Casino Post Office facts for kids

The Casino Post Office is a special building in Casino, Australia. It is located at 102 Barker Street. This historic post office was designed by the NSW Colonial Architect's Office. Construction began in 1879. Today, Australia Post owns the building. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on June 23, 2000, meaning it's an important part of the state's history.

History of Postal Services

The first official mail service in Australia started in April 1809. A man named Isaac Nichols became the first Postmaster in the colony of NSW. Before this, ship captains delivered mail, which wasn't very reliable.

In 1825, the government created the Postmaster General's Department. This department was in charge of all mail services. By 1828, the first post offices opened outside of Sydney. These were in towns like Bathurst and Parramatta.

As more people settled across NSW, more post offices opened. By 1839, there were forty post offices. The railway system, which started in the 1860s, also helped mail services grow. In 1863, the Postmaster General said that postmasters should live in the same building as the post office. This was to make sure mail was safe.

James Barnet became the Acting Colonial Architect in 1862. During his time, many new public buildings were built. Between 1865 and 1890, his office built and maintained 169 post and telegraph offices. These buildings had different styles, as local leaders liked variety.

Building new post offices continued into the 1890s. Walter Liberty Vernon led the Government Architect's Office from 1890 to 1911. Even during tough economic times, many post offices were built.

After Australia became a nation in 1901, the Commonwealth Government took over postal services. Different government departments were in charge of building post offices over the years.

In 1975, the old Postmaster General's Department was replaced. Two new organizations were created: Telecom (for phones) and Australia Post (for mail). In 1989, Australia Post became a self-funded company. This led to changes, like moving to smaller, shop-front post offices.

For a long time, post offices offered many services. They distributed mail, acted as banks, handled voter registrations, and provided telegraph and telephone services. The town post office was often a central place. It was usually built in a main spot, near other important buildings. This made it a symbol of community pride.

Casino Post Office History

The first European settlers came to the Casino area around 1838. They were looking for cedar trees. Later, farmers arrived. George Stapleton and Henry Clay started the first farm, called "Cassino." They named it after Mount Cassino in Italy.

A good river crossing point on the Richmond River was part of their land. A small settlement grew around this spot. It was first called The Falls. In 1855, it was surveyed and renamed Casino. Land was sold in 1856. By then, mail came weekly from Sydney. It was collected from a local store. Casino also had a police station, courthouse, school, and race course. By the late 1850s, Casino was the main town in the upper Richmond River area.

The first official postmaster in Casino, William M. Scott, started around 1872. The Post and Telegraph Office operated from the Tomki Shire Offices. In 1879, work began on a new Post Office building in Casino. Postmaster Scott moved into the new home part of the building on March 21, 1880. The new building was one storey. It had an office, four rooms, a kitchen, and a stable.

In 1881, they added an underground water tank and a fence. The ground in front of the office was also made level. By 1883, the Casino office had several staff members. This included Mr. Scott, his wife, a telegraph operator, a letter carrier, and a messenger. Mail arrived from Sydney twice a week by coach from Ballina.

In 1889, the Post Office was expanded. The office part was made bigger, reaching closer to the street. An extra room was also added. In 1893, a covered entrance, called a portico, was added to the front. This stopped rain from getting on the mailboxes. A bathroom was added at the same time. In 1894, Casino's first telephone was installed in the post office.

Around 1915, more changes were planned. The building was partly rebuilt. An extra floor was added for living quarters. The office on the first floor was also rearranged. These changes were finished by late 1915.

What the Building Looks Like

The Casino Post Office has two floors. It combines the post office and a home. The building is made of double brick. The front of the ground floor looks like it's made of large stone blocks. The upper floor, which was added later, is made of face brick.

The building mixes different styles. The main part of the building is in the Victorian Italianate style. It has arched windows and decorative columns. It was first finished in 1879. Later additions from around the 1970s are at the back. The roof is mostly sloped and made of corrugated steel. There's also a covered walkway with post boxes. This area has a picket fence and timber posts.

The front of the ground floor has a large, single-storey covered entrance, called a portico. This was added between 1889 and 1893. It has pairs of decorative columns. These columns support a flat top and a railing, which hides a shallow roof. The portico ceiling is made of timber. There are lights and a steel railing for disabled access.

