Return to list of Post Offices            Next Post Office

Mauritius / G.P.O (General Post Office)

History

(From the Mauritius Post Web site news)

The GPO was built between 1865 and 1870. Although the inscription on the front side of the building shows the date of 1868 A.D, it was officially inaugurated in December 1870 by Governor Gordon and was functional on 21 December 1870.
Cessation of postal business. The GPO building had to be vacated to allow the start of preliminary works leading to the conversion of the building into the Nelson Mandela Centre for African Culture. Postal activities ceased at the close of business on Saturday 29 May 2004 and were transferred to 3 Dumas Street, Port Louis which is now the General Post Office.
To mark the re-opening of counter services at the ex-General Post Office with effect from 25 January 2006 under the new name of Waterfront Post Office, the Mauritius Post is issuing an official special cover affixed with two postage stamps of Rs2 and Rs7 denominations of the Postal Services series.

Postmarks

The single circle "Mauritius" postmark in use to 1923, the "thimble" in use 1904-10 (Ibbotson)
"Port Louis Mauritius" single circle used to 1951, double circle thereafter (Ibbotson)
"G.P.O. Mauritius" postmark used 1920-36 (Ibbotson).

Postmarks

MAURITIUS 29/09/1893
Letter C above
date reversed
MAURITIUS 30/07/1909
GPO 19/04/1939
On a stampless official paid letter
postmarked (see next) 19 AP 39
GPO 19/04/1939
PORT LOUIS REGISTERED 1/12/1972

Registered

PORT LOUIS GPO 28JY28 PORT LOUIS GPO 5AP33 GPO 11JA35 GPO MAURITIUS 210137 GPO 29NO45 GPO PORT LOUIS_19OC50 PORT LOUIS GPO 30AP73