Editing Australia Post (section)

== History ==
=== Colonial Australia (pre–1901) ===
[[File:The Postmen of New South Wales, Supplement to the Illustrated Sydney News 15th December 1887.jpg|thumb|''The Postmen of New South Wales'' (1887)]]
Before colonial control of mail started in 1809, mail was usually passed on by ad hoc arrangements made between transporters, storekeepers and settlers. These arrangements were flexible, and inherently unstable. It was common for early settlers to ride many miles out of their way to deliver neighbours' mail that had been collected from informal distribution points.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/fact-sheets/fs50.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018044257/http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/fact-sheets/fs50.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 October 2011|title=Post Office records – Fact sheet 50|publisher=[[National Archives of Australia]]|date=5 April 2011|access-date=30 January 2016}}</ref>

The first organisation of a postal service in Australia commenced in 1809 with the appointment in [[Sydney]] of the first [[Postmaster-General of New South Wales|postmaster]]. An English ex-convict, [[Isaac Nichols]], took the post operating from his home in [[George Street, Sydney]]. His main job was to take charge of letters and parcels arriving by ship, to avoid the chaos of people rushing aboard ships as soon as they arrived at Sydney's wharves. Nichols would pick up the mail and post a list of recipients outside his house.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www1.auspost.com.au/priority/index.asp?issue_id=3&area=features&article_id=25|title=Cads Of The Cove|website=Priority Magazine Issue 3|publisher=Australia Post|date=October 1998|access-date=30 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091002024325/http://www1.auspost.com.au/priority/index.asp?issue_id=3&area=features&article_id=25|archive-date=2 October 2009}}</ref> He would advertise in the ''[[Sydney Gazette]]'' the names of all those who received mail. Recipients paid a fixed price of one shilling per letter to collect mail from Nichols' home, with parcels costing more depending on how heavy they were. VIP addressees were afforded personal delivery by Nichols.<ref name="auspost">{{cite web|url=http://auspost.com.au/education/ourpost/students/our-post/timeline.html|title=Australia Post Our post – Primary, our past|publisher=Australia Post|access-date=30 January 2016|archive-date=22 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161122060519/http://auspost.com.au/education/ourpost/students/our-post/timeline.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Between 1812 and 1842, postmasters were also appointed in [[Tasmania]] (1812), [[Western Australia]] (1829), [[Victoria, Australia|Victoria]] (1836), [[South Australia ]](1837) and [[Queensland]] (1842). Settlements outside of the postmasters' domain were serviced by contractors on horsebacks or in coaches.<ref>{{Cite web|title=First post office|url=https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/first-post-office|access-date=3 September 2020|website=[[National Museum of Australia]]}}</ref>

In 1825, the [[New South Wales Legislative Council]] passed the ''Postal Act'' which transferred responsibility from Nichols, acting as a private company, to the [[Governor of New South Wales|governor]]. The governor would then set the wage of the postmaster and the cost of collecting mail.

=== 20th century ===
[[File:General Post Office, Sydney (2363523862).jpg|thumb|[[General Post Office, Sydney|The Sydney General Post Office]] circa 1900]]
[[File:Australian-old-postbox.jpg|thumb|upright|A [[pillar box]] in [[Marrickville]]]]
Following [[Federation of Australia|federation]] in 1901, the colonial mail systems were merged into the [[Postmaster-General's Department]] (PMG). This body was responsible for [[telegraphy|telegraph]] and domestic telephone operations as well as postal mail. An airmail service was introduced in 1914.<ref name="auspost" /> In 1967, 4-digit [[postcodes in Australia]] were introduced, in addition to the world's first mechanical processing centre, which garnered international attention.<ref>{{cite web |author=Daniel Vidoni |url=http://www.storefinder.com.au/postcode-assignment.php |title=History and Assignment of Postcodes |publisher=Store Finder |access-date=24 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929130828/http://www.storefinder.com.au/postcode-assignment.php |archive-date=29 September 2007 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

On 1 July 1975, separate government commissions were created to undertake the operational responsibilities of the PMG. One of these was the Australian Postal Commission. It later became the Australian Postal Corporation on 1 January 1989 when it was corporatised into what is now known as the Australian Postal Corporation, or Australia Post.

In December 1987, 21-year-old Melbourne University student Frank Vitkovic, while experiencing a [[mental health]] crisis, entered the Australian Post building located at 191 Queen Street in Melbourne and spoke "animatedly" with an unidentified friend who worked in the building, then perpetrated what came to be known as the [[Queen Street massacre]].<ref name=APnews>{{cite news |title=Coroner Examines Note Left by Australian Gunman |url=https://apnews.com/article/076b6af10b3e435ac02456995a33754b|access-date=31 August 2022 |work=apnews.com |publisher=Associated Press |date=1987-12-09}}</ref> The [[mass shooting]] left eight Australia Post and other company employees dead.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/melbourne-remembers-queen-st-massacre-20071207-gdrrjv.html|title=Melbourne remembers Queen St massacre|date=6 December 2007}}</ref> The perpetrator fell to his death from the building while struggling with a security guard. The incident resulted in calls to strengthen [[Gun laws of Australia|gun control laws in Australia]].<ref name=APnews/>

