HISTORY OF YALLOURN - POST OFFICE (provided by Luisa DeAgnoi) 1874 Coal first discovered in Yallourn area, form of lignite. 1886 Small private mine opened up to promote the brown coal. 19.10.1888 The Great Morwell Coal Mining Co registered to mine coal. 10.9.1890 Private railway line built and connected to main railway line at Hernes Oak siding, selling over 200 tons coal per week. 1897 The Mining Co produced the first briquettes, selling at 17 shillings 6 pence per ton, but in 1898 the Co was wound up. 1917 The coal mine reopened with sales at 15 shillings per ton. Sept 1917 The Government Brown Coal Advisory Committee planed to establish a 50,000 kw capacity power house in the area and transmit power by transmission lines to Melbourne and other parts of the state at an estimated cost of £1,686,000 with open cut mining method. 20.12.1918 Bill passed in Parliament authorising appointment of three Electricity Commissioners, whom were appointed in April 1919. July 1920 Sir John Monash appointed Chairman of Commissioners. 1920 A R LaGerche prepared and submitted a town plan to Victorian Government, approved, and township laid out in 1921. Jan 1921 Official inception of State Electricity Commission with Sir John Monash as the first Commission Chairman. Feb 1921 Work began for power house and open cut on 270 ha land purchased from Charles Savige for £7,150, with son Lindsay being the first local employee. 1921 Three works camps set up at East Camp, West Camp and South Camp. 1921 Latrobe proposed as name of town nearby to Latrobe River but as Latrobe town already exists in Tasmania, the naming of the town was called YALLOURN from two aboriginal words - YALLEEN (meaning brown) and LOURN (meaning fire). 1921 First house erected in Yallourn in Maiden Street. 1921 Yallourn population 138 (116 males and 22 females) all in camps. Dec 1921 Site for railway station decided and called Yallourn. 10.2.1921 The first Post Office (a receiving office) opened in an Eastern Camp Hut with J C David appointed Receiving Office Keeper. July 1921 Post Office raised to Allowance status with Money Order and Savings Bank facilities and H Alexander appointed to the position. Nov 1921 A Telephone and Telegram Office was opened at the Post Office. 1922 A Post Office Receiving Office opened at West Camp. 13.2.1922 State School No 4085 opened with 15 pupils. June 1923 Population - 250 in township and 1200 in the camps. Oct 1923 Postmaster H Alexander and complete Post Office facilities relocated to West Camp from East Camp and name changed to Yallourn; and East Camp used as Receiving Office with Chas J Selk appointed Receiving Office Keeper. 1923 Power house built and electric power connected to Moe, Trafalgar, Yarragon and Tyers.
24.6.1924 Power lines and power connect to Melbourne.
22.9.1925 W J McLean appointed Postmaster with opening of new double storey brick building in Yallourn and Post Office raised to Official status Grade 3.
11.5.1927 G W Yeoman appointed Postmaster at Yallourn.
1933 There were 792 occupied dwellings in Yallourn and West Camp with total population of 2764 (1572 males and 1192 females).
30.11.1934 Severe floods burst the weir, flooding the open cut and destroying most equipment, taking 6 months to repair and drain the open cut before resuming
production.
4.6.1937 H J W Elliott transferred to Yallourn as Postmaster.
1947 Total population 4602 (2611 males and 1991 females). There were 1326 occupied dwellings.
11.2.1953 J J Caulfield promoted on transfer to Yallourn as Postmaster after retirement of H J W Elliott.
1954 Total population 5580 (3408 males and 2172 females). There were 1151 occupied dwellings after the closure of West Camp.
26.10.1956 J J McNamara promoted from Grade 2 to Grade 3 on transfer as Postmaster.
24.3.1960 H T Christie promoted from Grade 2 to Grade 3 on transfer from Mirboo North to Yallourn as Postmaster.
1961 Total population 5010 (2974 males and 2036 females). There were 1121 occupied dwellings.
14.1.1965 T R Cook transferred from South Australia as Yallourn Postmaster.
1966 Total population 4250.
27.7.1967 C F Harrison promoted from Grade 2 to Grade 3 on transfer from Violet Town as Yallourn Postmaster.
1971 Total population 3220.
31.7.1973 G R McNamara promoted from Grade 2 to Grade 3 on transfer from South Australia as Yallourn Postmaster.
11.12.1975 Post Office downgraded from Grade 3 to Grade 2.
18.3.1976 T J Tobin promoted from Senior Postal Clerk to Grade 2 on transfer from Tatura as Yallourn Postmaster.
1976 Total population 1880.
1977 Total population 1400.
1978 Total population 970.
1.3.1979 Mrs V A Talbot became Postmistress on downgrading of Yallourn Post Office to Unofficial status.
31.1.1980 Post Office closed for business permanently.
Jan 1980 Total population 500 in 135 occupied dwellings.
Mid-1980s Yallourn completely excavated for Brown Coal Mining.
(Photo attached)
Yallourn Post Office c1925 Yallourn Post Office c1965