Bondi Beach Post Office facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bondi Beach Post Office |
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Bondi Beach Post Office, 2017
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| Location | 20 Hall Street, Bondi Beach, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Architect | EH Henderson |
| Official name: Bondi Beach Post Office | |
| Type | Listed place (Historic) |
| Designated | 22 August 2012 |
| Reference no. | 106174 |
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The Bondi Beach Post Office is a historic building located at 20 Hall Street, Bondi Beach, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It's a special place because it's listed on the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List. This means it's an important part of Australia's history and should be protected. It was added to this list on August 22, 2012.
A Look Back in Time
In the early 1800s, swimming at Sydney's beaches was not very common. People thought it was a bit strange! But by the mid-1800s, it started to become more popular. At first, Bondi Beach felt very far away from central Sydney.
Bondi Beach Becomes Popular
By the 1900s, people started to relax about swimming. Bondi Beach became known as a great place for healthy fun and relaxing. In the 1880s, Bondi Beach was made a "public beach" for everyone to enjoy. The first tram line also reached the beach around this time. This made it much easier for families and swimmers to visit.
The local council, Waverley Municipal Council, built the first surf bathing sheds in the early 1900s. Later, the famous Bondi Pavilion was built in 1929. By the 1930s, Bondi was a huge attraction. People came from all over Australia and even from other countries!
Building the Post Office
As Bondi Beach grew in popularity, more and more homes and buildings were built. The Bondi Beach Post Office was built in 1922. This was a time when the area was really developing. The building was designed by EH Henderson from the Commonwealth Department of Works and Railways. He worked under the guidance of George Oakeshott. Later, in 1934, more parts were added to the Hall Street side of the building.
The post offices designed by Oakeshott and Henderson in the 1920s were special. They showed that the Australian Government was now in charge of designing these buildings. The Bondi Beach Post Office has a unique design. It has a tight corner spot with two columns. Other similar post offices from this time are in Waverley (1923), Beecroft (1925), and Coffs Harbour Jetty (1926). These buildings often used a special brick style called "rustication" on their columns.
Many post offices from this time in New South Wales were small and made of brick. This was because the land plots were often small. Examples can be seen in places like Wallandbeen (1915) and Botany (1917).
Post Offices Today
Out of all the post offices mentioned from that time, only a few are still owned by Australia Post. These include the Bondi Beach Post Office, and others in Botany (NSW), Rose Bay (NSW), Nundah (Qld), and Armidale (NSW).
What the Building Looks Like
The Bondi Beach Post Office is located on the corner of Hall Street and Jaques Avenue. It's a noticeable building that adds to the look of the street. It has a strong presence on the corner.
Outside Features
The main entrance is on the corner. It has a flat roof that you can't see from the street. The entrance is framed by two Tuscan columns. These are round columns with simple tops. Above the columns is a flat, decorated band called an entablature. This band continues around the sides of the building as a cornice (a decorative molding).
A low base, called a plinth, also runs around the building. It turns into two supports, or pedestals, on either side of the entrance. These support the columns. Both sides of the building facing the street have three sets of double-hung sash windows. These windows are separated by brick pilasters (flat, column-like decorations) with decorated tops and bottoms. Between these are wider brick sections that have a special rough brick style. This style was a "signature" look for Australian Post Offices. A later addition on Hall Street copied this style. Another addition on Jaques Avenue has two double-hung sash windows that match the original style.
The original entrance area was later enclosed to create the Postal Manager's office. The building's name, "Post Office" and "Bondi Beach," was written on the decorative bands above the windows. The roof edges, called eaves, were covered with planks. The gutters and drainpipes are made of copper. The bottom parts of the windows, called window sills, are rounded.
Inside and Changes
In 1934, a large addition was made to the west side of the building, facing Hall Street. This was designed by H Sturtevant. He made sure the new part matched the original building's style. An area in the entrance that used to have public phone booths is now a storeroom. The base of the entrance has been changed to a slight slope. This makes it easier for people with disabilities to enter the building.
It's not clear if this post office originally had living quarters for the postmaster, as many others did.
Key Features
- It's a compact building, like a house, but for a public service.
- Its corner location makes it stand out.
Condition
When last checked, the building was in fair condition. The outside looked mostly original. However, the inside has been changed quite a bit over time.
Original Parts Still There
Some of the original parts of the building that still exist include:
- Structure: Strong concrete foundations. The retail area has a timber floor, and other areas have concrete floors.
- Outside Walls: Made of face brick and cement. They are load-bearing, meaning they support the building.
- Inside Walls: Made of plasterboard or fibrous plaster, painted.
- Floors: Concrete with carpet and vinyl in some areas. The retail area has timber floors with carpet. There's a vinyl-tiled lunchroom and storage area, and ceramic tiles in wet areas.
- Ceiling: Painted plasterboard, and possibly fibrous plaster in some spots. The back office has a suspended ceiling. Air conditioning ducts are built into the retail space ceiling.
- Roof: Timber frame with terra-cotta tiles. The entrance porch has a flat roof covered with an aluminum membrane.
Why It's a Heritage Site
The Bondi Beach Post Office was added to the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List on August 22, 2012, because it meets several important requirements.
Criterion A: History
The post office, built in 1922, is important to local history. It shows how Bondi Beach grew and developed between World War I and World War II. During this time, Bondi Beach became a very popular place for families and swimmers. The building's design from that period and its important corner spot make its historical value even stronger.
Criterion D: Special Features
The Bondi Beach Post Office is a good example of:
- A post office and telegraph office from the early 1900s.
- A building from the period between the World Wars, in a style called Colonial/Georgian Revival.
- A building designed by E H Henderson, working for the Commonwealth Department of Works and Railways under George Oakeshott.
The building's original layout has changed a bit. For example, the corner entrance area is now an office. Also, a postal box area and phone booths were added later.
Architecturally, the Bondi Beach Post Office is like a small group of brick post offices in New South Wales. These were designed by E H Henderson. It also shows design ideas from other architects like Murdoch and Mackennal. It's one of only four post offices from that time (1923-1926) that still work as a post office and have a special corner entrance with columns. This style was unique to New South Wales.
Criterion E: How It Looks
The Bondi Beach Post Office, located on the corner of Hall Street and Jacques Avenue, has a strong visual presence. Its confident corner design makes it a landmark. It also adds to the historic feel of the local street. This means it has important aesthetic value at a local level.
Images for kids
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Bondi Beach Post Office, 2017
