280 - Highfields / Koojarewon

Highfields post office, 11 km north of Toowoomba, first opened in early 1866 before closing later that year (see article below). It then re-opened on 18 September 1876 and was renamed Koojarewon on 30 September 1877 before reverting back to Highfields on 15 March 1907

• Chalon Barred Numeral Type 2a is rated NNS 
• Sideface Barred Numeral Type 2  (7 mm) is rated 3R 

Highfields date stamp 5b HERE.  Highfields registered HERE

Koojarewon date stamp 3a HERE

Koojarewon 1st Sideface

Koojarewon post office Sideface Barred Numeral Type 2a (7 mm) rated 3R. Seen at Premier Postal Auction no 76 lot no 1381

Koojarewon 2nd Sideface

Koojarewon post office Sideface Barred Numeral Type 2a (7 mm) rated 3R. Seen at Phoenix Auction no 14

Koojarewon post office Sideface Barred Numeral Type 2a (7 mm) rated 3R. Seen at Abacus auction no 234

Koojarewon post office Sideface Barred Numeral Type 2a (7 mm) rated 3R

Koojarewon post office Sideface Barred Numeral Type 2a (7 mm) rated 3R. Dated 12 December 1894. Seen at Status Stamps

Koojarewon 3rd Sideface

Koojarewon post office Sideface Barred Numeral Type 2a (7 mm) rated 3R. Seen at Premier Postal Auction no 111 lot no 1506

Koojarewon / Highfields post office Sideface Barred Numeral Type 2a (7 mm) rated 3R

Koojarewon / Highfields post office Sideface Barred Numeral Type 2a (7 mm) rated 3R. Seen at Premier Postal auction no 61

Koojarewon post office Sideface Barred Numeral Type 2a (7 mm) rated 3R. Dated 4 March 1907. Seen in a private collection

Koojarewon post office Sideface Barred Numeral Type 2a (7 mm) rated 3R. Dated 24 September 1906. Seen in a private collection

Koojarewon post office Sideface Barred Numeral Type 2a (7 mm) rated 3R. Dated 18 January 1907. Seen in a private collection

Koojarewon post office Sideface Barred Numeral Type 2a (7 mm) rated 3R. Dated 15 June 1907. Seen in Smithies

Highfields 3rd Sideface

Highfields post office Sideface Barred Numeral Type 2a (7 mm) rated 3R. Dated October 190-. Courtesy of Dave Elsmore

Highfields post office Sideface Barred Numeral Type 2a (7 mm) rated 3R. Dated  October 1910. Seen on Ebay

Highfields post office Sideface Barred Numeral Type 2a (7 mm) rated 3R. Dated  3 November 1908. Seen in a private collection

Highfields Post Office

THE HIGHFIELDS POSTAL SERVICE.

The following letter has been received by the Hon. Member for Drayton and Toowoomba:-

Sir-I am directed by the Hon. the Postmaster-General to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated the 13th ultimo, addressed to the Acting Colonial Secretary, enclosing a petition bearing the names of sixty-nine residents at Highfields, praying that the mail service between that place and Toowoomba may be resumed.

In reply, I am to state that you will confer a favour upon the honourable the Postmaster-General by inform-ing the petitioners that the mail service in question was discontinued at the suggestion of the person then holding the office of Postmaster at Highfields, who stated that the neighbourhood was deserted, which statement induced the hon. John Douglas, then Postmaster-General, to advise the termination of the contract.

I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant,

F. E. SALISBURY, Chief Clerk.

W. H. Groom, Eaq., Toowoomba.

[With reference to the above letter we learn on enquiry, that shortly after the destruction of the Highfield Mills, the settled population at that place decreased to such an extent that the number of letters posted at the office went down by two or three weekly, and sometimes the bag returned minus a letter. When the Government Inspector came out he questioned the utility of continuing the office in its then position, as the neighbourhood seemed to be deserted, and Mr. T. J. White, the Postmaster, subsequently suggested it removal either to Perkin's or Moss's Hotel, where a large population was permanently settled, and by whom it advantages would be made available. The mail subsequently to that, commenced to run to Perkin's Hotel, and continued to do so until just recently, and its discontinuance, at the present time, has been a matter of surprise to the late Postmaster as well as to others.] Darling Downs Gazette 9 April 1867 p. 3