Broken Hill Post Office facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Broken Hill Post Office |
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| Location | 258-260 Argent Street, Broken Hill, City of Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1890–1892 |
| Architect | James Barnet 1900; additions/alterations by Walter Liberty Vernon. |
| Owner | Australia Post |
| Official name: Broken Hill Post Office | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 22 December 2000 |
| Reference no. | 1423 |
| Type | Post Office |
| Category | Postal and Telecommunications |
| Builders | Mr John Dobbie |
| Official name: Broken Hill Post Office | |
| Type | Listed place (Historic) |
| Designated | 08 November 2011 |
| Reference no. | 105499 |
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The Broken Hill Post Office is a special building in Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia. It's considered a heritage site, meaning it's important to history and worth protecting. The main building was designed by James Barnet and built between 1890 and 1892. Later, in 1900, Walter Liberty Vernon added a telegraph office. Today, Australia Post owns this historic building.
Contents
History of the Broken Hill Post Office
Early Postal Services in Australia
The first official postal service in Australia started in April 1809. A merchant named Isaac Nichols became the first Postmaster in NSW. Before this, ship captains delivered mail, which wasn't very safe or reliable.
In 1825, the government created the Postmaster General's Department. This department was in charge of all postal services. By 1839, there were forty post offices across the colony. As railways grew from the 1860s, postal services expanded even more.
James Barnet became the Acting Colonial Architect in 1862. His office built and maintained many post and telegraph offices. Between 1865 and 1890, they built 169 such offices in NSW. Each building often had a different look.
New post offices continued to be built in the 1890s. This was even during a tough economic time called the Depression. Walter Liberty Vernon led the Government Architect's Office then.
After Australia became a federation in 1901, the Commonwealth Government took over postal services. Post offices became important community hubs. They offered mail, banking, and telegraph services. They were often built in central, important spots in towns.
Broken Hill's Post Office Story
Broken Hill began as a mining town. In 1883, Charles Rasp found minerals here. Soon, the Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited was formed to mine silver. As the mine grew, so did the town.
In January 1886, Broken Hill got its first post office. It was run by Marie Wilson from a small building. This building was attached to a local store. Marie Wilson was the first government official in Broken Hill.
A telegraph station opened in Broken Hill in August 1886. It also operated from the post office building. By the end of 1886, Broken Hill had 3,000 people. The small post office was no longer big enough.
The town asked for a proper post office building. At first, the postal department was unsure. Many mining towns disappeared when the ore ran out. But by 1888, they agreed Broken Hill was here to stay.
Plans for a large post office were drawn up. James Barnet's office created the design. The final plans were accepted in November 1889. John Dobbie won the contract to build it for £6,475.
The new post office opened on May 9, 1892. Its most striking feature was an 86-foot-tall tower. A balcony wrapped around the tower and the second floor. The ground floor had a verandah. The inside had beautiful cedar wood fittings. The postmaster and a postal assistant lived in the building.
In 1973, part of the post office was removed. This made space for a new telephone exchange. The postmaster's home was also taken away. From 1979, the building had a big renovation.
What the Broken Hill Post Office Looks Like
The Broken Hill Post Office is a two-story building. It's made of red bricks laid in a special pattern called Flemish bond. Its style is called Federation Free Style with some Arts and Crafts influences.
The roof is made of corrugated steel and has different shapes. The most noticeable part is the 86-foot-high, square clock tower. This tower stands out in the town. It has a pointed roof made of slate. There are four clock faces on the tower.
A wide verandah wraps around three sides of the ground floor. Above it, on the first floor, is a balcony. These are supported by green-painted timber posts. The balcony used to have an asbestos sheet railing, which is not original.
The red brick walls have special details. The windows on the ground floor have rounded arches. The first-floor windows are original. They have two panes of glass that slide up and down. The tower also has small, tall windows.
Inside, the ground floor has four main areas. These include a retail area for customers and offices. There are also spaces for sorting mail and staff rooms. The ceilings vary in height and material. Some have old decorative plaster.
The building's interior has changed a lot over time. Many original features like fireplaces are gone. The main color scheme inside is grey.
A staircase leads to the first floor from the back. The first floor hasn't changed as much as the ground floor. It has bathrooms, a recreation room, and offices. The tower can be reached by ladders from a storeroom.
One interesting feature is a strong room in the mail sorting area. It has a mirrored window above it. This window connects to an observation room.
The Post Office is a landmark in Broken Hill. It helps define the city center. It's near other important buildings like the Court House.
Changes Over Time
- 1890-1892: The main two-story building was constructed. It included a double residence for staff.
- Around 1900: A telegraph office was added. This addition included rooms for operations and a public area.
- 1902: The clocks were installed in the tower.
- Around 1912: More changes were made to the telegraph office addition.
- Later (date unknown): The residence was changed. Some original parts of the building were removed.
- Around 1950s-1960s: The upper-floor verandah was enclosed. The staircase location was changed.
- Around 1970s-1980s: Modern post boxes were added inside.
- 1988: Internal offices were rearranged. A ramp was added to Argent Street.
- Around 1990s: The inside was updated with standard Australia Post designs.
Why the Broken Hill Post Office is Important
The Broken Hill Post Office is very important for several reasons. It shows how much wealth came from the mining boom in the late 1800s. It also shows that people believed Broken Hill would be a permanent town.
This building tells us about how postal and telecommunications services changed in NSW. Especially how they served a remote community like Broken Hill. It also shows how working conditions improved over time.
The Post Office is a beautiful example of the Federation Free Classical style. It also has influences from the Arts and Crafts movement. This style is quite rare in NSW for such an early building. Its grand design and tall clock tower make it stand out.
The building was designed by famous architects. James Barnet from the Colonial Architect's Office designed the original building. Walter Liberty Vernon from the NSW Government Architect's Office designed the additions.
The Broken Hill Post Office is a local landmark. It has been the center of communication for over a century. Because of this, it's very important to the people of Broken Hill. It gives them a sense of place and pride.
The site might also hold archaeological information. This could tell us more about how the building and its surroundings changed over time.
Even with some changes, the outside of the building is in great condition. It still has its important features. These include the impressive clock tower, verandahs, and its overall look.
