Royal Mayo Mail
Camel Post 2026
Share our journey in the world's largest
parallel sand-ridge desert
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Send Your Story across the Simpson Desert!
Background - Australian Postal History
Did You Know...that the first time a camel appeared on an Australian postage stamp was in 1896?​
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In 1895 the Coolgardie Cycle Express Company provided local mail services in the Western Australian goldfields, and in 1896 the six pence, two shillings, and five shillings were issued.​
Camels in Bayley Street Coolgardie 1890s.
National Library of Australia number nla.pic-an24613175
Camel buggy in Coolgardie 1898.
State Library of Western Australia
Camels were used to deliver mail in the more remote parts of Outback Australia where water points for horses were scarce (or non existent), and this continued until the mid 1920s when motor vehicles took over.
Mob of camels outside the Birdsville Post Office, 1926. Jack Gaffney pictured in the second image.
State Library Qld 2 151263
Changing the mail from the camel-drawn coach to a motor lorry, at Actalunna Creek, Strzelecki Track. This coach travelled from Cordillo Downs Station further north. Cordillo Downs had it's own Post Office.
This photo is dated 1931 and the original caption reads:
"At Actalunna Creek : Transferring the mails to go over the sandhills on the trip out to Cordillo Downs station.
This was "the last coach trip made by this type of coach, with camels instead of horses, to Cordillo Downs" - ready to cross the Cobbler Sandhills."
SLSA [B 25220]
Footnote: The lorry was first registered in July 1922.
The last camel mail on its way from Oodnadatta in South Australia to Alice Springs in the Northern Territory in 1872. The overland telegraph, which replaced the camel mail, came into operation in August 1872
National Archives of Australia: A1200, L26071
Since 1896, camels have featured on Australian stamps numerous times, celebrating explorers such as Burke & Wills (who used camels for the first time on an Australian expedition), and Christmas nativity scenes. Most recently, camels featured in the Afghan cameleers of the Outback issue of 2016.
As we are celebrating our 50th Anniversary in 2026, we though it was time that camels featured in the mail again! And you can be part of our celebrations.
Send YOUR STORY with Mayo across the Simpson Desert!
How it works
Step 1
Select your choice of C6 or DL commemorative envelope, or DL 50th Anniversary Postcard.
For either envelope or card you have the choice of selecting one of two official Australia Post stamps which cover standard letter/card postage to anywhere in Australia.
Camel Shadow
Mayo Mail
Step 2
Complete the purchase details and we will send you your envelope/s/card/s to your postal adress.
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Step 3
Write a letter/complete the postcard to a loved one or a grandchild or to yourself!
Pop your letter/card into the Reply Paid envelope and return to us. Note that Mayo must receive Your Story before MARCH 30th 2026.
You may select as many envelopes or cards as you like.
A Red Dune Bundle of 3 (C6, DL, Postcard) is priced at $37.00 - a saving of $5.00
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Step 4
May 11 2026, log onto the Royal Mayo Mail Camel Post map page to see where Mayo is based amongst the dunes as she prepares to embark on her first Simpson Desert Expedition!
The map is in real time, and we will also post regular photos via Starlink throughout the expedition.
June 10 2026 - Royal Mayo Mail with Your Story arrives in Birdsville, Queensland
June 11 2026 - Mayo delivers her mail to the Birdsville Post Office from where Your Story is forwarded to its final destination.
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