# Postmaster-General's Department > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Postmaster-General's_Department > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Postmaster-General's_Department.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postmaster-General's_Department > Source revision: 1349419646 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Australian government department, 1901–1975}} {{About|the use in Australia|the general use|Postmaster General}} {{Use Australian English|date=December 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}} {{Infobox government agency |agency_name = Postmaster-General's Department |logo = |logo_width = 200 px |logo_caption = |formed = {{Start date and age|1 January 1901}} |dissolved ={{End date and age|1975|12|22|df=y}} |superseding = [Postal & Telecommunications Department](/source/Postal_%26_Telecommunications_Department) |type = [Department](/source/Government_department) |jurisdiction = [Australia](/source/Australia) |employees = |budget = |minister1_name = |minister1_pfo = |minister2_name = |minister2_pfo = |minister3_name = |minister3_pfo = }} The '''Postmaster-General's Department''' ('''PMG''') was a department of the [Australian government](/source/Government_of_Australia), established at [Federation](/source/federation_of_Australia) in 1901, whose responsibilities included the provision of postal and telegraphic services throughout Australia. It was abolished in December 1975 and replaced by the [Postal & Telecommunications Department](/source/Postal_%26_Telecommunications_Department). Two separate legal entities had been established in July 1975 to take over the department's operations: Telecom Australia (that later became [Telstra](/source/Telstra)) and [Australia Post](/source/Australia_Post). ==History== thumb|Manual telephone, c. 1950. The phone and lines remained the property of the PMG. [[File:ManholePMG_gobeirne.jpg|right|thumb|The "PMG" stamp can still be found on many [manhole](/source/manhole) covers, such as this one in central [Perth](/source/Perth)]] The Postmaster-General's Department was established on 1 January 1901 to take over all postal and [telegraphy services in Australia](/source/History_of_telegraphy_in_Australia) from the states and administer them on a national basis. The department was administered by the [postmaster-general](/source/Minister_for_Communications_(Australia)).{{citation|title=CA 9: Postmaster-General's Department, Central Administration| url=https://RecordSearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?Number=CA+9|website= [National Archives of Australia](/source/National_Archives_of_Australia) |access-date=9 February 2021}} The first permanent secretary of the department was [Sir Robert Townley Scott](/source/Robert_Scott_(public_servant)), who held office from 1 July 1901 until his retirement on 31 December 1910.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}} In its first 25 years, the department grew from 6,000 to 10,000 offices and from 18,000 to 47,000 staff.{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1208030|title=Federation- 25 Years' Achievements Reviewed: Commonwealth Problems|page=8|newspaper=[Canberra Times](/source/Canberra_Times)|date=21 October 1926}} Earnings grew from £2.4 million to £10 million per annum. In mid-1975 the department was disaggregated into the Australian Telecommunications Commission trading as [Telecom Australia](/source/Telstra) and the Australian Postal Commission trading as [Australia Post](/source/Australia_Post). In 1993 the Spectrum Management Agency was formed to take responsibility of radio and television broadcast licensing, which was then merged into the Australian Communications Authority, that later became the [Australian Communications & Media Authority](/source/Australian_Communications_%26_Media_Authority). Telecom Australia changed its name to [Telstra](/source/Telstra) in 1993 and has since been privatised.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}} ===Abolition=== The department was abolished in December 1975 by the [Fraser government](/source/Fraser_government), and replaced by the [Postal & Telecommunications Department](/source/Postal_%26_Telecommunications_Department).