Botany Post Office facts for kids

The Botany Post Office is a special old building in Botany, Sydney, Australia. It's located at 2 Banksia Street. This building is important because it's listed on the Commonwealth Heritage List, which means it's a protected historic place. It was added to this list on 8 November 2011.

History of the Post Office

How the Post Office Started

The first post office in Botany wasn't even official! It opened in 1881 when only a few people lived in the area. As more families moved to Botany in the 1890s, the town grew. A town hall was built in 1899, and the postal services moved there.

After World War I, the main street, Botany Road, became a busy place for businesses. About 20 years later, the local council wanted a brand new building just for the post office. They asked the Postmaster-General's Department, which was in charge of postal services back then. So, a new building was built on Banksia Street.

When Was It Built?

There's a bit of a mystery about when the current building was finished. Some records say 1917, and others say 1923. If it was 1917, it would be one of the very first post offices designed by the new Commonwealth Department of Works and Railways. Before 1916, each state usually designed its own post offices. Even if it was built in 1923, it's still one of the earlier buildings designed by the Commonwealth government.

The main architect for the Commonwealth Department of Works and Railways was George Oakeshott. However, it's thought that E. J. Henderson, who designed many post office buildings, was the actual person who drew up the plans for this one.

A Surprising Event

In May 1939, something unusual happened at the post office. Some people broke into the strongroom, which is a very secure room, and tried to get into the safe. They managed to take some cash, postal notes, and stamps. Even though local people saw what was happening, they were too scared to call the police at the time.

What the Botany Post Office Looks Like

The exterior of Botany Post Office

The Botany Post Office is located at 2 Banksia Street, right on the corner of Nilsson Lane. This is the third spot for Botany's post office, and it was the first building specially built for this purpose. It's about 50 meters east of Botany Road, which is the main shopping street.

Building Style and Features

The building's design looks a bit like an old-fashioned house, but with a grand touch. It has a style called Neo-Georgian or Colonial Revival. This style was popular at the time and was inspired by older Australian designs.

The roof is hipped, meaning it slopes down on all sides, and is covered with terracotta tiles. The edges of the roof stick out, forming eaves. The windows are double-hung sash windows, which means they slide up and down, and the top part of each window has six small glass panes. The outside walls are covered in a smooth cement finish.

You'll notice tall, round columns called Tuscan pillars framing the entrances. There are also four more pillars next to the windows of the main shop area. These columns were a common feature in post offices designed by architects like John Smith Murdoch and Horace Mackennal.

The main public area of the post office is under a section that sticks out from the building. It used to have entrances on both sides, like many older post offices in Queensland and Victoria. Over time, one of these entrances was closed off and became part of the main shop area. The post office box section is now inside the remaining entrance and also in a newer part at the back.

Changes Over Time

Later on, a concrete driveway was added to a car park at the back. This area was then fenced off. The small garden area in front of the building, which might have been a lawn, is now paved with bricks in a zigzag pattern. Public phone booths were also added at the front, along with a park bench.

Several parts have been added to the back of the post office. For example, a space now used as a lunchroom used to be an open back porch, but it's now enclosed. A ramp was added to one of the entrances to make it easier for everyone to get in. The original doors have been replaced with metal-framed glass doors. Most of the windows now have bars for security.

Inside, the main shop area still has its original ceiling, which is made of wooden boards. However, other ceilings are newer. The old lights were replaced with modern fluorescent lights. The building also has modern air conditioning, though one older unit remains in the former mail sorting room. The inside layout has changed from separate rooms to a more open "office landscape" style, but some lighter walls still divide areas like the manager's office.

The outside of the building has also been repainted. The window frames, which were once dark wood, are now painted white. The rest of the building is light grey, with some parts like the eaves painted dark grey.

How Good is Its Condition?

Considering how old the building is, it's in good shape! Most of the changes and additions have been made to the back of the post office. The inside of the building is still quite similar to how it was originally.

Why is it Heritage Listed?

The Botany Post Office was added to the Commonwealth Heritage List on 8 November 2011 because it meets certain important standards.

Important History

The Botany Post Office is significant because it was built in 1923. It's one of the earlier post offices designed by the Commonwealth Department of Works and Railways in New South Wales. Before 1916, states usually handled their own post office designs. The fact that the building is still mostly in its original condition makes its history even more valuable.

Special Design

The Botany Post Office is a great example of:

• A post office from the period between 1870 and 1929. It was built just for postal services, without living quarters for the postmaster.
• The Neo-Georgian/Colonial domestic revival style of architecture. This means it looks like a grand old house.
• The design work of the Commonwealth Department of Works and Railways. George Oakeshott was the architect in charge, and E. J. Henderson likely designed it.

This post office is a small building from the time between the two World Wars. It shows how the Commonwealth Government started designing its own public buildings in New South Wales. It still performs its original postal duties and is mostly unchanged on the outside and inside.

Its design is interesting because it looks like a house, not a big, grand public building. This "cottage" style was a strong trend in Australian architecture at the time. It shows how the Colonial Revival and Neo-Georgian styles became popular for smaller public buildings.

Community Value

The post office has been serving the local community for about 90 years. It has provided important postal services and facilities to the people of Botany for a very long time.