1880 to 1889
1880 Records show there were fewer than 10,000 sheep in the Ashford district. The economy of the area is still dominated by the big cattle stations.
Nov The school was re-opened with Mr Gillis appointed as teacher.
1881 Aug 1 John T. Carroll appointed post master.
Oct School closes.
1883 Jul School re-opens with J. H. Cook appointed as teacher.
1884 Mar 17 Mrs Catherine Slack appointed as post master.
Mar 31 The post office money order office closed. At the time it was mentioned that mail arrived twice weekly, on Wednesday and Sundays about 8pm.
Aug 16 G. W. Dean appointed as post master.
1885 Feb 2 William Slack appointed as post master.
Oct 13 Mrs Catherine Slack appointed as post master.
1886 Rebekah Elliot appointed as teacher.
Feb 1 Mrs Blanche B. Kimmorley appointed as post master.
Apr 24 Mrs S. J. Tubman took over the post office and store.
1887 Mar 21 Edward Naughten was appointed post master. It is widely accepted one day Mr Naughten found himself short of the red tape used at that time to identify registered letters, so he used a red pencil line as an alternative. This practice later became universally accepted and Ashford people proudly claim it as a notable first in their history.
Aug 30 Mr J. Begley appointed as teacher.
Dec 2 A petition was received by the Department of Public Instruction from the parents of the school children requesting a new building. As a result a small school building was erected on a new site in Duff Street.
1888 Gunyan Station was founded. This property commenced in the northern boundary of Frazers Creek Station and took in the Bonshaw area.
1889 Jul School closes
1889 Oct School re-opens.