Cargo Post Office

Introduction

The first seven “country” post offices in New South Wales were established in March 1828 at Parramatta, Liverpool, Penrith, Bathurst, Windsor, Newcastle, and Campbelltown. As the settlement spread further, other offices opened, including Orange (1849) and Toogong (1865).

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Request for Postal Facilities at Cargo

On 28 September 1868, William Weber from Davy’s Plains requested postal services for Cargo near Toogong, emphasising the growing population and need for mail access, as the nearest post office was 16 miles away.
Andrew Irvine, Postmaster at Toogong, reported Cargo’s population as 600-700 and recommended establishing a branch mail office with Frederick Trembath as postmaster.
Local storekeepers Sheridan and Tipper supported the establishment of a post office at Cargo.
A petition in November 1868 claimed the population had grown to over 1,000 and nominated William Wigmore as postmaster.

Opening of Cargo Post Office

The post office officially opened on 1 December 1868.
Francis W. Peisley was appointed the first postmaster with a salary of £12 per year.
Initially located at Peisley’s forage stores, the office was moved in February 1869 to Mr. Wigmore’s store for better security.

Early Postmasters and Challenges

William Wigmore became postmaster in April 1869.
There were complaints about postal delays and the postmaster’s conduct, partly due to Wigmore’s absence and his assistants managing day-to-day operations.
David L. Bayliss was appointed postmaster in January 1870.

Money Orders and Complaints

Money order services started around 1869.
In 1871, complaints arose about negligence and letter delays, but many complaints were linked to personal disputes.
A public meeting in 1872 supported Postmaster Bayliss.
After an inspection in 1873, most complaints were found unjustified, and Bayliss was cleared.

Later Postmasters

James Powers succeeded Bayliss in April 1874.
Charles Arthur Monkhouse became postmaster when the telegraph office opened in February 1882 and the two offices were merged in April 1882.
Other postmasters included Lewis A. Tomkinson (1884), Alfred S.H. Perry (appointed but did not serve), William F. Burgess (1886), and Benjamin Cox (1889).

Telegraph Office and Official Status

A telegraph office opened in February 1882 following completion of the Canowindra-Cudal-Cargo telegraph line.
The post office and telegraph office were combined under Charles Monkhouse.
The office became official in April 1882 with new fittings purchased.

Post Office Building

In 1883, James Powers offered land for a dedicated post office building.
A prefabricated “redwood house” was purchased and erected on Government land.
The building opened on 26 January 1885.

Savings Bank and Services

A branch of the Savings Bank was established at the post office in June 1884.
Postmasters sometimes requested assistants to handle increasing business.
Postal services handled hundreds of letters, money orders, and telegrams annually by the late 1880s.

Complaints and Improvements

Complaints occasionally arose about post office service, often tied to local disputes.
Some postmasters requested salary increases and improved living conditions due to challenges working in a remote area.
The old post office building was considered inadequate by the 1890s.

CARGO POST OFFICE - POSTMASTERS

Postmaster	Appointment Date	Salary (£ per annum)
Francis W. Peisley	1st December 1868	£12
William Wigmore	1st April 1869	£12
David Lovisson Bayliss	3rd January 1870	£12
James Powers	15th April 1874	£12
Charles A. Monkhouse	1st April 1882	£20
Lewis Alexander Tomkinson	10th June 1884	£20
Alfred Sydney Haddy Perry	1st October 1885	£140
William Foster Burgess	13th January 1886	£100
Benjamin Cox	25th May 1889	£200
C. D. Logan	1st July 1895	£140
William O’Heir	1st October 1907	£140