Post Office and General Store, Towamba

So, my place (Hartneady's store) wasn't a shop when you first came here? (mid 1960's)
Sally: No. It wasn't. Just Towamba store. Towamba store was wonderful. Beautiful big wooden counters and wooden floor and everything hanging from the ceiling...hobble chains and horse shoes and buckets and mops and brooms and bridles...everything you could imagine hanging from the ceiling. The post office was that little room off the end of the veranda and the telephone exchange. We had a phone on the wall (at home) where you wound a handle to make the bell ring in the exchange and then you'd have to ask for the number you wanted and she would get the number for you and put you through. Then she'd say "Three minutes, are you extending?" It used to be a trunk call, anything from here (Pericoe) would be a trunk call, sometimes she'd be kind and let you have a little extra time. Nene Egan had an exchange at Pericoe. Mary Mitchell had one at Lower Towamba.
***Excerpt from the interview with Sally Mirams in 'The Forgotten Corner Interviews'.

"You'd put on a clean apron and go a bit early to have a chat before the mail arrived," said Phyllis South.
"You could get anything from a needle to an anchor there," says Harold Farrell.The general store would set a small room or area of the shop counter aside for receiving and attending to mail business. Local residents would gather outside on the veranda waiting for the mail car and in later years, the school bus. It was one of the main gathering areas in the small village of Towamba.

Towamba store cut off in flood time from residents on the south bank of the river. Photo K. Clery

TELEGRAPH OFFICES OPENED

Bega: October 26, 1868
Bombala: May 15, 1867
Candelo: 1875
Cooma: October 7, 1865
Delegate: October 16, 1882. (was established)
Pambula: September 4, 1880. Edward J.Cornell was station master.
Eden-Bombala line: June 6, 1868. (cost of construction was £,201/11/2)
Merimbula-Eden line: November 1, 1868. (line of 4 miles opened at Merimbula. Cost was £173/1/0)
Pericoe: No date available.George Arnold, Manager.
Rockton: No date available
Rocky Hall: No date available
Towamba: No date available
Wolumla: This office was opened before the office at Wyndham since Wolumla's revenue is mentioned in discussions on the viability of the Wyndham line.
Wyndham: November 12, 1889

House built early in 1871, probably Lower Towamba's first Post Office (if not Towamba's first Post Office). Possibly John Mitchell and family as the Mitchell family still owned the property in the 1960s and it was still in use as a Post Office. (see below)

Old Post Office and residence Towamba Photo K.Clery		Old Post Office and residence. Lower Towamba. Photo K.Clery

POST OFFICES OPENED

SOURCE: Copied from letters to Wilf Ingram of Widden Farm, Towamba from Joy Shackcloth, Historical Officer, Public Relations section of Telecom Australia, February 10, 1982

GREVILLE'S POST OFFICE DIRECTORY 1872
TOWAMBA
Page 504
Distance 298 miles South of Sydney
Mail closes at General Post Office by Merimbula and Eden steamers.
Mail arrives at Post Town Thursday 5 pm.
Mail leaves for Sydney Thursday 8.30 am.
Mail arrives at Sydney by Merimbula and Eden steamers.
Route - Merimbula and Eden steamer, from Eden 15m. Towamba.

