his acceptance.

William West was then selected to be the first Post Master. Two men of good character provided West with a surety of £200 in support of his appointment. West was a tailor by trade and he asked the department if he could carry out his trade in conjunction with running the post office. In addition he applied for and was granted a publican’s licence for his premises.

His supporters withdrew their bond by early 1859 due to his “intemperate habits” William West passed away in March 1859. Richard William Cobcroft was then appointed, however he resigned in December 1859 citing running his own business as the reason. Mary Wenban was appointed to conduct the post office in December of that year but resigned in 1864 as she was leaving the district.

Alexander Simpson had opened a shop in George Road, Wilberforce near the corner of Hanover Street and in June 1864 he took on the role Wilberforce Post Master operating the office from his shop premises. After selling his shop and residence and handing over the post office duties in Wilberforce to his son, Louis Henry in 1889, Alexander Simpson and his wife Jane moved to the Casino area in northern NSW. Louis commenced his tenure in July 1889 and six months later applied for an increase in remuneration given that there had been an increase in mail deliveries. His request was not granted and he tendered his resignation in April 1890.

Storekeeper, David Salter wrote to the department advising that he was prepared to taken on the running of the post office. His shop and residence were across the road from the police station and he was well known to the residents of the town. He received confirmation of his appoinment commencing on 7 july 1890. It seems that he received no training in the duties and responsibilities of the position and was subject to great criticism. Salter resigned immediately and nominated Mrs Maria Buttsworth as his successor.

Maria Buttsworth commmenced work immediately. In April 1895, Mrs Buttworth asked for permission for her daughter to assist in the operations of the office on the understanding that the department would not provide any payment for her work. By 1897, Mrs Buttsworth was being paid an annual salary of £53 which included operating the telephone office which had been installed in 1891. After twenty-two years of service in November 1912, Maria Buttsworth submitted her resignation in favour of the appointment of her daughter Mrs Millie Daley as Post Mistress and Telephone Attendant at a salary of £59 6 shillings per annum.

The next to hold the position was Millie Daley’s granddaughter Mrs Tuckerman. Millie’s great granddaughter Jill Vincent then operated the office from a building on the main road adjacent to the Tuckerman’s home retiring in 1985. The post office is now located in the Wilberforce Shopping Centre.

The National Archives of Australia also holds an administrative file covering the period 1841-1985 which is at available online but may be view at the repositary in Chester Hill, NSW.

Location of Wilberforce Post Office

Categories for Wilberforce Post Office

Related Locations of Wilberforce Post Office

People Related to Wilberforce Post Office

You are welcome to add a comment, provide further information or suggest a correction, relevant to the history of this name.

Please make your comment below. PLEASE NOTE that comments are moderated and only relevant comments will be published