In 1824 a convict settlement was established in the Moreton Bay area. Postal matters were in the hands of the military authorities and letters were conveyed between Sydney and the new settlement for some years by small mailing vessels at infrequent intervals. A military officer, Mr. Allman, was appointed Deputy Postmaster, Moreton Bay, in 1833 but postal facilities remained very primitive for a number of years.

In 1842 Moreton Bay ceased to be a penal settlement. Mr. White was appointed postmaster, being the first non-military occupant of the position. Unfortunately he died the following year. The new appointee was the Clerk of Petty Sessions, Mr. Slade, the post office then being a humble cottage. That year s.s. “Sovereign” began very irregular trips to and from Sydney.

In 1845, the first post office outside Brisbane was established at Drayton with a fortnightly mail. The following year a post office was established at Ipswich thus enabling a service to be opened to the Darling Downs. Another link with this latter area was formed in 1847 when a postal line was extended there from Armidale. 1848 is remembered as the year the “Sovereign” was wrecked and the “Tamar” laid on in her place, while a new postmaster, Win. A. Brown, Clerk of Petty Sessions, was appointed.

During the years 1849-1851 several new post offices were established and mail services opened. By 1852 the business of the Brisbane office had increased so much as to require undivided attention. As a result Captain John E. Barney was appointed as the first full—tine postmaster. Additionally a letter carrier was appointed and the first town delivery made, while in the following year an allowance of £90 for clerical assistance was granted.

By the end of 1854 there were ten post offices throughout the district and the mail services covered the entire area to which settlers had penetrated. The following year the postmaster, Captain Barney, died and his widow, Mrs. E. Barney, was appointed to succeed him. Extension of services continued over the next two years and in 1857 a uniform rate of 6d. postage was introduced on ships letters. All inward letters were delivered without charge provided they had been duly posted at some post office, otherwise they were charged the rate payable on outward ship letters.

During 1858 a general overhaul of the system took place, with a consequent shortening of routes and saving of time. Concurrently, extension of the services continued, the most notable additions being the installation of a line from Casino to Brisbane, which considerably reduced the time to Sydney, and the introduction of an express mail service from Brisbane to Ipswich to operate whenever steamers arrived from Sydney. A letter carrier was appointed to Ipswich at this time.

From December, 1859, postal expenditure commenced and revenue was collected, for the first time, on behalf of the Colony of Queensland. In 1860 - Separation Year - the new Colony began with a postal establishment of 16 post offices and 19 services. The Hon. R.R. MacKenzie, Colonial Treasurer, became Acting Postmaster General. The staff of the General Post Office, Brisbane, at this time consisted of the postmistress, Mrs. Barmey, three clerks, two letter carriers, and one messenger and sorter, housed in a small wooden building or group of buildings.