SURNAME - CHRISTIAN - OCCUPATION - ADDRESS - POST TOWN
ALEXANDER. John - farmer - Pericoe - Towamba
ALEXANDER. Robert - farmer - Pericoe - Towamba
BARES. Richard - farmer --- Towamba
BEARS. (should read Beare) Thomas - teacher --- Towamba
BENNIE. (should read Binnie)Alexander - farmer - Jinco Ck. - Towamba
BLAIZE. (should read Blaze)Thomas - blacksmith --- Towamba
BOZENSKI. Edward - farmer --- Towamba
BRUCE. John - carrier --- Towamba
FALKNER. Anthony - farmer --- Towamba
FALKNER. John - labourer --- Towamba
FAIRWEATHER. James - farmer - Wag Wag - Towamba
GATES. Henry - carter --- Towamba
HIGGINS. Robert - farmer --- Towamba
HYDE. John - farmer - Wattle Flat - Towamba
LAING. Allan - farmer --- Towamba
LAING. Donald - woodman --- Towamba
LAING. James - farmer --- Towamba
LAING. William - farmer --- Towamba
LAYCOCK. Maurice --- --- Towamba
LENARD. Austin - carpenter - Pericoe - Towamba
MARTIN. George - storekeeper --- Towamba
MARTIN. Samuel - farmer --- Towamba
MITCHELL. Edmond - farmer --- Towamba
OWEN. Edward - dairy --- Towamba
PARKER. George - carrier --- Towamba
PARKER. Samuel - farmer --- Towamba
PARKER. Samuel jun. - selector --- Towamba
POWERS. John - farmer --- Towamba
RIAN. (should read Ryan) Daniel - farmer --- Towamba
RIXSON. James - manager - Towamba Station - Towamba
RIXSON. Thomas - farmer - Towamba River - Towamba
ROBERTS. Charles - farmer --- Towamba
ROBERTS. James - farmer --- Towamba
ROBERTS. Robert - carrier --- Towamba
ROBINSON. John - farmer - Towamba River - Towamba
ROBINSON. Richard - farmer - Towamba River - Towamba
SHERWIN. John - manager - Burragate Station - Towamba
SHERWIN. John jun. - stockman - Towamba Station - Towamba
SLATTERY. John - farmer --- Towamba
STEVENSON. George - squatter - Wag Wag - Towamba
WETHERHEAD. (should read Weatherhead) A. - squatter - Nangutta - Towamba

Excerpt from the 'OFFICIAL POST OFFICE DIRECTORY' 1878
Towamba - 298 miles south of Sydney, in the Eden district. Mails close at G.P.O., Sydney, as steamers depart, and leave for Sydney, Thursdays, 8.30 a.m.

Alexander. John - farmer, Pericoe
Alexander. Robert - farmer, Pericoe
Beazeley. John - farmer
Binnie.A. jun., - selector, Janco Creek
Binnie. A. sen., - farmer, Janco Creek
Binnie. Charles - selector, Janco Creek
Binnie. David - selector, Janco Creek
Blaze. Thomas - blacksmith
Clements. William - farmer
Corcoran. Michael - selector
Donnelly. James, jun., - selector
Donnelly. James, sen.,
Donnelly. Thomas - selector
Doyle. B. - selector
Doyle. Roger - selector
Fairweather. James A. selector, Wag Wag
Falkner. Anthony - selector
Falkner. William - Pericoe
Higgins. Joseph - selector
Higgins. Robt. - selector
Kepple. Charles - Pericoe
Keys. David - selector, Burragate
Keys. William - selector
Laing. Allan - selector
Laing. Donald - selector
Laing. James, jun., - selector
Laing. James, sen., - farmer
Laing. William - selector
Mahers. Richard - selector
Martin. George - selector
Martin. Samuel - farmer
Mitchell. Edmond - farmer
Parker. George - carrier
Parker. John - carrier
Parker. Samuel, sen., - farmer
Parker. William
Pike. James - stockman
Rixon. Charles - selector, Rocky Hall
Rixon. Thomas - selector, Towamba River
Roberts. Charles - farmer
Robinson. J. jun., - selector, Towamba River
Robinson. J. sen., - selector, Towamba River
Robinson. R. - selector, Towamba River
Ryan. Daniel
Ryan. John - selector
Sawers. Peter - selector
Sherwin. J. jun., - selector, Burragate
Sherwin. John, sen.,
Sherwin. Wm. - selector, Burragate
Slattery. John, sen., - farmer
Stephenson. George - squatter, Wag Wag
Stiles. Clement J.W. - selector
Thelan. Francis - carpenter
Van Hemert. Augustus - Pericoe
Weatherhead. A. jun., - Nangutta
Weatherhead. A. sen., - squatter, Nangutta
Weatherhead. W. - selector

'Pambula Voice' July 7, 1893
BURRAGATE
* I am informed that a receiving office has been granted here. It is to be in charge of Mr. Samuel Shipway who has been a resident for some time. This will supply a long felt want and be a great convenience to residents.
* Mr. Shipway has now started a general store and saves the public many a mile for formerly the nearest stores were Wyndham and Towamba being upwards of seven miles away.

