Also known as Mailman Jimmy, in the 1870s Koolbiri delivered the post between Fowlers Bay and Eucla, just over the WA border. Every month he completed the 700 plus km round trip on foot, reputedly faster than any man on horseback. Many believed he must be a magic man to achieve this in the time he did.
He was recognised as the Royal Mail from around 1871 until 1876, before the telegraph station was built. He took almost nothing apart from the mailbags, using his superior bushcraft and knowledge to find water and food along the way. While there were other postmen who delivered mail on foot, none of them travelled nearly as far as Jimmy. He was paid in tobacco, not much of a payment for such a task.
Based on an archived photograph in the State Library collection.
Part of an ongoing series of South Australian Icons.
Icon
Mailman
Outback
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