The 1866 Post Office Directory Victoria Australia

This Victorian Post Office Directory, from Google Books, gives the details of many Victorian towns and their inhabitants in 1866. Gold Offices and a Squatters Directory and transport details are included.

Advertisement from The Victorian Post Office Directory 1866

The Victoria Post Office Directory 1866 gives an amazing snapshot of life in Victoria in 1866. Gold had been discovered in Victoria in 1851 and the population went from 80,000 to 500,000 in 1860.

The Victoria Post Office Directory 1866 by H. Wise can be viewed and searched online in Google Books.

I think it could help with deciphering the place name abbreviations in the Victorian Birth, Marriage and Death records in the Pioneer Index, which covers the period 1838 to 1888. Some of these towns don’t exist today or have had name changes, so looking through this list may help identify possible place names for records.

At the beginning of this directory there are also calendars for the years 1866-67.

It goes on to cover the names and addresses,and sometimes occupations and businesses of people in the Melbourne area.

Then the following towns inhabitant’s details are included:

Aitken’s Gap, Albury, Amherst, Ashby, Avenel, Avoca, Bacchus Marsh, Ballan, Ballarat, Beechworth, Benalla, Beveridge, Bourke, Broadford, Broadmeadows, Browns, Bungaree, Bunniyong, Burrambeet, Carisbrook, Castlemaine, Chiltern,Chilwell, Christmas Town, Clunes Coghill’s Creek, ,Coomoora, Corowa, Creswick, Daylsford, Deniliquin, Digger’s Rest, Donnybrook, Dowling, Duck Ponds, Dunolly, Echuca, Eltham, Essendon, Euroa, Evelyn, Everton, Flemington, Forest, Franklinford, Fryers Town, Gap, Geelong,Gisborne, Glenlyon, Gordon, Guildford, Heathcote, Heidelberg, Hepburn, Huntley, Inglewood, Joyce’s Creek, Keilor, Kilmore, Kingston, Kyneton, Lauriston, Learmonth, Lexton, Little Swamp, Lilydale, Loddon, Majorca, Maldon, Malmsbury, Maryborough, Melton, Miner’s Rest, Moonee Ponds, Moorabool, Mornington, Myrniong, Newtown, Pentridge, Pyalong, Queenstown, Rutherglen, Sandhurst, Scarsdale, Seymour, Smeaton, Smythesdale, Springs, Spring Creek, Springfield, Stanley, Stoney Creek, Sunbury, Talbot, Tallarook, Tarnagulla, Tarrawinge, Templestowe, Vaughan, Violet Town, Wadonga, Wahgungah, Wallan, Wangaratta, Warrenheip, Wimmera, Woodend, Woods Point, Wooragee, Yandoit and Yackandandah.

It also  lists Gold Offices on the Gold Fields at Ararat, Avoca, Ballarat, Beaufort, Beechworth, Benalla, Blackwood, Castlemaine, Creswick, Daylesford, Dunolly, Heathcote, Chiltern, Jamieson, Majorca, Maldon, Maryborough, Morse’s Creek, Sandhurst, Smythesdale, Stawell, Talbot, Tarnagulla, Wood’s Point and Yackandandah..

After this is a Squatting Directory for Victoria in 1866.

There are coach times from Melbourne to many locations. From Bourke St to Kilmore took 5 hours.

The Travellers Road Guide gives distances from Melbourne and means of transport available.

To get to Clunes from Melbourne involved going by rail to Ballarat and then by coach whereas to get to Alberton taking a steamer to Part Albert was necessary. Distances from Melbourne are given from most locations.

Another section called “General Information about Country District” gives distances, nearby towns, often populations and services and sometimes alternative names.

At the end of the book are many advertisements for a variety of services and products which give some insight into life in Victoria in 1866.

Hotel Advertisement from The Victorian Post Office Directory 1866

The Post Office Directory of Victoria Australia 1869 Index to Post Towns

The 1869 Post Office Directory of Victoria Australia lists the names of post towns with their abbreviations and alternative names.

These town names and abbreviations are from the 1869 Post Office Directory of Victoria which you can read and search on Google Books.

Post Towns and Abbreviations 1888 Victoria Australia

Post Towns and their abbreviations are listed in the 1888 Post Office Directory of Victoria Australia.

The Post Office Directory for Victoria for 1888 is also on Google Books.

The Victoria Post Office directory – Google Books

While the abbreviations used in the Victorian Birth, Marriage and Death records are not necessarily the same as those used in the Post Office Directories for Victoria some may be the same. The Pioneer Index for Victoria covers the period 1836 to 1888.

