Forbes Post Office facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Forbes Post Office |
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| Location | 118 Lachlan Street, Forbes, Forbes Shire, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1879–1881 |
| Architect | NSW Colonial Architect’s Office under James Barnet. |
| Owner | Australia Post |
| Official name: Forbes Post Office; Post Office | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 22 December 2000 |
| Reference no. | 1414 |
| Type | Post Office |
| Category | Postal and Telecommunications |
| Builders | P.M. Vaughan |
| Official name: Forbes Post Office | |
| Type | Listed place (Historic) |
| Designated | 22 June 2004 |
| Reference no. | 105502 |
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The Forbes Post Office is a historic building in Forbes, Australia. It's located at 118 Lachlan Street. This important building was designed by the New South Wales Colonial Architect's Office under James Barnet. It was built between 1879 and 1881 by P. M. Vaughan.
Today, Australia Post owns the building. It's recognized as a special heritage site. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2000. It also joined the Commonwealth Heritage List in 2004.
Contents
History of Communication Services
Early Postal Services
The first official mail service in Australia started in April 1809. A merchant named Isaac Nichols became the first Postmaster in New South Wales. Before this, ship captains delivered mail. This system was not very safe or reliable.
In 1825, a Postmaster General's Department was created. It used to be managed from Britain. By 1828, post offices opened outside of Sydney. These included Bathurst, Parramatta, and Newcastle. By 1839, there were 40 post offices in the colony. More opened as people settled new areas.
As railways grew in the 1860s, postal services improved. In 1863, the Postmaster General said postmasters should live at the post office. This made services more reliable.
Telegraph and Telephone
The first telegraph line in New South Wales opened in 1858. Telegraph offices were built for the operators. These offices needed special equipment. They could not be set up in a regular shop.
In 1870, the Post and Telegraph departments joined together. New offices then offered both services. The first telephone exchange in Sydney opened in 1881. Telephone services soon spread to country areas. The Post Office was in charge of these public telephone services. This made them central to community communication.
Building Post Offices
James Barnet became the Acting Colonial Architect in 1862. During his time, many public buildings were constructed. Between 1865 and 1890, his office built 169 post and telegraph offices. These buildings had different styles. Barnet believed local people liked variety.
Building new post offices continued even during the 1890s Depression. Walter Liberty Vernon was the Government Architect then. After Australia became a federation in 1901, the Commonwealth Government took over. They became responsible for post, telegraph, and telephone offices.
In 1975, the Postmaster General's Department changed. It was replaced by the Post and Telecommunications Department. This led to the creation of Telecom and Australia Post. In 1989, Australia Post became a self-funded company. They started moving towards smaller, shop-front post offices.
For a long time, post offices offered many services. They distributed mail and acted as a bank agency. They also handled voter registrations. Post offices were often built in the town center. They became important community hubs.
Forbes Post Office History
Forbes was founded in 1861. This happened because gold was found nearby. A mail service started in 1861 at Black Ridge. By 1862, the town had 28,000 miners. An official postmaster was needed.
In April 1862, Hayward Atkyns became the postmaster. The telegraph line reached Forbes in October 1862. Plans began for an official Post and Telegraph Office. The new office opened in October 1863. It had a residence for the Telegraph Master upstairs.
In 1867, the Post Master General took over the telegraph service. A branch of the Government Savings Bank opened in the Post Office in 1871.
Building the Current Post Office
By 1877, Forbes needed a new post office. It was to be built on the same site. The cost was estimated to be around £3000. A temporary building was rented during construction.
In 1879, P. M. Vaughan's building plans were approved. There were delays because of a debate about a clock tower. Adding a tower would cost more money. The town decided to include the tower anyway. Other delays were caused by adding an underground water tank and fences.
The current Post Office building was finished in 1881. It likely included the two-story section with columns. The building was ready on September 8, 1881. In 1900, a telephone exchange opened there. A public phone was added in 1905.
Between 1900 and 1913, more single-story sections were added. These included a telephone exchange. Later, the ground floor was changed. Some entry doors were closed. Fireplaces were also filled in during a 1980s renovation.
In 1962, a new automatic telephone exchange opened. This replaced the old manual system.
Later Changes and Recognition
In 1982, Forbes Post Office was featured on a stamp. It was part of a series showing post offices from each Australian state. The clock mechanism became electric in November 1982. This meant it no longer needed manual winding.
In 1984, some small buildings next to the main office were removed. Automatic doors were installed. The building also had general restoration work. This included staining internal wood and painting the outside in heritage colors.
In 1994, the retail area was updated. It received a standard Australia Post look. This included display panels and new carpet.
What the Building Looks Like
Location and Style
Forbes Post Office is on a main corner in the town center. It's a large, two-story building. It's made of brick and painted. Its style is called Victorian Italianate. It also has some Second Empire influences. There's a tall clock tower at the corner. Two-story rows of columns, called colonnades, are on Lachlan and Court Streets.
