Australia Post

Corporate brand

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Australia’s government-owned postal and parcel delivery corporation.

Last updated October 27, 2026

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Overview

Australia Post, formally the Australian Postal Corporation, is Australia’s government-owned postal operator and one of the country’s most widely recognised service brands. It provides the national postal network, domestic and international letter services, parcel delivery, express delivery, retail postal products, digital delivery tools and a range of related government and business services. Its physical network includes post offices, delivery facilities, sorting infrastructure, parcel lockers and transport operations serving metropolitan, regional, rural and remote communities. The organisation’s direct corporate history begins on 1 July 1975, when the Australian Postal Commission was created after the former Postmaster-General’s Department was divided into separate communications and postal entities. The present corporate form and Australia Post name were established in 1989, when the postal organisation became a government business enterprise under the Australian Postal Corporation Act 1989. The corporation is not listed on a stock exchange and remains owned by the Australian Government, while operating commercially and maintaining statutory community-service obligations. Australia Post’s role has changed substantially as communication and commerce have become more digital. Traditional letter volumes have declined over time, but parcel demand has expanded with online retail, marketplace selling and consumer expectations for tracking, delivery choice and convenient returns. Australia Post has consequently developed services such as Express Post, Parcel Post, MyPost digital account tools, parcel lockers, delivery notifications, business shipping platforms and international logistics connections. Post offices also function as retail and service locations, selling stamps, packaging and mailing products and supporting selected government-related services, including passport application processing. The brand’s public positioning combines national reach with everyday reliability. Australia Post presents itself as infrastructure that connects people, communities and businesses, rather than merely as a carrier of letters and parcels. Its advertising has highlighted international correspondence, small-business growth, e-commerce enablement, posties and the social importance of local postcodes. During the COVID-19 period, the organisation was treated as an essential service while dealing with exceptional parcel volumes, operational pressure and changing customer behaviour. Australia Post has also faced scrutiny because its commercial responsibilities coexist with public-service expectations. Debate has covered financial sustainability, delivery frequency, service standards, the future of the letter network, executive remuneration and governance. The 2020 controversy involving Cartier watches purchased for four senior executives led to intense political and media attention, the temporary stand-down and eventual departure of chief executive Christine Holgate, and a later independent review that found no personal wrongdoing by Holgate. The episode became one of the most prominent governance controversies associated with the brand. As of the latest supplied information, Paul Graham is Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, having joined in September 2021. His background in logistics and supply-chain management reflects Australia Post’s increasing emphasis on parcels, network capability, technology and operational resilience. Australia Post remains active and nationally significant, combining a statutory postal role with retail, logistics, digital and e-commerce services.

History

Australia’s organised postal system developed from colonial-era services and was consolidated at federation through the Postmaster-General’s Department, created in 1901 to administer postal and telecommunications functions nationally. For much of the twentieth century, postal operations were conducted as a government department, with post offices serving as important civic and commercial points of contact in towns, suburbs and remote communities. A major institutional change occurred on 1 July 1975, when the Postmaster-General’s Department was abolished and its operational responsibilities were transferred to separate statutory commissions. Postal operations became the responsibility of the Australian Postal Commission, while telecommunications functions were assigned to a separate organisation. This reform created the immediate corporate predecessor of Australia Post. The organisation adopted its current name and corporate structure in 1989 under the Australian Postal Corporation Act 1989. The change converted the postal commission into the Australian Postal Corporation, commonly branded as Australia Post. Although commercially oriented, the corporation retained public obligations, including the provision of a national postal service across a geographically large and unevenly populated country. Over subsequent decades, Australia Post expanded beyond conventional stamped letters. Its activities came to include parcels, express services, international mail, retail merchandise, packaging, printing and business mailing solutions. The post-office network also became a channel for selected public and identity-related services, including passport application processing. The organisation developed technology-supported customer services, including online postage tools, tracking, digital accounts, delivery notifications and parcel lockers. The rise of online shopping changed the economics and operational importance of the business. Letter volumes were pressured by email, electronic billing and digital communications, while parcel volumes grew through e-commerce and marketplace commerce. Australia Post increasingly presented itself as a logistics and delivery partner for retailers and small businesses, using its national network to connect sellers with customers throughout Australia and overseas. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated those trends. Australia Post remained an essential service while handling major changes in shopping and communication patterns. Exceptional parcel demand, public-health restrictions and operational disruptions placed pressure on delivery times, retail locations and network capacity. The organisation’s role during this period reinforced its importance but also intensified debate about service standards, investment, staffing and long-term financial sustainability. Governance became a major public issue in 2020 after the disclosure that four Cartier watches, with a combined reported value of A$20,000, had been purchased for senior executives in 2018. Chief executive Christine Holgate was stood down amid political pressure and later left the organisation. Senate scrutiny examined the procurement and the circumstances of her departure. An independent review subsequently reported that Holgate had not engaged in personal wrongdoing, although the episode generated continuing criticism of governance and accountability arrangements. In 2021, Paul Graham was appointed Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director. His logistics and supply-chain background aligned with the organisation’s strategic shift toward parcels, e-commerce, technology and operational resilience. Australia Post remains an Australian Government-owned, unlisted corporation. Its modern identity combines a statutory national postal role with commercial delivery, retail, digital and logistics services.