Fanning and Darmody in Slater’s Directory Co Tipperary Ireland 1846

Slater’s Directory for Co Tipperary Ireland in 1846 list a number of Fannings and Darmodys in various trades in Thurles.

Slaters Directory 1846 Thurles
Slaters Directory 1846 Thurles

Patrick Fanning is listed as a baker at Main St;
John Fanning as a leather seller in Main St ;
John Darmody was also a leather seller in Main St.
Under Public Houses are listed Edward Fanning at Pudding Lane, John Fanning at Main St and Patrick Fanning also at Main St.

Littleton, Horse and Jockey and Two-Mile-Borris 1889 Bassett’s Co Tipperary Ireland

Descriptions in Bassett’s Directory 1889 of Littleton, Horse and Jockey and Two-Mile-Borris, Co Tipperary, Ireland .

Descriptions in Bassett’s Directory 1889 of Littleton, Horse and Jockey and Two-Mile-Borris, Co Tipperary, Ireland:

Littleton, Thurles .

Population 157 in 1881- Trout fishing

Littleton, in the parish of Two Mile Borris, barony of Eliogarty, is 4 miles south-east of Thurles. The land of the district is used chiefly for tillage. Barley, Oats, potatoes, and turnips are the principal crops. In the district there are ruins of Ballybeg castle, the old church of Ballymoreen, and the remains of a large Danish fort at Ballydavid.

Catholic Churches at Moycarkey and Two-Mile-Borris.

Borris in 1818

Two Mile Borris, Thurles

Two Mile Borris is a village of 20 houses, in the parish of the same name. barony of Eliogarty, 3 miles, Irish, east by south from Thurles. The land of the district is good for pasture and tillage. There are remains of castles at Two Mile Borris and Coolcroo.

Catholic Ch., Priests, see Horse and Jockey and Littleton

Horse and Jockey, Thurles

Horse and Jockey, a village of 6 houses, in the parish of Moycarkey, barony of Eliogarty, is a station on the Southern Railway, 5 3/4 miles, English, south-east of Thurles. The land of the district has a limestone basis, and is good for pasture and tillage. It is excellent sheep country. There are extensive remains of the castle of Moycarkey, on the estate of Mr. John Max. It was at one time occupied as the residence of the Cantwell family, and has a large square tower, with high surrounding wall. A fissure in the tower was caused by lightning over a hundred years ago. There are remains also of Granna(? )Castle, on the estate of Mr James Myers. The village of Ballinure, 6 houses, 3 3/4 miles, Irish, to the south, is part of the postal district of Horse and Jockey. Catholic Church”

Greville’s Post Office Directory 1872 Gladstone Area, NSW Australia

In Greville’s Post Office Directory for Gladstone, NSW, Australia,1872, Cornelius, John and James Gormley are listed as farmers at Belmore River, NSW.

Distance 307 miles North of Sydney

Mail closes at General Post Office Monday, Thursday 5.30 p.m. and by steamers as opportunity offers

Mail arrives at Post Town Saturday, Tuesday 10 a.m. and by steamers as opportunity offers

Mail leaves for Sydney Thursday, Saturday 7 p.m. and by steamers as opportunity offers

Mail arrives at Sydney Wednesday, Saturday mornings and by steamers as opportunity offers

