Euroa Post Office facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Euroa Post Office
Location	90 Binney Street, Euroa, Victoria, Australia
Built	1890
Architect	John Thomas Kelleher, possibly with the assistance of A. J. McDonald
Commonwealth Heritage List
Official name: Euroa Post Office
Type	Listed place (Historic)
Designated	22 August 2012
Reference no.	106201
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The Euroa Post Office is a very old and important building in Euroa, Australia. It's located at 90 Binney Street. This special building was designed by John Thomas Kelleher from the state's Public Works Department. Another person, A. J. McDonald, might have helped too. George Diggle built it in 1890. Because of its history and design, it was added to the Commonwealth Heritage List on 22 August 2012. This means it's a protected building.

A Look Back: History of the Post Office

The very first post office in Euroa opened a long time ago, on 1 January 1854. John De Boos was in charge of it. Later, in 1876, a telegraph office opened at the railway station. This allowed people to send quick messages. A post office savings bank also started in 1878.

The town's first proper post office building was built in 1883-84. It was a single-story building made of bricks of different colors. Sadly, this building burned down on 23 February 1889.

The building you see today was built soon after, in 1890. George Diggle was the builder, and it cost £1,300. Some of the old brick walls from the burnt building were used again. They became part of the back areas on the ground floor. An area that used to hold government money was changed into a telephone exchange before 1960.

Between 1962 and 1968, the building changed a lot. The front of the building was altered. Inside, the postal areas and the old living space were updated. For example, the kitchen pantry was divided. A new side entrance was added to the stairs for the residents. The first-floor sitting room became a kitchen and bathroom. A two-story toilet block was also built. An outdoor laundry block was added too. Around this time, the old wooden fences were replaced. A new clock was put on the building in 1968. These changes happened because Euroa was growing. Its population had more than doubled. The town served more traffic from the Hume Highway. It also became an important center for the area.

Around 1986-88, a new single-story part was added at the back. This was for a loading dock facing Brock Street. A new opening was made in the old back wall. This connected the loading dock to the contractor's area. A brick shed for scooters was also built nearby. In the 1990s and again in 2002, ramps were added for easier access. The public area inside was also updated. The long counter was made smaller and angled. The shop area became bigger. The post box lobby and main entrance also got new tiles.

What the Building Looks Like

The Euroa Post Office is at 90 Binney Street. It's on the corner of Binney and Brock streets. This is at the end of Euroa's main shopping street. The post office and the nearby 1892 Court House look good together. They both fit in with the old buildings around them. The post office building now sits right on Brock Street. But it used to have small gardens on its east and west sides. Cars can enter the property at the back. A concrete driveway leads to the loading dock and scooter shed built in the 1980s. There's also an older wooden shed with a metal roof in the back garden.

The post office building from 1890 has two stories. It faces north-east and looks the same on both sides. It has a central part that sticks out. This part has a covered porch on the ground floor. It also has a balcony on the first floor. Two single-story sections stick out from the sides. The building's shape is like a "T". It also had living areas with verandas at the back. This design was similar to the first post office from 1883-84. Some of the old walls from that building were used. You can see these older walls at the back on the ground floor. They are made of bricks of different colors. The newer parts are made of plain red brick.

The roof is covered with slate tiles. It has tall red brick chimneys. The roof edges are lined with wooden boards. The walls built in the 1890s are made of red brick. They have five cement lines across the two stories. The bottom of the building has a strong bluestone base. The old brickwork from 1883 can still be seen at the back. Two single-story sections stick out at the front. They have simple pointed roofs. The section on the east side was made twice as wide. But it still has its original arched window. The section on the west side has a newer arched doorway and steps. The wooden trim on these three pointed roofs is also new. The original trim had a special design.

On the main pointed roof, there is a round shape. It now holds a newer clock. Below that are three connected arches. They have decorative pillars and frames. Below these arches, there's a carved decoration. It's above the main entrance, which is now filled in. This decoration has two crests, one for the Queen and one for St George/England. This was a popular design at the time. The crests were connected by carvings that showed the building's construction date.

The original main entrance arch was made of brick. It had decorative stones and a carved arch line. It also had a special brick frame. The window above it is new. It has a wooden frame and leaded glass. All the original windows in the building have round arches. They have wooden frames with double-hung sash windows. The windows above these are divided into four parts. The windows in the living areas on the upper floor were similar.

The eastern side of the building has a two-story wooden veranda. It has wooden railings and decorations. Its roof is part of the main living area roof.