=== 21st century ===
Under amendments to the Australian Postal Corporation Act which came into effect in March 2008, quarantine inspection officers of a state or territory are authorised to request Australia Post to open packets and parcels sent from interstate for inspection when inspectors believe they may contain quarantine material. The legislation also authorises Australia Post to remove any mail articles that are suspected of being [[Scam letters|scam mail]].<ref name="dbcde.gov.au">{{cite web|url=http://www.dbcde.gov.au/post/australia_post/australia_post_history|title=History of Australia Post|publisher=Australian Government, Department of Broadband, Communications, and the Digital Economy|date=27 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706121712/http://www.dbcde.gov.au/post/australia_post/australia_post_history|archive-date=6 July 2011}}</ref>

In February 2010, [[Ahmed Fahour]] was appointed [[Chief executive officer|MD]] (CEO) of Australia Post.<ref>{{cite news|last=Johnston|first=Eric|date=23 December 2009|title=Rudd's banker stamps his mark on post office|work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|url=http://www.smh.com.au/business/rudds-banker-stamps-his-mark-on-post-office-20091222-lbrq.html}}</ref> In May 2010, he announced a new strategy dubbed "Future Ready" designed to reinvigorate Australia Post. This included a new organisation structure as well as a renewed foray into digital businesses under the "eServices" [[strategic business unit]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Durie|first=John|date=18 June 2010|title=Australia Post expands into electronic applications|work=[[The Australian]]|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/opinion/austria-post-expands-into-electronic-applications/story-e6frg9if-1225881080697}}</ref>

However, in 2013, the corporation acknowledged that, though the strategy was successful in improving Australia Post's profitability and structure, it was insufficient in its contributions to their development as a financially self-sustaining business.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Report: Performance, importance and role of Australia Post in Australian communities and its operations in relation to licensed post offices|url=https://www.aph.gov.au/~/media/Committees/Senate/committee/ec_ctte/Australia_Post_in_Australian_communities/report/b03.pdf?la=en}}</ref>

In September 2015, the corporation announced its first loss in 30 years. The {{AUD}}222 million loss was down from a $116 million profit the previous year. Large decreases in addressed and stamped mail led to a $381 million loss in the mail delivery side of the business. Parcel delivery then accounted for over half of total revenue. Overall revenue was stable at $6.37 billion.<ref>[https://auspost.newsroom.com.au/Content/Home/Home/Article/Australia-Post-delivers-strong-full-year-profit-before-tax-of-126-1m-despite-record-letter-volume-decline-/-2/-2/6168 Australia Post delivers strong full year profit of $126.1m before tax] Australia Post</ref>

In August the following year, Australia Post returned to profit with strong parcel and courier performance, and organisation re-structuring. However, mail performance reached an all-time low.

In February 2017, Australian Prime Minister [[Malcolm Turnbull]] criticised CEO Ahmed Fahour's $5.6 million annual salary, saying "As the Prime Minister and a taxpayer, I've spoken to the chairman today. I think that salary, that remuneration, is too high."<ref>{{cite news|last=McIlroy|first=Tom|date=8 February 2017|title=Malcolm Turnbull says $5.6 million salary of Australia Post boss Ahmed Fahour is too high|work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/malcolm-turnbull-says-56-million-salary-of-australia-post-boss-ahmed-fahour-is-too-high-20170207-gu7t06.html|access-date=26 January 2020}}</ref> On 23 February 2017, Fahour announced his resignation, effective July 2017, telling media that the decision was not related to discussion of his salary.<ref>{{cite news|last=Belot|first=Henry|date=23 February 2017|title=Australia Post CEO Ahmed Fahour resigns after salary furore|work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-23/australia-post-ceo-resigns/8296566|access-date=26 January 2020}}</ref>

In October 2019, Australia Post completed a major rebranding project with Melbourne-based brand strategy firm Maud. This project saw the development of a new brand identity, website and self-service platform, parcel and letter packaging, street posting boxes, staff uniforms, and a fleet of custom-designed electric vehicles, amongst others.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.maud.com.au/projects/australia-post/#full|title=Australia Post — MAUD — We build enduring brands in a world of constant change.|website=www.maud.com.au|access-date=2020-04-30}}</ref>

In 2019, with parcels deliveries increasing while letter deliveries falling, the Post Office transferred several thousand workers from letters to parcels.  Letter deliveries were reduced from five days per week to two days per week.

In 2021, Australia Post began using its first electric trucks; three [[Fuso Ecanter]]s in Melbourne.<ref name="apw">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |date=30 November 2021 |title=Australia Post welcomes its first electric trucks |url=https://bigrigs.com.au/index.php/2021/11/30/australia-post-welcomes-its-first-electric-trucks/ |work=Big Rigs |publisher=[[Prime Creative Media]] |access-date=13 December 2021}}</ref>