2021
Paul Graham becomes chief executive
[3]Paul Graham leadership profileauspost.com.au
Paul Graham joined Australia Post as Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director in September.
1989
Australia Post corporate structure adopted
[2]Australia Post — Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
The Australian Postal Corporation and the Australia Post name replaced the earlier postal commission structure.
1975
Australian Postal Commission created
[2]Australia Post — Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
The Postmaster-General’s Department was replaced by separate commissions, with postal operations transferred to the Australian Postal Commission on 1 July.
1967
Australian postcode system introduced
[8]Australian postcode system introducedbandt.com.au
The postcode system was introduced as an administrative tool and later became a prominent part of Australia Post’s public identity.
1901
Postmaster-General’s Department established
[2]Australia Post — Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
Federation brought colonial postal operations into the national Postmaster-General’s Department.

Products and positioning

A trusted national delivery and service network connecting Australians, communities and businesses across metropolitan, regional, rural and remote areas.

Postal services
Letter Post
Australia Post’s traditional letter service covers domestic correspondence, stamps, addressing, collection and delivery through the national postal network. Despite the long-term decline in physical correspondence, letters remain part of the organisation’s universal-service role and continue to support personal, institutional and business communication.
Parcel delivery
Parcel Post
Parcel Post is the standard parcel-delivery offering for domestic shipments. It supports individuals, retailers and online sellers sending goods through Australia Post’s collection, sorting and delivery network, with related packaging, tracking and delivery-management options.
Express delivery
Express Post
Express Post provides a faster domestic delivery option for time-sensitive documents and parcels. It is supported by Australia Post’s retail outlets, shipping products and tracking infrastructure and is marketed to both consumers and businesses.
Digital delivery services
MyPost
MyPost is Australia Post’s customer-facing digital account and delivery-management environment. It helps users manage deliveries and access tracking and related postal functions through online and digital channels.
Delivery infrastructure
Parcel Lockers
Parcel Lockers provide an alternative delivery and collection point for eligible shipments. They are designed to give customers more flexibility when receiving parcels, particularly where home delivery is inconvenient or the recipient is not present.
Business logistics
Business and e-commerce delivery solutions
Australia Post provides shipping, fulfilment, tracking and delivery-management tools for businesses, including small businesses and digital start-ups. These services connect online sellers with Australia Post’s retail, parcel and delivery network.

Controversies

2020
Cartier watches and Christine Holgate’s departure
Australia Post faced political and Senate scrutiny after four Cartier watches, reportedly worth A$20,000 in total, were purchased for senior executives in 2018. Chief executive Christine Holgate was stood down and subsequently left the organisation. A later independent review reported that Holgate had not done anything wrong personally, although the matter continued to raise questions about governance, executive rewards and ministerial intervention.
Source