The outside of the Euroa Post Office changed a lot in the 1960s. At the time, people thought the changes matched the original style. The front of the building was changed to make the post office area bigger. The mailroom and private post office box area also became larger. This involved making the eastern single-story section wider. The original arched counter inside was removed. A new, long counter was put along the eastern wall. A new single-story office was built behind this section. This hid the original entrance from the side veranda. An old window nearby was changed into a new doorway from the veranda. The original main arched entrance to the ground floor porch was also filled in. This porch area became part of a larger mailroom. The mailroom was also made longer towards the south. It took over two original bedrooms on the ground floor.

Also, the old clock on the front gable was replaced. The words "POST & TELEGRAPH OFFICE" were removed. A simpler steel sign saying "EUROA POST OFFICE" was put up. More lighted signs were added. The decorated wooden trim on the roofs was also removed and replaced with plain ones.

Inside, the original layout of the ground floor changed a lot in the 1960s. But most of the original wooden fittings are still there. The first floor, where the living areas were, seems to be mostly unchanged.

Important parts of the building include:

• The overall shape and look of the building.
• Its unpainted brickwork and decorative cement parts.
• The veranda, recessed balcony, and projecting roofs.
• The way the living quarters are set up.
• The layout of the rooms and where the fireplaces are.

The Euroa Post Office looks to be in good condition. It is well looked after.

Original parts of the building include:

• The main structure: Brick walls on a bluestone base. Wooden floors on brick supports. A wooden roof.
• Outside walls: Red brick with cement decorations. A strong bluestone base.
• Inside walls: Plastered brick walls. Wooden partitions with plaster.
• Floors: Wooden boards. The original ground floor porch had tiled floors. Bluestone steps at the front.
• Ceilings: Plaster with decorative edges.
• Roof: Slate tiles. Wooden lining boards. Some exposed wooden rafters. Wooden trim on the roofs. Many red brick chimneys with terracotta pots.
• Other parts: A decorative wrought iron gate at the porch. The clock on the main roof. A wooden veranda with wooden fretwork on the east side. Decorative wooden fittings inside. These include panelled wooden doors and wooden fireplace surrounds.

Why It's a Heritage Site

The Euroa Post Office was added to the Commonwealth Heritage List on 22 August 2012. It's important for several reasons:

• History and Community: The post office has been a very important public building in Euroa for over 120 years. It stands out and works well with the nearby 1892 Court House. The building includes parts of an older post office from the 1880s that burned down. It was also changed a lot in the 1960s. This was when Euroa's population grew. The town served more traffic from the Hume Highway. It also became the main town for the area. The post office is often shown in things that promote the town. This shows how important it is to the local community.

• Type of Building: The Euroa Post Office is a good example of a post office and telegraph office with living quarters. It was built between 1870 and 1920. It's also a Victorian-era building. It mixes a special Romanesque style with American freestyle and Federation Queen Anne influences. It was designed by the Public Works Department architect, JT Kelleher. AJ McDonald might have helped too.

• Design and Style: The Euroa Post Office, in its original form, was a great example of a design that mixed different styles. It was one of several buildings from the 1890s that used a free Romanesque style. The changes in the 1960s altered the front of the building quite a bit. They tried to keep the original style. It was rare in Australia in the early 1960s to see such a strong use of the Romanesque style. Even with the changes, the building still looks mostly the same. It keeps its original shape and details. This includes the main front part, the first-floor balcony, and the arched openings. The main front roof still has its round shape and three connected arches. Below this, the carved decoration above the main entrance still has the popular crests. The Euroa Post Office is also a good example of the work of JT Kelleher. It is similar to his work on the nearby Euroa Courthouse (1892).

• Beauty and Location: The Euroa Post Office is a landmark building. It's on an important street corner. It looks beautiful because of its size and how it stands out. Its strong roof shapes and tall chimneys add to its look. The red brick walls contrast with the decorative Romanesque parts. The building also matches the Euroa Court House nearby. It helps make the town's streetscape look historic and harmonious. The post office is also featured in promotional materials for the town.

The protected area includes the entire property.

Important parts of the Euroa Post Office include the two-story building from 1890. Also important are the remaining ground floor parts from the earlier post office (1884-84). Parts that are not considered important for heritage include newer brick additions with sloped roofs. This also includes the loading dock from the 1980s. The newer brick scooter shed and the old wooden shed at the back are also not considered important.