{{cite press release|first=Malcolm|last=Fraser|author-link=Malcolm Fraser|title=MAJOR CHANGES IN MINISTERIAL AND DEPARTMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND FUNCTIONS|date=18 December 1975|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111020520/http://pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au/browse.php?did=4008|archive-date=11 January 2014|url-status=dead|url=http://pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au/browse.php?did=4008|df=dmy-all}} The change was intended to take account of the increase in the functions of the department to include all electronic media matters which had previously been the responsibility of the [Department of the Media](/source/Department_of_the_Media). ==List of postmasters-general== {| class="wikitable" ! width=5 | Order ! width=80 | Portrait ! width=150 | Minister ! width=150 colspan="2" | Party ! width=75 | Prime Minister ! width=150 | Term start ! width=150 | Term end ! width=130 | Term in office |- | align=center| 1 | 80px | [John Forrest](/source/John_Forrest) | {{Australian party style|Protectionist}}|  | rowspan="4" |[Protectionist](/source/Protectionist_Party) | rowspan=3 | [Barton](/source/Edmund_Barton) | align=center | {{start date|1901|1|1|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1901|1|17|df=y}} | align=right | {{age in days|1901|1|1|1901|1|17}} days |- | align=center| 2 | 80px | [James Drake](/source/James_Drake_(politician)) | {{Australian party style|Protectionist}}| | align=center | {{start date|1901|2|5|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1903|8|10|df=y}} | align=right | {{age in years and days|1901|2|5|1903|8|10}} |- | rowspan=2 align=center| 3 | rowspan=2 | 80px | rowspan=2 | [Philip Fysh](/source/Philip_Fysh) | {{Australian party style|Protectionist}}| | align=center | {{start date|1903|8|10|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1903|9|24|df=y}} | rowspan=2 align=right | {{age in days|1903|8|10|1904|4|27}} days |- | {{Australian party style|Protectionist}}| | [Deakin](/source/Alfred_Deakin) | align=center | {{start date|1903|9|24|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1904|4|27|df=y}} |- | align=center| 4 | 80px | [Hugh Mahon](/source/Hugh_Mahon) | {{Australian party style|Labor}}| | [Labor](/source/Australian_Labor_Party) | [Watson](/source/Chris_Watson) | align=center | {{start date|1904|4|27|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1904|8|17|df=y}} | align=right | {{age in days|1904|4|27|1904|8|17}} days |- | align=center| 5 | 80px | [Sydney Smith](/source/Sydney_Smith_(Australian_politician)) | {{Australian party style|Free Trade}}| | [Free Trade](/source/Free_Trade_Party) | [Reid](/source/George_Reid) | align=center | {{start date|1904|8|17|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1905|7|5|df=y}} | align=right | {{age in days|1904|8|17|1905|7|5}} days |- | align=center| 6 | 80px | [Austin Chapman](/source/Austin_Chapman) | {{Australian party style|Protectionist}}| | rowspan=2 |Protectionist | rowspan=2 | Deakin | align=center | {{start date|1905|7|5|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1907|7|30|df=y}} | align=right | {{age in years and days|1905|7|5|1907|7|30}} |- | align=center| 7 | 80px | [Samuel Mauger](/source/Samuel_Mauger) | {{Australian party style|Protectionist}}| | align=center | {{start date|1907|7|30|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1908|11|13|df=y}} | align=right | {{age in years and days|1907|7|30|1908|11|13}} |- | align=center| 8 | 80px | [Josiah Thomas](/source/Josiah_Thomas_(politician)) | {{Australian party style|Labor}}| | Labor | [Fisher](/source/Andrew_Fisher) | align=center | {{start date|1908|11|13|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1909|6|2|df=y}} | align=right | {{age in days|1908|11|13|1909|6|2}} days |- | align=center| 9 | 80px | [John Quick](/source/John_Quick_(politician)) | {{Australian party style|Commonwealth Liberal}}| | [Liberal](/source/Commonwealth_Liberal_Party) | Deakin | align=center | {{start date|1909|6|2|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1910|4|29|df=y}} | align=right | {{age in days|1909|6|2|1910|4|29}} days |- | align=center| 10 | 80px | [Josiah Thomas](/source/Josiah_Thomas_(politician)) | {{Australian party style|Labor}}| | rowspan=2 | Labor | rowspan=2 | Fisher | align=center | {{start date|1910|4|29|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1911|10|14|df=y}} | align=right | {{age in years and days|1910|4|29|1911|10|14}} |- | align=center| 11 | 80px | [Charlie Frazer](/source/Charlie_Frazer) | {{Australian party style|Labor}}| | align=center | {{start date|1911|10|14|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1913|6|24|df=y}} | align=right | {{age in years and days|1911|10|14|1913|6|24}} |- | align=center| 12 | 80px | [Agar Wynne](/source/Agar_Wynne) | {{Australian party style|Commonwealth Liberal}}| | Liberal | [Cook](/source/Joseph_Cook) | align=center | {{start date|1913|6|24|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1914|9|17|df=y}} | align=right | {{age in years and days|1913|6|24|1914|9|17}} |- | align=center| 13 | 80px | [William Spence](/source/William_Spence) | {{Australian party style|Labor}}| | rowspan=2 | Labor | Fisher | align=center | {{start date|1914|9|17|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1915|10|27|df=y}} | align=right | {{age in years and days|1914|9|17|1915|10|27}} |- | rowspan=3 align=center| 14 | rowspan=3| 80px | rowspan=3 | [William Webster](/source/William_Webster_(Australian_politician)) | {{Australian party style|Labor}}| | rowspan=5 | [Hughes](/source/Billy_Hughes) | align=center | {{start date|1915|10|27|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1916|11|14|df=y}} | rowspan=3 align=right | {{age in years and days|1915|10|27|1920|2|3}} |- | {{Australian party style|National Labor}}| | [National Labor](/source/National_Labor_Party) | align=center | {{start date|1916|11|14|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1917|2|17|df=y}} |- | {{Australian party style|Nationalist}}| | rowspan=3 | [Nationalist](/source/Nationalist_Party_of_Australia) | align=center | {{start date|1917|2|17|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1920|2|3|df=y}} |- | align=center| 15 | 80px | [George Wise](/source/George_Wise_(Australian_politician)) | {{Australian party style|Nationalist}}| | align=center | {{start date|1920|2|3|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1921|12|21|df=y}} | align=right | {{age in years and days|1920|2|3|1921|12|21}} |- | align=center| 16 | 80px | [Alexander Poynton](/source/Alexander_Poynton) | {{Australian party style|Nationalist}}| | align=center | {{start date|1921|12|21|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1923|2|5|df=y}} | align=right | {{age in years and days|1921|12|21|1923|2|5}} |- | align=center| 17 | 80px | [William Gibson](/source/William_Gibson_(Australian_politician)) | {{Australian party style|Nationals}}| | rowspan=1 | Country | rowspan=1 | [Bruce](/source/Stanley_Bruce) | align=center | {{start date|1923|2|5|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1929|10|22|df=y}} | align=right | {{age in years and days|1923|2|5|1929|10|22}} |- | align=center| 18 | 80px | [Joseph Lyons](/source/Joseph_Lyons) | {{Australian party style|Labor}}| | rowspan=2 | Labor | rowspan=2 | [Scullin](/source/James_Scullin) | align=center | {{start date|1929|10|22|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1931|2|4|df=y}} | align=right | {{age in years and days|1929|10|22|1931|2|4}} |- | align=center| 19 | 80px | [Albert Green](/source/Albert_Green_(Australian_politician)) | {{Australian party style|Labor}}| | align=center | {{start date|1931|2|4|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1932|1|6|df=y}} | align=right | {{age in days|1931|2|4|1932|1|6}} days |- | align=center| 20 | 80px | [James Fenton](/source/James_Fenton_(Australian_politician)) | {{Australian party style|UAP}}| | rowspan=3 |[United Australia](/source/United_Australia_Party) | rowspan=4 | [Lyons](/source/Joseph_Lyons) | align=center | {{start