The back part of the ground floor, where the home is, has different brickwork. There's also a laundry and bathroom made of weatherboard and asbestos cement sheets. A timber porch with a corrugated steel roof is on the eastern side. This porch has timber posts and a slatted railing. It's the main entrance to the home's hallway.

The upper floor, added around 1915, is above the ground floor and portico. It has a balcony at the front. The balcony has a sloped roof and looks similar to the ground-floor porch. A flagpole sticks out from the center of the balcony. The rest of the upper floor has a gabled hip roof. Three brick chimneys are on the upper roof. Two more chimneys are on the back additions of the ground floor.

The windows at the front are mostly balanced. The ground-floor windows have arched tops with decorative carvings. The window sills are painted tan. The windows themselves are dark green. The upper-floor French doors and windows at the front are also balanced and original. Windows on the sides of the building seem mostly original. They are usually six-pane timber windows. The main entry door to the retail area is a newer addition.

Inside the Post Office, there are three main parts. There's the front retail area with carpet. Then, there's a mail sorting and storage area with vinyl flooring. Finally, there are staff facilities at the back.

The walls inside the ground-floor Post Office are painted brick or other materials. The retail area looks modern, with display panels and a counter. The offices and sorting areas have a light green and cream color scheme. They have modern fittings. Some original door frames are still there.

The ceiling height changes in different areas. Air conditioning ducts are visible. Some original walls and windows have been changed over time. Any original features like fireplaces have been removed from the ground-floor Post Office.

The residence (home) part is on the eastern side of the ground floor and the entire upper floor. The laundry and bathroom on the ground floor are newer additions. The rest of the walls in the home are plastered and painted brick. The upper-floor ceiling is made of timber boards. Lights and ceiling fans have been added.

The home still has its original layout. There are four bedrooms upstairs. Downstairs, there's a lounge and service areas. Original features like skirting boards, picture rails, and wall vents are still there. There are also brick fireplaces with timber mantles. The kitchen has its original hearth and an old "Canberra by Metters" stove.

The main staircase in the home is original. It has turned timber posts and balusters. Timber paneling under the stairs hides storage. An L-shaped verandah at the back provides shelter.

Signs for Casino Post Office and its postcode are on the front. There's also a freestanding Australia Post sign. Public telephones are located next to the building.

The back of the Post Office is fenced. There's a brick shed for motorcycles from the 1980s. A timber shed is in the grassy backyard of the residence. The residence yard is separate from the Post Office yard. A steel carport is on the eastern side.

Next to the Post Office is a Telstra property with a large telecommunications tower. This tower is very noticeable in the town center. To the west is the old CBC Bank. Street lights are also prominent at the front.

The backyard of the residence has many trees and shrubs. There are also palm trees at the front of the post office.

In 2000, the building was in good condition. It has kept most of its original look since the changes in 1915. Its special features, like the classical porch and columns, are still there.

Changes Over Time

• 1879: The original building was finished. It had four rooms, an office, a kitchen, and a stable.
• 1889-1893: The building was extended to the street. A classical portico (covered entrance) and a bathroom were added.
• Around 1915: The upper storey (second floor) was completed.
• Around 1976: Later additions were made to the ground-floor mail sorting area. New letter boxes and a motorcycle shed were built.
• Mid-1990s: The retail area inside was updated to the standard Australia Post design.

Why It's a Heritage Site

The Casino Post Office is important for its history, its beautiful design, and its meaning to the community.

It's historically important because it played a big part in developing communication services in Casino. It also shows how postal and telecommunications services changed in NSW over time. The additions made to the building, like improving living spaces for postmasters, show how working conditions improved. It's also linked to the NSW Government Architect's office, especially under Walter Liberty Vernon.

The Post Office is beautiful because it combines two styles: Victorian Italianate and Georgian Revival. This mix makes it a unique country town post office. Its design, with the classical porch and columns, makes it stand out. It's a landmark in Casino's town center, surrounded by other historic buildings.

The Casino Post Office is also important to the people of Casino. As a key public building and a link in the communication network, it helps give the community a sense of place.

The site might also hold archaeological information. This could help us learn more about how the site was used in the past.

It's considered rare in NSW because it's an unusual example of combining Victorian Italianate and Georgian Revival architectural styles.

Finally, it's a good example of the work done by Government Architect Walter Liberty Vernon. It also clearly shows how the needs for housing postmasters in NSW post offices changed in the early 1900s.