Route – Steamer Macleay River, or Kempsey, 12m. Gladstone

SURNAME CHRISTIAN OCCUPATION ADDRESS POST TOWN
ANDERSON James farmer Belmore River Gladstone
ANDERSON William farmer Belmore River Gladstone
ARMSTRONG James Darkwater Sugar Mill Gladstone
BALDWIN Samuel C. farmer Gladstone
BANNAN Patrick farmer Belmore River Gladstone
BANNAN William farmer Belmore River Gladstone
BARNETT William jun. farmer Austral Eden Gladstone
BARNETT William sen. farmer Austral Eden Gladstone
BARTLETT John farmer Lower Macleay Gladstone
BEEST Michael farmer Austral Eden Gladstone
BENNET George farmer Belmore River Gladstone
BILEY John sen. farmer Belmore River Gladstone
BLACKLOCK George labourer Belmore River Gladstone
BLACKWOOD John bootmaker Lower Macleay Gladstone
BOWEN John labourer Lower Macleay Gladstone
BRACKHAM George farmer Austral Eden Gladstone
BROGAN Owen farmer Lower Macleay Gladstone
BROOKER James labourer Lower Macleay Gladstone
BROWN Edward farmer Austral Eden Gladstone
CARNEY James farmer Belmore River Gladstone
CARNEY Michael farmer Belmore River Gladstone
CHRISTIAN Thomas farmer Summer Island Gladstone
COLBURN John labourer Gladstone
CONNELL James farmer Austral Eden Gladstone
CONROY Edward farmer Belmore River Gladstone
COOPER Frederick farmer Austral Eden Gladstone
COWAN John Darkwater Sugar Mill Gladstone
CRAWFORD James farmer Long Reach Gladstone
CROAD Henry farmer Southsea Park Gladstone
CROAK Jeremiah farmer Belmore River Gladstone
CURTISS Thomas fisherman Lower Macleay Gladstone
DAWES William storekeeper Gladstone
DAWSON H. B. engineer Darkwater Sugar Mill Gladstone
DENEHY James farmer Lower Macleay Gladstone
DUGGAN John farmer Lower Macleay Gladstone
DUNKLEY George farmer Belmore River Gladstone
DUNKLEY John W. farmer Belmore River Gladstone
DUNKLEY William farmer Belmore River Gladstone
EGAN William farmer Belmore River Gladstone
ELLIOTT John farmer Lower Macleay Gladstone
EVANS Alfred farmer Lower Macleay Gladstone
FARRELL Martin Darkwater Sugar Mill Gladstone
FLANAGAN Richard farmer Austral Eden Gladstone
GIBLIN Michael farmer Belmore River Gladstone
GLEESON James farmer Belmore River Gladstone
GORMLEY Cornelius farmer Belmore River Gladstone
GORMLEY John farmer Belmore River Gladstone
GORMLEY James farmer Belmore River Gladstone
GRALTON Cornelius farmer Belmore River Gladstone
HANDS John farmer Belmore River Gladstone
HARRIS James farmer Austral Eden Gladstone
HARRIS William farmer Austral Eden Gladstone
HARVIE W. Darkwater Sugar Mill Gladstone
HAYES George farmer Belmore River Gladstone
HIBBERD John bootmaker & storekeeper Gladstone
HOWLEY William farmer Gladstone
HOY James farmer Lower Macleay Gladstone
HOY John farmer Austral Eden Gladstone
JEFFERY John farmer Gladstone
JEFFERY William farmer Gladstone
JONES Joseph blacksmith Gladstone
KEATING William labourer Austral Eden Gladstone
KNIGHT Richard farmer Austral Eden Gladstone
LENORD Thomas farmer Belmore River Gladstone
LING William farmer Austral Eden Gladstone
MACDONALD John Darkwater Sugar Mill Gladstone
MACKAY Alexander farmer Gladstone
MACMANUS John farmer Belmore River Gladstone
MADDOX John storekeeper Austral Eden Gladstone
MARSHALL Thomas farmer Gladstone
MIDGLEY Edward farmer Belmore River Gladstone
MIDGLEY James farmer Belmore River Gladstone
MILES George farmer Gladstone
MILES Samuel farmer Gladstone
MILLIGAN John farmer Belmore River Gladstone
MIMMS John farmer Belmore River Gladstone
MOODY Mark farmer Belmore River Gladstone
MORRISEY Patrick farmer Austral Eden Gladstone
MORRISON John farmer Gladstone
MCCAFFERTY Hugh farmer Belmore River Gladstone
MCCARTHY Daniel farmer Austral Eden Gladstone
MCCARTHY John farmer Austral Eden Gladstone
MCCARTHY Patrick farmer Austral Eden Gladstone
MCGEARY Owen farmer Lower Macleay Gladstone
MCGUIGAN Thomas farmer Summer Island Gladstone
MCGUIRE Hugh farmer Belmore River Gladstone
MCILWAINE Robert farmer Belmore River Gladstone
MCINERNY Denis farmer Austral Eden Gladstone
MCINERNY Morris labourer Belmore River Gladstone
MCKERNAN Patrick farmer Austral Eden Gladstone
NEILSON John storekeeper Gladstone
NOTLEY George farmer Belmore River Gladstone
NOTLEY John farmer Belmore River Gladstone
O’BRYAN J. E. Darkwater Sugar Mill Gladstone
O’CONNELL E. O. farmer Belmore River Gladstone
O’MEARA John farmer Austral Eden Gladstone
PALMER Henry Darkwater Sugar Mill Gladstone
PINKSTONE Thomas farmer Belmore River Gladstone
PITMAN Silas innkeeper Gladstone
PLUMMER Robert farmer Gladstone
PUGH Sarah farmer Belmore River Gladstone
QUINLAN Patrick farmer Austral Eden Gladstone
QUINN Patrick labourer Austral Eden Gladstone
REARDON Michael farmer Austral Eden Gladstone
REED Edward farmer Belmore River Gladstone
REED Thomas farmer Belmore River Gladstone
RICHARDSON Charles farmer Belmore River Gladstone
RIELY John jun. farmer Belmore River Gladstone
ROBINSON John farmer Belmore River Gladstone
ROBINSON Thomas farmer Belmore River Gladstone
ROSS Joseph carpenter Gladstone
ROUSE Robert farmer Austral Eden Gladstone
ROWE William grazier Austral Eden Gladstone
RYAN John farmer Belmore River Gladstone
RYAN Joseph farmer Belmore River Gladstone
RYAN Michael farmer Belmore River Gladstone
RYAN Stephen farmer Belmore River Gladstone
SARGENT George farmer Lower Macleay Gladstone
SARGENT Henry farmer Lower Macleay Gladstone
SAUNDERS Joseph farmer Gladstone
SAUNDERS William E. farmer Summer Island Gladstone
SHELLY Thomas farmer Belmore River Gladstone
SMITH William labourer Lower Macleay Gladstone
STEPHEN C. N. manager Darkwater Sugar Mill Gladstone
THOMAS J. Darkwater Sugar Mill Gladstone
THURGOOD Elijah farmer Belmore River Gladstone
THURGOOD John farmer Belmore River Gladstone
THURGOOD William farmer Belmore River Gladstone
TONKIN James farmer Belmore River Gladstone
TONKIN Thomas farmer Darkwater Sugar Mill Gladstone
TOOHEY James farmer Belmore River Gladstone
TOOHEY Patrick farmer Belmore River Gladstone
TOWNSEND George Darkwater Sugar Mill Gladstone
TRACEY Patrick farmer Belmore River Gladstone
VERGE Austral landowner Austral Eden Gladstone
VERGE German landowner Austral Eden Gladstone
WALBRIDGE John farmer Belmore River Gladstone
WHALANDE Andrew farmer Austral Eden Gladstone
WHALANDE John farmer Austral Eden Gladstone
WICKHAM James farmer Kinchela Gladstone
WICKHAM Joseph farmer Kinchela Gladstone
WICKHAM Thos. jun. farmer Belmore River Gladstone
WICKHAM Thomas sen. farmer Kinchela Gladstone
WILLIAMS Josiah farmer Austral Eden Gladstone
WILLIAMS Thomas farmer Southsea Park Gladstone
WILLIAMS William farmer Belmore River Gladstone
YOUALL George engineer Gladstone
YOUALL Mary farmer Belmore River Gladstone

