Australia Post has apologised after a postcard mailed in Tahiti was delivered 50 years late to an Adelaide home.
The postcard, depicting a scene of Papeete, capital of French Polynesia, was sent in 1966 from ‘Chris’ to ‘Robert Giorgio Esq’.
Chris wrote: “Enjoying myself greatly. The weather is very humid... I’ll try and drop you a note in England.”
Having been unexpectedly rediscovered, the card was sent on to Tim Duffy, the current resident of the address at which Mr Giorgio once lived, the Adelaide Advertiser reported.
Excitement over the story prompted a response from Australia Post, who said it was likely the item had been stuck abroad.
A spokesman added: “It is clear something went wrong 50 years ago after the postcard was posted in French Polynesia, and we apologise for the inconvenience.”
“Australia Post takes great pride in the timely, safe and efficient delivery of mail and we are confident that the vast majority of mail and parcels arrive on time.”
The original sender of the card has now been identified as law professor Chris Reynolds, who was childhood friends with Mr Giorgio, also a lawyer.
The pair had not seen each other for over 30 years but reconnected after the story ran in local press.
“I thought, ‘God, that’s my handwriting’,” Mr Reynolds told The Advertiser. “I confess I can’t remember writing it but we were in Tahiti at the time... I was 15 and was on my way to England for 12 months with my parents and brother and sister.
“Robert was a school friend. We stayed friends for quite a while, though eventually we lost contact.”
Mr Giorgio said it was, “nice to be reminded I was actually 16 once.”
