Burketown Post Office facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Burketown Post Office |
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Burketown Tourist Information Centre, formerly Post Office, 2009
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| Location | Musgrave Street, Burketown, Shire of Burke, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1887 |
| Architect | George Connolly |
| Official name: Burketown Tourist Information Centre, Burketown Post Office | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 1 January 1993 |
| Reference no. | 600373 |
| Significant period | 1887 (fabric) |
| Significant components | counter, post & telegraph office, residential accommodation - post master's house/quarters |
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The Burketown Post Office is a historic building in Burketown, Queensland, Australia. It used to be a busy post office. Today, it serves as the Burketown Tourist Information Centre. This special building was designed by George Connolly and built in 1887. It is recognized as an important heritage site on the Queensland Heritage Register.
A Look Back at Burketown's History
The Burketown Post Office was built in 1887. This happened after a huge cyclone hit Burketown on March 5, destroying most of the town. The building was designed by the office of the Colonial Architect.
Early Days and Challenges
Settlers started arriving in the Burke District in the 1860s. Explorers like Burke and Wills and William Landsborough had reported good land for grazing animals. To help these settlers, the Queensland Government set up a supply base. This first settlement was later moved closer to deeper water.
The new town site was planned, and things looked promising. A meatworks and a boiling down factory were built. The government also set up a legal and administrative center there. Sadly, a mysterious disease caused many deaths in 1866, 1867, and 1868. This forced most people to leave the town.
Rebuilding and New Services
After the disease threat passed, Burketown slowly grew again. It became an important supply point for the cattle industry. The town became more active in the early 1880s when government services returned. The Post Office, which had closed in 1871, reopened on January 1, 1883. The postmaster also worked as a police officer, customs officer, and weather forecaster.
The area became even more connected when the telegraph line reached Burketown in October 1886. This allowed people to send messages quickly. The Queensland Government had hoped Burketown would be a major link for an international telegraph line. However, another colony got that contract. Still, the line to Burketown was completed, connecting it to other towns.
The New Post Office Building
The current Post Office building was constructed after the big cyclone in 1887. It was designed to be a combined Post and Telegraph Office. During this time, post offices were designed with a more public look. They also included features like verandahs and wide eaves to suit the hot climate. The Burketown Post Office was a good example of this style. It had a "triple-frontage" design with a part that stuck out for the office.
This new office was vital for sending mail and managing mail delivery. It connected Burketown to places like Normanton, Hughenden, Townsville, and Camooweal. This network was a lifeline for people living on remote cattle stations. Shipping companies also helped by providing monthly services, making it easier to send and receive goods. The introduction of Parcel Post in 1892 made things even better. In 1893, the post office became official. The postmaster also took on roles as a land commissioner and agent.
Changes Over the Years
After Australia became a federation in 1901, the postal system came under the control of the Australian Government. The Burketown Post Office continued to operate until 1921. It was then reclassified several times, becoming a "non-official" post office in 1964. Finally, in 1988, it stopped working as a post office completely.
In 1988, for Australia's 200th birthday celebrations, the building was moved. It went from its original spot on Gregory Street to where it stands today. After the move, it was used by the Gulf Air Company.
Today, Burketown is a popular place for tourists, especially for fishing. The Riversleigh Fossil Site nearby is a world heritage area, which also brings visitors. The old Post Office now serves as a tourist information center. It helps visitors and promotes the history and culture of the area.
What the Building Looks Like
The former Burketown Post Office is a single-storey building made of timber. It is located at the corner of Musgrave and Burke Streets in Burketown. Burketown is in the North-west of Queensland, near the Gulf of Carpentaria.
The building is near the town's small shopping area. The current Boulia Shire Offices are next door, and further east are the hotel and shops.
The building sits diagonally on its site, facing the intersection of two wide streets. In front of it is a concrete war memorial. This memorial has plaques honoring those who served in various wars.
Building Features
The building has an L-shaped design. The western end was the Post Office, and the rest was the living area for the postmaster. The roof is made of corrugated iron and follows the shape of the building. It highlights the part of the office that sticks out.
The building has three open verandahs. These are at the front and back of the living area, and on the side of the office. The outside walls are covered with weatherboards. There are windows that slide up and down, with timber hoods over them on one side. The building is low to the ground and now stands on steel posts. Timber steps lead up to each verandah and the entrance.
The main entrance is a small, gabled porch at the front of the office section. Inside the porch, you can still see the letter slot next to the main entry doors.
The office is a rectangular room with a high ceiling. The walls are lined with wooden boards. At the front of the room is a timber counter and small side benches. On the back wall, you can see some old signs from when it was a Post Office. Through some glass doors, you can reach the verandah on the south-western side. Behind the office is a small room that is now being set up as a kitchen.
The verandah on the north-western side leads into the former living area. This area has four main rooms in an L-shape around the back verandah. The largest room was the sitting room. There were also two bedrooms and a kitchen. These rooms generally have similar wooden wall linings as the office. The kitchen, however, does not have wall linings. Most doors are four-panelled wooden doors. On the back verandah, there is a small utility room, which is now a public toilet. Besides the signs in the office, the building also has an old telephone exchange in one of the former bedrooms.
The site is flat and covered with grass, with a few small trees. At the back of the property, there are some old machinery parts.
Why It's a Heritage Site
The former Burketown Post Office was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on January 1, 1993. This means it's an important part of Queensland's history and culture.
Showing Queensland's History
This building is important because it shows how government services developed in remote areas of Queensland. For over a century, it was a central place for postal services, telegraph and telephone communication, and even weather forecasting. It highlights how vital these services were for a community far from big cities.
A Rare Survivor
Built in 1887, the former Post Office is one of the few old buildings left in Burketown. This makes it a rare and special part of the town's past.
A Great Example of Its Kind
The building shows the high quality of government buildings built in remote places. Its design includes features like high ceilings, window hoods, and three large verandahs. These were smart ways to deal with the local climate. It's a good example of a post office building from that time, with its unique triple-frontage and projecting office bay. Most of its original layout is still there.
It even has some original fittings from its time as a post office. These include the timber counters, benches, signs, and the old telephone exchange.
Beautiful and Important to the Town
The former Burketown Post Office has always been a key part of the town's look. Since it was moved to a larger corner spot, facing the war memorial, it has become even more noticeable and important in the town.
Strong Community Connection
By becoming a Tourist Information Centre, the building continues to serve the community. It plays a big role in the growing tourism industry in the region, connecting people to the area's history and culture.