date|1932|1|6|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1932|10|13|df=y}} | align=right | {{age in days|1932|1|6|1932|10|13}} days |- | align=center| 21 | 80px | [Archdale Parkhill](/source/Archdale_Parkhill) | {{Australian party style|UAP}}| | align=center | {{start date|1932|10|13|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1934|10|12|df=y}} | align=right | {{age in years and days|1932|10|13|1934|10|12}} |- | align=center| 22 | 80px | [Alexander McLachlan](/source/Alexander_McLachlan_(politician)) | {{Australian party style|UAP}}| | align=center | {{start date|1934|10|12|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1938|11|7|df=y}} | align=right | {{age in years and days|1932|10|13|1938|11|7}} |- | rowspan=2 align=center| 23 | rowspan=2 | 80px | rowspan=2 | [Archie Cameron](/source/Archie_Cameron) | {{Australian party style|Nationals}}| | rowspan=2 | [Country](/source/National_Party_of_Australia) | align=center | {{start date|1938|11|7|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1939|4|7|df=y}} | rowspan=2 align=right | {{age in days|1938|11|7|1939|4|26}} days |- | {{Australian party style|Nationals}}| | [Page](/source/Earle_Page) | align=center | {{start date|1939|4|7|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1939|4|26|df=y}} |- | align=center| 24 | 80px | [Eric Harrison](/source/Eric_Harrison) | {{Australian party style|UAP}}| | United Australia | rowspan=4 | [Menzies](/source/Robert_Menzies) | align=center | {{start date|1939|4|26|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1940|3|14|df=y}} | align=right | {{age in days|1939|4|26|1940|3|14}} days |- | align=center| 25 | 80px | [Harold Thorby](/source/Harold_Thorby) | {{Australian party style|Nationals}}| | Country | align=center | {{start date|1940|3|14|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1940|10|28|df=y}} | align=right | {{age in days|1940|3|14|1940|10|28}} days |- | align=center| 26 | 80px | [George McLeay](/source/George_McLeay) | {{Australian party style|UAP}}| | United Australia | align=center | {{start date|1940|10|28|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1941|6|26|df=y}} | align=right | {{age in days|1940|10|28|1941|6|26}} days |- | rowspan=2 align=center| 27 | rowspan=2 | 80px | rowspan=2 | [Thomas Collins](/source/Thomas_Collins_(Australian_politician)) | {{Australian party style|Nationals}}| | rowspan=2 | Country | align=center | {{start date|1941|6|26|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1941|8|29|df=y}} | rowspan=2 align=right | {{age in days|1941|6|26|1941|10|7}} days |- | {{Australian party style|Nationals}}| | [Fadden](/source/Arthur_Fadden) | align=center | {{start date|1941|8|29|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1941|10|7|df=y}} |- | align=center| 28 | 80px | [Bill Ashley](/source/Bill_Ashley_(politician)) | {{Australian party style|Labor}}| | rowspan=4 |Labor | rowspan=2 | [Curtin](/source/John_Curtin) | align=center | {{start date|1941|10|7|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1945|2|2|df=y}} | align=right | {{age in years and days|1941|10|7|1945|2|2}} |- | rowspan=3 align=center| 29 | rowspan=3 | 80px | rowspan=3 | [Don Cameron](/source/Don_Cameron_(Victorian_politician)) | {{Australian party style|Labor}}| | align=center | {{start date|1945|2|2|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1945|7|6|df=y}} | rowspan=3 align=right | {{age in years and days|1945|2|2|1949|12|19}} |- | {{Australian party style|Labor}}| | [Forde](/source/Frank_Forde) | align=center | {{start date|1945|7|6|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1945|7|13|df=y}} |- | {{Australian party style|Labor}}| | [Chifley](/source/Ben_Chifley) | align=center | {{start date|1945|7|13|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1949|12|19|df=y}} |- | align=center| 30 | 80px | [Larry Anthony](/source/Hubert_Lawrence_Anthony) | {{Australian party style|Nationals}}| | rowspan=2 |Country | rowspan=3 | Menzies | align=center | {{start date|1949|12|19|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1956|1|11|df=y}} | align=right | {{age in years and days|1949|12|19|1956|1|11}} |- | align=center| 31 | 80px | [Charles