'Pambula Voice' January 14, 1898
ROCKY HALL
At a meeting held here last Saturday night it was proposed to make a presentation to Mr. P. Crotty, late mail contractor. Mr. L. Goldberg presided and a substantial amount has been collected. Of the many drivers on this route none was more obliging or more courteous than the genial Pat.

'Pambula Voice' March 16, 1900
EDEN ITEMS
* On and after the 15th instant Eden is to be favoured with a through mail bag from Sydney.
* The postal authorities have signified their willingness to establish a telephone office at Kiah on certain conditions relating to guarantee etc., which are being considered by the residents of the river district. It is hoped that ere long an arrangement will be made for the establishment of direct telephonic communication between Kiah and Eden.

'Pambula Voice' March 23, 1900
* A telegraph office is about to be established at Burragate, connecting the latter with both Towamba and Wyndham.

'Pambula Voice' January 29, 1904
*Attention is directed to the advertisement in another column intimating that Mr. S. Goldberg has opened a branch store at Towamba.

'Pambula Voice' January 6, 1905
FIRE AT TOWAMBA
The district coroner (Mr. J. H. Martin) secured information of Tuesday night that the general store and contents owned by Mr. P. McCloy of Towamba, were totally destroyed by fire on the previous night. We believe that the verdict was the accidental upsetting of a kerosene lamp. It is estimated that the loss amounts to about £800, which is partly covered by insurance.

'Pambula Voice' April 7, 1905
TOWAMBA
On Monday 24 instant, Mr. Robinovitz's store under the management of Mr. McCloy was totally destroyed by fire. The buildings belonged to Mr McCloy and we are given to understand were insured, but the goods were not. Mrs McCloy was in the act of lighting up for the evening and accidentally let the lamp fall. The oil caught fire and spread so rapidly that in 15 minutes the whole building from end to end was a mass of flames.

'Pambula Voice' July 21, 1905
TOWAMBA
I hear that Mr Jas Kelly, storekeeper, is likely to sell out his business to Mr Cunnington and remove to other fields of action.

'Pambula Voice' August 25, 1905
TOWAMBA
Mr Kelly has disposed of his store business at Towamba to Mr Arthur Cunnington of Wyndham. Mr Kelly is bound for Adaminiby.

'Pambula Voice' September 8, 1905
Mr J. Kelly has sold his business to Mr A. Cunnington, late of Mr S. Goldberg's, Wyndham, and I believe he has taken charge of his new venture.

'Pambula Voice' December 1, 1905
WYNDHAM
Our new storekeeper (Mr Cunnington) is kept very busy and is becoming very popular. We believe he will make a success of his venture.

'Pambula Voice' March 2, 1906
TOWAMBA
Another building is going up in the township for Mr A. Parker.

'Pambula Voice' August 9, 1907
TOWAMBA
Mr. Martin is pushing on with his work of building his new store. Mr. Martin is 86 years old.

'Pambula Voice' May 15, 1908
Mr. Wm. Laing of Towamba is very ill, his trouble being epilepsy. He is a very old resident of our village.

'Pambula Voice' April 21, 1911
* Our postmistress has resigned her postion, and Mr. G. Martin, jnr., has taken on the job. The young lady, Miss J. Cunnington, is moving to North Narribri. We trust we may be allowed to - well, wish her bon voyage, and every happiness in the near future.

'Pambula Voice' August 4, 1911
Mr. John Hartneady has opened a branch store at Yambulla, and is, we are informed, doing good business. So, you see, our Towamba tradesmen have some push in them.

'Pambula Voice' September 26, 1913
TOWAMBA
Mr. G. Martin Jnr., is building a new hotel (15 rooms) opposite to Mr. A. Robinson's store. Work is to commence on 1 Oct.