20262,655 Postcodes
Australia
Developed with Droga5 ANZ, the reported campaign uses postcode-specific executions, local community imagery and recurring white-box visual devices to celebrate Australia Post’s reach across every Australian postcode.
Outcome. The campaign includes film, outdoor, digital, social and localised executions intended to connect the delivery network with the communities it serves.
Source
2025Parcel-label national outdoor campaign
Australia
Australia Post used shipping labels as large-format outdoor creative during the Christmas shopping season. The executions referenced retailer partnerships and the breadth of the delivery network.
Outcome. The campaign ran in major Australian cities and sought to demonstrate Australia Post’s role behind national retail and e-commerce delivery.
Source
2024Nick the Intern
Australia
A Christmas campaign presented Santa Claus as an undercover Australia Post intern working alongside a postie to understand how parcels and gifts are delivered during the festive period.
Outcome. The campaign ran nationally across television, in-store, online, radio and social channels and linked Christmas delivery with parcel lockers, the Australia Post app and fleet modernisation.
Source
2022Delivering like never before
Australia
Created with The Monkeys, the campaign followed Terry the Postie as he served families, small businesses and other customers. It highlighted the changing ways Australians live, work, send and receive parcels after the COVID-19 disruption.
Outcome. The campaign reinforced Australia Post’s role as an essential and evolving national service.
Source
1986We Deliver — Letter Writing Venice
Australia
A television commercial promoted airmail and international letter writing through a romantic story involving a letter read in Venice. It formed part of Australia Post’s We Deliver advertising platform and encouraged personal and intergenerational correspondence.
Outcome. The commercial is preserved as an example of Australia Post’s historic brand advertising and its effort to associate physical mail with emotional connection.
Source
Australia Post shines a light on small business
Australia
The campaign portrayed Australian makers and small businesses producing goods in homes, workshops and garages. It positioned Australia Post as the operational partner behind small businesses selling online and delivering to customers.
Outcome. The work extended across television, social, digital, eBay, outdoor, retail outlets and Australia Post channels.
Source

Brand decisions

2021
Appoint a logistics-focused chief executiveStrategy
Background
The appointment followed the controversy surrounding Christine Holgate’s departure and continuing growth in parcels and e-commerce.
Action taken
Paul Graham, an executive with extensive logistics and supply-chain experience, became Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director in September.
Aftermath
The appointment placed logistics capability, network performance and operational transformation at the centre of the organisation’s leadership agenda.
Source
1989
Adopt the Australia Post corporation structureStrategy
Background
The postal commission was restructured as a government business enterprise under the Australian Postal Corporation Act 1989.
Action taken
The Australian Postal Corporation and Australia Post brand replaced the earlier commission arrangement.
Aftermath
Australia Post gained its current corporate identity while retaining national postal responsibilities.
Source
1975
Separate postal operations from the Postmaster-General’s DepartmentStrategy
Background
The Australian Government reorganised the former Postmaster-General’s Department and separated postal operations from telecommunications functions.
Action taken
The Australian Postal Commission assumed postal responsibilities on 1 July 1975.
Aftermath
The change created the statutory predecessor of the modern Australia Post organisation.
Source

Recent events

Unconfirmed
NAB and Australia Post renew 10-year banking partnership[13]NAB与澳大利亚邮政续签为期10年的银行服务合作miragenews.com
NAB announced it would renew its partnership with Australia Post for 10 years, providing face-to-face banking services to NAB customers at more than 3,500 Australia Post locations.
2021-04-12
Australia Post appoints Paul Graham as chief executive[14]澳大利亚邮政任命保罗·格雷厄姆为首席执行官theage.com.au
Reported: 2021-04-11
Australia Post announced Paul Graham’s appointment as its new chief executive. He is due to take the role in September.
2020-11-02
Australia Post CEO Christine Holgate resigns[15]澳大利亚邮政首席执行官Christine Holgate辞职postandparcel.info
Reported: 2020-11-02
Australia Post announced that Group CEO and Managing Director Christine Holgate had resigned, with her resignation effective immediately. The departure followed scrutiny over the organisation's spending on Cartier watches as rewards for four senior managers.
Unconfirmed
Woolworths launches Basics Box grocery delivery service[16]Woolworths推出Basics Box杂货配送服务nine.com.au
Reported: 2020-03-30
Woolworths launched its Basics Box grocery delivery service for vulnerable customers, with the service launched in the ACT over the weekend and scheduled to roll out across New South Wales and Victoria that week. Australia Post is the delivery partner.
Unconfirmed
Australia Post announces Pharmacy Home Delivery Service[17]Australia Post宣布推出药房居家配送服务miragenews.com
Australia Post announced the launch of its Pharmacy Home Delivery Service. From Monday, pharmacies around Australia could offer free prescription delivery to customers through the service.
Weekdays and relative dates follow the original report; their exact calendar dates have not been verified.

Sources18 sources

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