Australia Post's illustrious history -

Aside from deliveries, many rural Aussies rely of Australia Post for personal banking services, something NAB and Westpac have pledged $66 million to help continue. 

Called Bank@Post, the service is available at 3,500 offices around the country. 

This development is only the latest in a long and illustrious history of Australia Post. 

Here's how it all began and how we got where we are. 

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Founded in 1809 - Australian mail came under British colonial control in 1809, ending a system of localised mail distribution agreements.

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First postmaster of NSW - Isaac Nichols, a former convict, became the first postmaster of NSW in 1809 and the first person to hold such a title in Australia.

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Postal Act of 1825 - The Postal Act of 1825 organised routes outside of NSW and set a price for stamps.

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Stamps - Stamps first became available in the 1850s.

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Postmaster-General's Department, 1901 - All formerly colonial mail systems were merged into the confederated Postmaster-General's Department in 1901.

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Telephones, telegraphs and mail - The Postmaster-General's Department oversaw the nation's telephones, telegraphs and mail.

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Airmail - The airmail service was launched in 1914.

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Maurice Guillaux - The first pilot to fly airmail out of Australia was French aviator, Maurice Guillaux in 1914.

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Longest ever - At the time, his delivery from Melbourne to Sydney was the longest airmail delivery in human history.

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Lismore to Tenterfield, NSW - The first commercial Aussie airmail trips were made from Lismore to Tenterfield, NSW in 1920.

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1925 - Airmail service between Melbourne and Sydney began in 1925.

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Australian Postal Commission, 1975 - All mail operations were integrated under the Australian Postal Commission, using the name Australia Post for the first time, in 1975.

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Corporatised in 1989 - The commission was turned into a for-profit, government-owned business in 1989.

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New strategy - In 2010, Australia Post changed focus towards online delivery items to prepare for the future downturn of mail delivery.

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First loss - Australia Post had its first financial loss in 30 years, losing $200 million, in 2015.

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Profitable again - In 2016, Australia Post returned to profitability.

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$95.4 million - Australia Post made a $95.4 million profit in 2017.

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Routes and posties - There are 7,950 Australia Post routes and 10,000 posties who deliver on those routes.

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Four billion - Australia Post handles four billion pieces of mail per year.

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30 million banking transactions - Australia post handles around 30 million banking transactions per year.

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Westpac and NAB - Westpac and NAB have promised to fund Australia Post's personal banking service to the tune of $22 million per year for three years.

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CBA - Commonwealth Bank signed an agreement to fund Australia Post personal banking for five years.

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ANZ - ANZ has chosen not to take part thus far.

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Controversies - s

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Controversies - s

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Controversies - Australia Post has been accused of paying workers too little.

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Communication Workers Union - The Communication Workers Union criticised Australia Post for using contractors instead of in-house employees.

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Franchisees - Using franchise post offices has been a major topic of contention since at least 2014.

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Massive salary - The Managing Director of Australia Post was making $5.6 million before stepping down in 2017.

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