The only other building on the site is a red brick shed. It's used for bicycles. The area around the Post Office has other old commercial buildings. The streets have trees and wide footpaths.
Main Building Features
The building has a two-story part facing the streets. It also has single-story brick additions at the back. It was restored in the 1980s. It has dark red walls with cream details. The window frames are white.
The roof is mostly hipped and made of corrugated iron. It's hidden behind a decorative wall called a parapet. The clock tower has a special roof called a mansard roof. It has clock faces on each side. A weather vane is at the very top. There are four chimneys on the main roof.
The ground floor colonnade has a concrete floor. It has arched openings with decorative frames. Some openings have iron fences. A ramp was added for access. Some arches on both streets have been filled in with windows.
The first floor colonnade has a cream-painted stone railing. It has a concrete floor. Large lights hang in both the first and ground floor colonnades.
The clock tower has a bell that strikes the hour. The electric clock mechanism is inside the roof. You can reach it by climbing ladders. The windows on the main building are placed evenly.
Inside the Post Office
The ground floor of the Post Office has four main areas. These include the public areas with columns outside. Inside, there's a carpeted retail area. There's also a mail room with post boxes. Other rooms are for staff and contractors.
The ceilings on the ground floor vary. Some are plaster, some are wood, and some are plasterboard. Air conditioning units are on some walls. There are also ceiling fans. The lighting uses fluorescent tubes.
The door frames look original and are in good condition. Most of the original skirting boards are gone. There are modern security doors at the back. Inside, there are four-panel doors with arched windows above them. Windows are usually sash windows.
The ground floor walls are painted brick. Some new walls divide the retail and mail areas. There are curved spaces in the outside walls. The four fireplaces on the ground floor have been filled in. Only two wooden fireplace surrounds remain.
The first floor has three main areas. These include the outside colonnade. There's a tiled bathroom. There are also four rooms, once bedrooms and a sitting room. These rooms are now used for storage.
The ceilings on the first floor are mostly plaster. There are fluorescent lights. No fans or air conditioning are installed upstairs.
The door frames upstairs also look original. Some rooms have a picture rail. The skirting boards appear original.
The first-floor windows are sash windows. There are original French doors in the middle of the Court Street side. Small windows called fanlights are above the doors.
The first-floor walls are painted brick. One wall divides a hot water room and a bathroom. The three fireplaces upstairs have been filled in. Two wooden surrounds and one marble surround remain.
The central staircase has been restored. It has polished wooden posts and railings. The stairs have vinyl flooring. The staircase splits at the top landing.
Signs on the building say "Forbes Post Office". The postcode "2871" is on the Lachlan Street side. There's also a standard Australia Post sign.
Condition of the Building
The outside of Forbes Post Office is in very good condition. The inside of the ground floor is generally good. However, there are signs of dampness in one corner. The second floor is in good condition. But there are cracks in some ceilings. There is also some water damage and peeling paint in one room.
The site might hold old information from previous buildings. This includes the first post office. The outside of the building is still in its original form. Most of the first floor inside is also original. The ground floor has changed a lot over time. Forbes Post Office still has its important features. These include the clock tower, arched walkways, and overall size and style.
Why Forbes Post Office is Special
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Forbes Post Office is important for its history, beauty, and community meaning. It's listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register.
Historical Importance
The Post Office is connected to the start of Forbes town. It's linked to the first mail services in 1861. It's also part of the story of gold discovery in the area. The town's population grew very fast between 1861 and 1863.
This Post Office has been the communication center for Forbes for over 100 years. It shows how telegraph and telephone services grew in the region. The size and style of the building also show the town's growth in the 1870s. It reflects confidence in Forbes' future.
The Post Office also shows how postal and communication services changed in New South Wales. It was designed by the NSW Colonial Architect's Office under James Barnet. He was a key architect of the Victorian Italianate style. His office designed many post offices across NSW.
Beautiful Design
Forbes Post Office is a great example of the Victorian Italianate style. The clock tower's roof shows some Second Empire influence. Its size, style, and location make it a landmark in Forbes. It helps define the town's civic center.
The building is special because it combines a corner tower with two-story arched walkways. It's similar to post offices in Tamworth, Hay, and Yass.
Community Connection
Forbes Post Office is a well-known public building and a local landmark. It has been the communication hub for the town for over a century. It has a long connection with Forbes' mail services. Because of this, it's very important to the community's sense of place.
Potential for Discovery
The site might also contain old information. This could be about previous buildings there. It might include details about the first post office. It could also show how the building and its smaller structures changed over time.
Unique Qualities
Forbes Post Office is an outstanding example of work by the Colonial Architect's Office under James Barnet. It is a strong example of the Victorian Italianate style. It represents the work of the NSW Colonial Architect's Office.