'Pambula Voice' October 31, 1913
TOWAMBA
Mr. W. Arnold, for some years assistant manager for Mr A. Robinson, storekeeper, much to the regret of the public, has gone to Sydney…

'Pambula Voice' July 10, 1914
TOWAMBA
Mr. John Hartneady has decided to close his store at Yambulla, and is having it pulled down and going to rebuild the store and billiard room in Towamba

Hartneady's old store and billiard room on the south side of the river. Sections of this building were moved from Yambulla to Towamba after the gold fields closed. This was still operating as a General Store in Towamba until the 1940's. Now private residence. Photo K.Clery

EXTRACTS FROM SAND'S SYDNEY & NSW DIRECTORY 1915
County Commercial Towamba

Dickie. J.M. & J.T. - Butchers
Hartneady. John - Store
Kennedy. W.F. - Blacksmith
McCoy. Charles - Towamba Hotel
Robinson. Alfred - General Store

'Magnet' March 1929
* Ally Harris, has Towamba mail run.

'Magnet' July 13, 1929
* A Shell bowzer has been installed by Mrs. E. I. Parker at her store. It will, we feel sure, be a boon to motorists both local and travelling.

'Magnet' October. 1929
* Mrs. A. Parker is having a new Post Office building built at Towamba.

'Magnet' February 15, 1930.
PERICOE
* Hartneady's store still in business.

'Magnet' August 2, 1930
* The Towamba Post Office was originally on the old Martin property 'Elmlea', (upriver from the wine saloon)

'Magnet' November 1, 1930
* Two Eden stores will be equipped with electric light.

'Magnet' September 12, 1931
PERICOE
* Wireless has now entered our regime, Mr. McPaul having lately installed a set. Mrs. McPaul and family are spending the school vacation on their Pericoe property.

'Magnet' October 3, 1931
* Mr. Joe Arnold has been notified that he is the successful tenderer for the Eden-Pericoe mail run.

'Magnet' April 2, 1932
* Owing to resignation of the Post Master, our Post Office is also to change hands, but so far its future location is undecided.

'Magnet' June 18, 1932
* Mr. Roy Mitchell - Post Office at Lower Towamba.

'Magnet' December 2, 1933
* Mr. Arthur Love - Pericoe - the successful tenderer for the mail run Towamba - Wyndham service.

'Magnet' September 22, 1934.
* A barber shop licence was granted to Mr. J. McLeod, Towamba.

'Magnet' November 3, 1934
* The new contract for the Eden-Towamba-Pericoe mail service for the next five years has been secured by Mr. Arthur Love, Towamba.

Magnet' November 17, 1934
PERICOE JOTTINGS
* Mr. Arthur Love, successful tenderer for the Eden-Towamba-Pericoe mail run will commence duty in the early new year.

'Magnet' December 22, 1934
* Mr. J. T. McLeod, Towamba, desired that license fees for Barbers shops be reduced to 5 shillings per annum to be advised that Council had fixed the fee at 10 shillings and was indisposed to alter it.

'Magnet' December 21, 1935
* Towamba Post Office hours from January 2nd, will be 9am - 1pm, 2pm - 8pm on weekdays, 9am - 1pm on Saturdays.

'Pambula Voice' June 13, 1940
A fire which commenced in Mr R. I. Parker's store room at Towamba last week was extinguished before it did much damage. Several bags of sugar were burnt.

Post Office at Burragate run by Mr.& Mrs. Williams Photo courtesy Jean McPaul. No date.

'Magnet' August 3, 1961
KIAH NOW HAS ELECTRICITY
After years of agitation by Kiah residents to have electric power extended to the area they now have their wish granted at last.
The power line which has been under construction for some months has been energised as far as the Kiah hall. Some residents have been connected and are now enjoying the benefits of the power for which they have fought so tenaciously.
The date for the celebration of the turning on of the electricity has been set for August 25th when an outstanding night has been promised.