Thanks Pete for your welcome and posting this information. I have updated the notes that I have been compiling regarding the history of the Cascade Road/South Hobart Post Office with the information that you have provided and include them below.
It appears that the Upper Macquarie St post office existed at the western corner of Washington and Wentworth Streets from 1874 to 1883 when Mr Walter Bray provided the service. The post office then moved to 13 Cascade Road in 1884 where it was known as the Cascade Road post office until 1894, then as the South Hobart post office from 1895 to 1919. The Postmaster/Postmistresses at Cascade Road/South Hobart were members of the Hayton family from 1894-1904, Mrs M C Honey from 1906-1907, and Miss Absolom from 1911-1919. The identity of the Postmaster/Postmistress from 1884-1893 has not been confirmed but Mrs Bertha Newman is listed as living at the address of the Cascade Road post office from 1890-1893.
It is interesting that the earliest "Upper Macquarie St" datestamp is is from 1888 as 1888 is also the earliest reference that I have been able to find for the Cascade-road post office in the Mercury (see 4 February 1888 below). Do you have an image of the 1888 datestamp?
Thanks again,
Ben
Notes:
• Letter receiving houses were opened in Macquarie and Davey Streets in 1852 (Orchard 1996).
• The Cascade Road Post Office existed from 14 May 1884 to 31 December 1894 (Orchard, 1996).
• Hobart South, formerly known as Cascade Road, formerly Upper Macquarie Street. Opened 1 Apr 1874 as Upper Macquarie St. Datestamp issued on or about June 1878. Renamed Cascade Road 14 May 1884. Cascade Road changed to Hobart South 1 July 1895. No datestamp issued under Cascade Road name (Hardinge, 2019).
• "By 1890/91 a service was provided by Mr Walter Bray in Washington Street near Wentworth Street. Records show that, in 1896, Mrs. D.Hayton was postmistress. The post office was probably at 13 Cascade Road. She was part of a ‘Hayton dynasty’ until about 1910. Miss Absolom was postmistress at the same address in 1915" (South Hobart Progress Association Newsletter July 2007 No 241).
• Upper Macquarie Street Post Office opened on 1 April 1874. It was renamed Cascade Road in 1884 and Hobart South in 1895 (Wikipedia).
• A notice in the Mercury on 1 October 1885 regarding Telegraph Offices refers to Upper Macquarie Street operated by Mrs Bray on Washington Street (Trove).
• A notice in the Mercury on 4 February 1888 states that letter delivery will be from Cascade-road from 9 am and 2 pm (Trove).
• A notice in the Mercury on 1 January 1895 lists Miss D Hayton postmistress Cascade-road (Trove).
• A letter to the editor published in the Mercury on 25 January 1919 refers to the closure of the South Hobart post office from the premises it has been operating on for 30 years – ie 1889-1919 (Trove).
• Butchers, 1870 map of Hobart and Suburbs shows a post office located at the western corner of Washington and Wentworth Streets (
https://stors.tas.gov.au/ILS/SD_ILS-1280)
• Printed Town Chart series map AF819-1-221 of the Town of Wellington (circa 1903-1907) shows the location of a post office at 13 Cascade Rd (
https://stors.tas.gov.au/AI/AF819-1-221)
• "Tasmania: The Postal History and Postal Markings Part II" (Avery & Edwards, 1975) lists Postmasters/Mistresses as:
1899-01 Miss C Hayton
1902-03 A E Hayton
1904-06 Mrs M C Honey
* "Wise Hobart Street Directory" (
https://stors.tas.gov.au/ILS/SD_ILS-981598) lists 13 Cascade Rd as the Cascade Post Office from 1894-1919 and the resident/Postmaster/Mistress as:
1890-93 Mrs Bertha Newman
1894-95 Hayton D
1896-97 Miss Fanny Fisher
1898-01 Miss C Hayton
1902-04 Miss A E Hayton
1905 Miss Alice Johnston
1906-07 Mrs M C Honey
1908 Mrs E A Osborne
1909 Mrs B Fairweather
1910 ?
1911-1914 Miss B Absolom
1915-1919 Miss B Absolom/Wm Absolom
References:
• Avery, Purves & Edwards, Ingles 1975. Tasmania: The Postal History and Postal Markings Part II. The Royal Philatelic Society of Victoria
• Orchard, A.E 1996. The Post Offices of Tasmania: Openings and Closures 1812 to 1991. Postal History Study Group, Tasmanian Philatelic Society
• Hardinge, John 2019. Tasmanian Postal History: Post Office and Datestamp Compendium. Tasmanian Philatelic Society