Ayr Post Office facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ayr Post Office |
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Ayr Post Office, 2014
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| Location | 155 Queen Street, Ayr, Shire of Burdekin, Queensland, Australia |
| Built | 1936 |
| Built for | Postmaster General of Australia |
| Architect | Commonwealth Department of the Interior |
| Owner | Australia Post |
| Official name: Ayr Post Office | |
| Type | Listed place (Historic) |
| Designated | 22 August 2012 |
| Reference no. | 106172 |
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The Ayr Post Office is a special old building in Ayr, Australia. It's located at 155 Queen Street. This building was designed by the Commonwealth Department of Interior. It was finished in 1936. Today, it is recognized as a heritage site. It was added to the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List on August 22, 2012.
Contents
History of the Post Office
Early Days in Ayr
In the 1860s, European farmers started raising sheep and cattle. They settled in the Burdekin River area of North Queensland. Later, in 1881, the first sugar crop was grown. This made the region important for manufacturing. The town of Ayr was planned in 1882. It was meant to be the main center for the area. Special areas were set aside for government buildings. These included the court house, police station, and post office.
Building the First Post Office
The very first post office in Ayr was built in 1884. James Palmer built it. The design came from John James Clark. He was the main government architect at the time. Thomas Bishop was the first postmaster. He lived in a separate house next to the post office.
A New Building for a Growing Town
By the 1930s, Ayr had grown a lot. The old post office was not big enough anymore. The head of the Burdekin Shire asked for a new, bigger building. In 1934, the Prime Minister, Joseph Lyons, announced the plans. The new Ayr Post Office was expected to cost about £7,000.
The new post office was designed by the Commonwealth Department of Interior. This department became responsible for building post offices in Queensland around 1921-1923. The new building was built on the same spot as the old one. It was finished in 1936.
What the Ayr Post Office Looks Like
Location and Surroundings
The Ayr Post Office is at 155 Queen Street. This is a main street in Ayr. It's also part of the Bruce Highway. The post office is in a special area with other important buildings. These include the community center, courts, and police station. There's also a war memorial and a clock tower nearby. These add to the building's important look.
Outside the Building
The post office looks almost the same on its front side. It has two porches on the corners. These are on either side of the main postal hall. The building has a hipped roof. This means the roof slopes down on all sides. The design uses some older "Georgian" style details. These include the way the windows are arranged. The front of the building has a flat top, called a parapet. It has three tall windows across the main postal hall. Steps lead up to the entrances from the street.
Inside the Building
You enter the main shop area through the side porches. The north side of the building has changed. Walls were removed to add a special lobby for post office boxes. This lobby runs along the side of the building. More post office boxes were added to the south porch.
Inside, the building has three main parts. There's the front retail shop. Behind it is the mail sorting room. There's also a lunch room, storage, and offices. Some parts of the building that were once open, like a verandah at the back, have been closed in. They are now used for staff areas.
Many of the original inside walls have been removed. This was done to make space for the post office box lobby. The retail shop area has also been made bigger. It now has modern Australia Post shelving.
Original Features Still Visible
Even with the changes, you can still see many original parts of the building. These include:
- The original front design with the flat top (parapet).
- The hipped roof shape.
- The smooth outside walls.
- The steps and entrances.
- A central pointed tower on the roof, called a fleche, which used to have a ventilator.
The building is in good condition. It is well looked after.
Why Ayr Post Office is a Heritage Site
The Ayr Post Office is important for several reasons. It was added to the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List in 2012.
Its Role in the Community
The post office was built in 1936. It is one of many smaller post offices built in Queensland during that time. These buildings helped towns and regions grow. The Ayr Post Office is important because it's part of a group of government buildings. This group includes the community center, courts, and police station. The war memorial and clock tower nearby also add to its historical setting. The building still looks much like it did when it was first built.
Its Design and Style
The Ayr Post Office is a good example of a "third generation" retail post office. This means it was designed for a time when post offices started to focus more on selling things. They also needed bigger areas for post office boxes. The building's design shows this. It has a central postal hall with porches on either side.
The building's style is called "Neo-Georgian Revival." This is a classic style that uses simple shapes and symmetry. It's a neat and well-built example of this style. It shows how public buildings were designed in Queensland around the 1910s to 1930s.
Its Beauty and Importance
The Ayr Post Office is a beautiful building. It has two sides facing streets. It stands out because of its flat-topped front and the tower on its roof. Its location near the war memorial also makes it special. The building is often shown in tourism guides for Ayr. This shows how important and well-loved it is by the community.
Its Social Value
The Ayr Post Office has provided postal services for over 70 years. This makes it very important to the community. Its central location and prominent spot in the town's civic area add to its social value. Being featured in tourism materials also shows how much people value this building.
Images for kids
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1979 Ayr Post Office.jpg
Ayr Post Office, 1979 (example image, if available)