Source: Greville’s Post Office Directory, Gladstone, NSW, Page 193.

John and James Gormley listed above must have left the area as I have found no trace of them and it seems likely that they were related to Cornelius. I also wonder if Hugh McGuire is related to the Terence McGuire who married Mary Ann Gormley.

The NSW Australia Post Office Directory 1867

In 1867 Cornelius Gormley is listed in the Official Post Office Directory of NSW Australia as a farmer living at Darkwater Creek.

In Google Books you can read and search The Official Post Office Directory Of New South Wales 1867.

Darkwater Creek, now called Belmore River, on the Mid North Coast of NSW, is the area where Cornelius Gormley lived. He is entered as Cormer instead of Connor Gormley.

In the 1872 Post Office Directory a James and a John Gormley, farmers of Darkwater Creek, are listed. They don’t appear in this directory.

Bulla Township Residents 1869 Victoria Australia

The 1869 Post Office Directory for Victoria Australia lists the residents of Bulla, including William and John Fanning, farmers.

These are the Bulla residents listed in the 1869 Post Office Directory for Victoria:

William Patrick Fanning and his son John Henry Fanning are listed as farmers and also Martin Dillon.

Irish Phone Book 1988 Souvenir Page

This page is from the Co Tipperary Phone Book and covers the F listings including names and addresses of Fannings around Thurles in 1988.

When my parents visited Ireland in 1988 they went to Thurles. My father souvenired this page from the phonebook probably meaning to contact some Fannings and see if they were connected.

He didn’t get around to phoning but brought the page back with him. Perhaps they ran out of time being on a tour group. All he knew was that his ancestors came from Thurles. He had made a list of some of the Fannings from around Thurles from this page and it is a pity he didn’t call them as they were related!

1988 Fanning listings in the Irish Phone Book
1988 Fanning listings in the Irish Phone Book