Cloncurry Post Office facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cloncurry Post Office |
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Cloncurry Post Office, 2013
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| Location | 47 Scarr Street, Cloncurry, Shire of Cloncurry, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1900 - 1914 (early 20th century) |
| Built | 1906 |
| Architect | Queensland Works Department |
| Official name: Cloncurry Post Office | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 27 May 2005 |
| Reference no. | 600416 |
| Significant period | 1906 (fabric) 1880s - ongoing (historical, social) |
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The Cloncurry Post Office is a special building in Cloncurry, Australia. It's listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because it's an important part of history. This timber (wooden) building was designed by the Queensland Works Department and finished in 1906. It has been a central part of the Cloncurry community for over a hundred years, helping people connect through mail and messages.
Contents
A Look Back: Cloncurry's Story
The Cloncurry Post Office we see today was built in 1906. It replaced an older post office from 1883 that stood on the same spot.
How Cloncurry Grew
People started settling in the Cloncurry area in the mid-1860s. They were mostly pastoralists, which means they raised sheep and cattle. Finding artesian water (water from deep underground) in the 1890s helped farming grow a lot. This made raising animals the main industry in this dry area.
Mining was also important, but it wasn't as steady as farming. Gold was first found in 1867. Later, Ernest Henry discovered copper nearby. Copper mining became very popular in the early 1900s.
Early Days of Communication
The town of Cloncurry started in the early 1870s. It was a service town for a very remote part of Queensland. In 1871, it became a "Country Post Office," and the first postmaster started working there. Soon, a general store and a hotel opened, making Cloncurry a real town.
In the beginning, mail was carried by horses, bullocks, and even camels! As more people moved to the area, mail routes spread out from Cloncurry. The town grew in the 1880s because farming was doing well and mining increased.
The First Post Office and Telegraph
The first building specifically for the Cloncurry Post Office was a small wooden one built in 1883. It had an office and living space for the postmaster. In 1883, Cloncurry Post Office also became a "Money Order Office" and an official electric telegraph station. This meant people could send money and quick messages.
Telegraph lines connected Cloncurry to other towns like Aramac and Boulia. Later, lines reached Normanton, Camooweal, and Urandangi. These connections were vital for the town, especially for things like the District Court, which started in 1900.
The New Post Office in 1906
In the early 1900s, Cloncurry became very busy because copper prices were high. This led to a boom in copper mining. So, in 1906, a new, bigger post office was designed and built. It cost about £1375.
This new building was for both post and telegraph services. The old 1883 post office building was moved behind the new one and used as the postmaster's living quarters.
The new post office was a common design called a T17 type. It had a special twin porch and gable roof. The Queensland Works Department designed many of these between 1906 and 1921. Even though post and telegraph services became the Australian Government's job after Federation (when Australia became one country), these buildings were still built to a high standard. The T17 design is known for its good looks and how well it handles the local weather.
Modern Connections and Services
A new telephone exchange opened in Cloncurry in 1912. In the 1920s, Cloncurry became even more important. QANTAS (Australia's airline) started there in 1922, and the Flying Doctor Service began in 1929. This made Cloncurry a key hub for the north-west.
By the 1950s, Cloncurry was a major center for mail, phone, and telegraph services for a huge area. In 1954, a brick extension was added to the post office. This new part housed the control station for the north-west Queensland's Auxiliary Radio network. This radio base later moved to Mount Isa in 1964.
Today, the Cloncurry Post Office still serves the community.
What the Building Looks Like
The Cloncurry Post Office is a single-story wooden building. It sits on low stumps and is easy to spot at the corner of Scarr and Sheaffe Streets. The original part of the building is symmetrical (the same on both sides). It has a gable (the triangular part of a wall under a sloping roof) that sticks out over the main public area.
There are two porches, one on each side, with timber steps and railings. The main roof is hipped (slopes on all sides) and covered with corrugated iron. A newer extension has been added, which matches the style and materials of the original building.
Why It's a Heritage Site
The Cloncurry Post Office was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 2005. This means it's recognized as an important historical place for several reasons:
- It shows how Queensland's history unfolded. The post office shows how Cloncurry and the surrounding area developed in the early 1900s. It provided important services that helped this isolated town become a major regional center.
- It's a great example of its building type. It's a good example of a timber post office with a twin porch and gable, designed by the Queensland Works Department between 1906 and 1921. It also looks great and adds to the charm of Cloncurry.
- It has strong ties to the community. The Cloncurry Post Office has been connected to the people of Cloncurry and the surrounding area for a very long time. It has provided vital communication services from this spot since 1883.