Davidson](/source/Charles_Davidson_(politician)) | {{Australian party style|Nationals}}| | align=center | {{start date|1956|1|11|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1963|12|18|df=y}} | align=right | {{age in years and days|1956|1|11|1963|12|18}} |- | rowspan=5 align=center| 32 | rowspan=5 | 80px | rowspan=5 | [Alan Hulme](/source/Alan_Hulme) | {{Australian party style|Liberal}}| | rowspan=5 | [Liberal](/source/Liberal_Party_of_Australia) | align=center | {{start date|1963|12|18|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1966|1|26|df=y}} | rowspan=5 align=right | '''{{age in years and days|1963|12|18|1972|12|5}}''' |- | {{Australian party style|Liberal}}| | [Holt](/source/Harold_Holt) | align=center | {{start date|1966|1|26|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1967|12|19|df=y}} |- | {{Australian party style|Liberal}}| | [McEwen](/source/John_McEwen) | align=center | {{start date|1967|12|19|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1968|1|10|df=y}} |- | {{Australian party style|Liberal}}| | [Gorton](/source/John_Gorton) | align=center | {{start date|1968|1|10|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1971|3|10|df=y}} |- | {{Australian party style|Liberal}}| | [McMahon](/source/William_McMahon) | align=center | {{start date|1971|3|10|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1972|12|5|df=y}} |- | align=center| 33 | 80px | [Lance Barnard](/source/Lance_Barnard){{ref|1|1| 1}} | {{Australian party style|Labor}}| | rowspan=3 |Labor | rowspan=3 | [Whitlam](/source/Gough_Whitlam) | align=center | {{start date|1972|12|5|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1972|12|19|df=y}} | align=right | {{age in days|1972|12|5|1972|12|19}} days |- | align=center| 34 | 80px | [Lionel Bowen](/source/Lionel_Bowen) | {{Australian party style|Labor}}| | align=center | {{start date|1972|12|19|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1974|6|12|df=y}} | align=right | {{age in years and days|1972|12|19|1974|6|12}} |- | align=center| 35 | 80px | [Reg Bishop](/source/Reg_Bishop) | {{Australian party style|Labor}}| | align=center | {{start date|1974|6|12|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1975|11|11|df=y}} | align=right | {{age in years and days|1974|6|12|1975|11|11}} |- | align=center| 36 | 80px | [Peter Nixon](/source/Peter_Nixon) | {{Australian party style|Nationals}}| | [National Country](/source/National_Party_of_Australia) | [Fraser](/source/Malcolm_Fraser) | align=center | {{start date|1975|11|11|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1975|12|22|df=y}} | align=right | {{age in days|1975|11|11|1975|12|22}} days |} ==List of departmental secretaries and directors-general== *1901–1910: [Robert Scott](/source/Robert_Scott_(public_servant)) *1911–1923: [Justinian Oxenham](/source/Justinian_Oxenham) *1923–1939: [Harry Brown](/source/Harry_Brown_(public_servant)) *1940–1946: [Daniel McVey](/source/Daniel_McVey) *1946–1949: [Bede Fanning](/source/Bede_Fanning) *1949–1958: [Giles Chippindall](/source/Giles_Chippindall) *1958: [Van Vanthoff](/source/Van_Vanthoff) *1959–1961: Mervyn Stradwick *1961–1965: [Frank O'Grady](/source/Frank_O'Grady) *1965–1968: [Trevor Housley](/source/Trevor_Housley) *1968–1972: [John Knott](/source/John_Knott_(public_servant)) *1972–1975: Eber Lane *1975: Fred Green ==References== {{Reflist}} {{Commonwealth telcos}} {{Authority control}} Category:Postal system of Australia Category:Telstra Category:Postal history of Australia Category:Defunct government departments of Australia Category:Government ministries established in 1901 Category:Postmasters-general of Australia Category:Government ministries disestablished in 1975 Category:Australian postmasters Category:1901 establishments in Australia Category:1975 disestablishments in Australia --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Postmaster-General's Department](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postmaster-General's_Department) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postmaster-General's_Department?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.