{{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 |type = Department |jurisdiction = 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, established at Federation 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. Two separate legal entities had been established in July 1975 to take over the department's operations: Telecom Australia (that later became Telstra) and 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 covers, such as this one in central Perth]] The Postmaster-General's Department was established on 1 January 1901 to take over all postal and telegraphy services in Australia from the states and administer them on a national basis. The department was administered by the postmaster-general.<ref>{{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 |access-date=9 February 2021}}</ref>
The first permanent secretary of the department was Sir Robert Townley Scott, 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.<ref name=Federation25>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1208030|title=Federation- 25 Years' Achievements Reviewed: Commonwealth Problems|page=8|newspaper=Canberra Times|date=21 October 1926}}</ref> Earnings grew from £2.4 million to £10 million per annum.<ref name=Federation25/>
In mid-1975 the department was disaggregated into the Australian Telecommunications Commission trading as Telecom Australia and the Australian Postal Commission trading as 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. Telecom Australia changed its name to 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, and replaced by the Postal & Telecommunications Department.<ref name=MRAbolition>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name=MRAbolition/>
==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 | {{Australian party style|Protectionist}}| | rowspan="4" |Protectionist | rowspan=3 | 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 | {{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 | {{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 | align=center | {{start date|1903|9|24|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1904|4|27|df=y}} |- | align=center| 4 | 80px | Hugh Mahon | {{Australian party style|Labor}}| | Labor | 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 | {{Australian party style|Free Trade}}| | Free Trade | 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 | {{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 | {{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 | {{Australian party style|Labor}}| | Labor | 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 | {{Australian party style|Commonwealth Liberal}}| | Liberal | 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 | {{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 | {{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 | {{Australian party style|Commonwealth Liberal}}| | Liberal | 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 | {{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 | {{Australian party style|Labor}}| | rowspan=5 | 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 | 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 | align=center | {{start date|1917|2|17|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1920|2|3|df=y}} |- | align=center| 15 | 80px | George Wise | {{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 | {{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 | {{Australian party style|Nationals}}| | rowspan=1 | Country | rowspan=1 | 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 | {{Australian party style|Labor}}| | rowspan=2 | Labor | rowspan=2 | 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 | {{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 | {{Australian party style|UAP}}| | rowspan=3 |United Australia | rowspan=4 | 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 | {{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 | {{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 | {{Australian party style|Nationals}}| | rowspan=2 | Country | 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 | align=center | {{start date|1939|4|7|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1939|4|26|df=y}} |- | align=center| 24 | 80px | Eric Harrison | {{Australian party style|UAP}}| | United Australia | rowspan=4 | 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 | {{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 | {{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 | {{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 | align=center | {{start date|1941|8|29|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1941|10|7|df=y}} |- | align=center| 28 | 80px | Bill Ashley | {{Australian party style|Labor}}| | rowspan=4 |Labor | rowspan=2 | 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 | {{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 | align=center | {{start date|1945|7|6|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1945|7|13|df=y}} |- | {{Australian party style|Labor}}| | 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 | {{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 | {{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 | {{Australian party style|Liberal}}| | rowspan=5 | Liberal | 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 | align=center | {{start date|1966|1|26|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1967|12|19|df=y}} |- | {{Australian party style|Liberal}}| | McEwen | align=center | {{start date|1967|12|19|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1968|1|10|df=y}} |- | {{Australian party style|Liberal}}| | Gorton | align=center | {{start date|1968|1|10|df=y}} | align=center | {{end date|1971|3|10|df=y}} |- | {{Australian party style|Liberal}}| | 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{{ref|1|1| 1}} | {{Australian party style|Labor}}| | rowspan=3 |Labor | rowspan=3 | 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 | {{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 | {{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 | {{Australian party style|Nationals}}| | National Country | 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 *1911–1923: Justinian Oxenham *1923–1939: Harry Brown *1940–1946: Daniel McVey *1946–1949: Bede Fanning *1949–1958: Giles Chippindall *1958: Van Vanthoff *1959–1961: Mervyn Stradwick *1961–1965: Frank O'Grady *1965–1968: Trevor Housley *1968–1972: John Knott *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