Letter carriers were supplied with special uniforms from the 1830s as several persons in Sydney were passing themselves off as postmen. Postmen also collected letters to be posted and the uniform was a symbol of officialdom. The first uniform was a red coat with VR buttons and a hat with gold band. It is thought that Sydney letter carriers were issued with a uniform annually. However trousers had to be supplied by the individual. The red coat (in various forms) was used by the NSW post office throughout the nineteenth century.
Damaged by fire in storage with Australia Post about 1960.

Postal uniform, letter carrier, wool fabric, Australia Post, NSW, Australia, [1870-1880]

Red woollen jacket with blue cotton cuffs. Blue fabric piping trim running down the center of the front of the garment. Sections of the coat have been lined with red fabric. The inside of the sleeves have been lined with off white checked fabric. The collar has been removed. There are five button holes down the left hand side proper. The buttons have been removed.

Made: Postmaster-General's Department; ; 1870 - 1880

paper label attached to neck area "27/010293"
paper label attached at neck area "FIRE DAMAGED"

98/2/55-1

1870 - 1880

520 mm