
The Queensland Post Office Directory is a valuable resource for anyone researching their family history or tracing their ancestors in the region.
The first Queensland Post Office Directory was published in 1868 and contained a list of post offices, postmasters, and postal rates.
Early records of postal services in Queensland date back to 1859, when the first post office was established in Brisbane.
The directories were initially printed annually, with the first edition listing only 22 post offices.
These early directories are a treasure trove of information for researchers, providing a glimpse into the lives of Queensland's early residents.
Queensland Post Office Directories
Queensland Post Office Directories are an invaluable resource for local, family and social historians as well as for researchers in other fields of Australian history.
These directories can provide information on the region where your ancestors lived, as well as information on their occupation and much more. They can give you insight into the third decade of 20th century Queensland.
The Wise's directory for 1927-28 is comprehensive in its coverage, containing various directories such as Brisbane post office directory, with information on residents alphabetically by streetCountry towns, with listings of residents and significant details about the townOverall Alphabetical directory
The directory also includes sections on Trades, Legal, Medical, Ecclesiastical, Local Government, Harbours, Rivers and Ports, Official, Postal, Telegraph and Money Orders, and Pastoral and Agricultural, as well as hundreds of advertisements.
1868-1949 Coverage

The Queensland Post Office Directories are a treasure trove of information for local, family, and social historians. They cover a vast period of 81 years, from 1868 to 1949.
These directories are comprehensive, with the 1927-28 edition containing hundreds of thousands of people, many with occupations and addresses. This gives insight into the third decade of the 20th century Queensland.
The coverage of the directories is extensive, with various sections including a Brisbane post office directory, country towns, and an overall alphabetical directory. The country towns section lists residents by street, providing a wealth of information for researchers.
The directories also include listings for trades, medical professionals, ecclesiastical organizations, local government, harbours, rivers, and ports, among others. This level of detail makes the directories an invaluable resource for researchers.
Here's a breakdown of the coverage by decade:
The directories are a valuable resource for anyone researching Queensland history, providing a unique glimpse into the lives of Queenslanders during this period.
Available Formats

The Queensland Post Office Directories are a treasure trove of historical information, and they're available in a variety of formats to suit your research needs.
You can access the directories online through the State Library of Queensland's website, where they're digitized and searchable by name, place, and date.
The directories are also available on microfilm at the State Library of Queensland, which is perfect for those who prefer to browse through the physical copies.
If you're a researcher on the go, you can also access the directories through the Queensland State Archives' online repository, which offers a range of formats and search options.
In addition to these digital options, the Queensland Post Office Directories are also available in hard copy at various libraries and archives across the state.
The State Library of Queensland has a comprehensive collection of the directories, which are easily accessible to the public.
1927 (Wise) Edition
The 1927 (Wise) Edition is a comprehensive directory that covers various aspects of Queensland, including residents, occupations, and towns. It contains over 1500 separate alphabetical directories of townships, boroughs, and districts.

This edition is a valuable resource for local, family, and social historians, as well as researchers in other fields of Australian history. The directory is organized into several sections, including a Brisbane post office directory, country towns, and an overall alphabetical directory.
The directory lists residents by street for certain towns, such as Bundaberg, Charters Towers, Ipswich, and Rockhampton. It also includes a trades section, which lists professionals like doctors, dentists, and pharmaceutical chemists.
The directory is a digital download, consisting of high-quality scanned images of the original book, with bookmarked pages for easy navigation. You can search, browse, enlarge, and print out pages as needed.
Here's a breakdown of the sections included in the 1927 (Wise) Edition:
- Brisbane post office directory, with information on residents alphabetically by street
- Country towns (including many which are now suburbs of Brisbane, as well as Rabaul and Port Moresby in New Guinea)
- Overall Alphabetical directory
- Trades (from Academies to X-Ray Apparatus Mchts)
- Legal
- Medical
- Ecclesiastical
- Local Government
- Harbours, Rivers and Ports
- Official
- Postal, Telegraph and Money Orders
- Pastoral and Agricultural
- and hundreds of advertisements
Sources
- https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/queensland-post-office-directories-1868-1949
- https://www.gould.com.au/queensland-post-office-directory-1927-wise-ebook/aue4110-1927/
- https://www.gould.com.au/queensland-post-office-directory-1868-meyer-ebook/aue4116-1868/
- https://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn5179207
- https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Queensland_Directories
Featured Images: pexels.com