Goulburn Post Office facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Goulburn Post Office |
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| Location | 165 Auburn Street, Goulburn, Goulburn Mulwaree Council, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1880–1881 |
| Architect | Designed by Colonial Architect James Barnet |
| Owner | Australia Post |
| Official name: Goulburn Post Office; Goulburn Post and Telegraph Office; Post Office | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 22 December 2000 |
| Reference no. | 1424 |
| Type | Post Office |
| Category | Postal and Telecommunications |
| Builders | F Horn |
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The Goulburn Post Office is a historic building in Goulburn, Australia. You can find it at 165 Auburn Street. This important building was designed by James Barnet, who was the main architect for the New South Wales government back then. It was built between 1880 and 1881 by F. Horn.
This post office is also known as the Goulburn Post and Telegraph Office. Today, it is owned by Australia Post. Because of its long history and special design, it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on December 22, 2000. This means it's a protected and very important place.
Contents
History of Communication
Early Postal Services
The first official mail service in Australia began in April 1809. Before that, ship captains just handed out letters, which wasn't always safe. In 1825, a special department was set up to handle mail properly.
By 1828, post offices started opening outside of Sydney. These included towns like Bathurst and Parramatta. By 1839, there were 40 post offices in the colony! As railways grew in the 1860s, mail services expanded even more.
Telegraph and Telephone
The first telegraph line in New South Wales opened in 1858. Telegraph offices needed special equipment, so they were built just for that purpose. In 1870, the mail and telegraph departments joined together. This meant new buildings were designed to offer both services.
In 1881, the first telephone exchange opened in Sydney. Soon, telephones spread to country areas too. The Post Office was in charge of these public telephone services. This made post offices central places for all kinds of communication.
Designing Post Offices
James Barnet became the government's main architect in 1862. Between 1865 and 1890, his office built and looked after 169 post and telegraph offices. These buildings had many different styles. This was because local leaders often wanted unique designs for their towns.
After Australia became a federation in 1901, the national government took over postal services. This continued until 1975, when Australia Post and Telecom were created. Australia Post became a self-funded company in 1989. This led to a change from large, traditional post office buildings to smaller, shop-front styles.
For a long time, post offices offered many community services. They handled mail, acted as banks, and managed voter registrations. The town post office was often a key meeting point. It was usually built in a central spot near other important public buildings.
Goulburn's Post Office Story
First Post Office in Goulburn
The first post office in Goulburn opened on January 1, 1832. This was only three years after the town was founded! The first postmaster was Robert Smith. Mail was delivered from Sydney once a week by mounted police.
By 1848, mail was coming to Goulburn three times a week. In 1856, the first public mailboxes (called "letter receivers") were introduced in Sydney. By 1859, Goulburn had two of these new mailboxes.
Goulburn's Post Office became a full-time official office on September 1, 1862. It was the second busiest country post office in New South Wales, after Bathurst.
A New Building for Goulburn
By the 1870s, Goulburn was a very important regional town. It had become a municipality in 1859 and had grown a lot. In 1869, the railway reached Goulburn. This meant mail could get to Sydney in just seven hours! The town had four newspapers, and a government savings bank agency opened in the post office in 1871. As postal business grew, people started asking for a new, bigger post office building.
In 1878, the Colonial Architect, James Barnet, started planning the new Goulburn office. The building process went smoothly. It was built by a local builder named F. Horn. It officially opened in 1881. The opening was a huge event with parades, bands, and schoolchildren. A public holiday was even declared in Goulburn to celebrate! Everyone loved the new building, and Barnet was praised for his design.
In 1891, the Goulburn Telephone Exchange opened. It was one of only four country exchanges at the time.
Modern Updates
In 1981, the Goulburn Post Office celebrated its 100th birthday. It was then closed for major renovations in 1985-86. The outside was repainted to look like it did in 1881. Inside, the counter area was changed. New offices were created for the postmaster and staff. The first floor was completely redone for Australia Post's regional manager and staff. These renovations cost $870,000, showing how much care was put into preserving this historic building.
Building Features
Outside Appearance
The Goulburn Post Office was built in 1880-81. It's a large, three-storey building with a grand, balanced design. It has a tall, four-and-a-half-storey clock tower right in the middle of its front. The building has a mostly sloped roof, with some flat sections at the back. There are eleven chimneys on the roof, adding to its classic look.
The building is made of brick, covered in a cream-coloured plaster. It has details in light green and apricot, with dark green window frames. It looks like a classical building, with arched doorways and small triangular decorations. The design is perfectly balanced around the central clock tower.
There are two covered walkways on the ground floor at the front. These are on each side of the main entrance. These walkways have red and brown tiled floors.
Inside the Building
The ground floor has four main areas. These include office spaces, staff rooms, a retail area for customers, and mail sorting and storage areas. The ceilings vary, with some being plain and others having more decorative designs.
The walls are mostly painted brick in grey, cream, and apricot colours. The main entrance area has old timber panels. The retail area has a modern look, as it's been updated by Australia Post. Any old fireplaces on the ground floor have been removed.
There are several staircases inside, mirrored on both sides of the building. They are mostly made of polished timber with decorative posts.
The first floor is currently empty. It used to be open office space with some enclosed offices and staff facilities. The ceilings on this floor also vary, with some being plain and others having older, more decorative styles.
The large clock tower can be reached from the first floor by stairs and ladders. The original clock parts have been moved. The clock now works using electricity. The bells in the tower do not chime anymore.
Surrounding Area
The Goulburn Post Office is surrounded by other two-storey commercial buildings. Next to it is the three-storey Town Hall and the grand Goulburn Court House. There are also mature trees along the footpath in front of the Post Office. The back of the building has a concrete yard.
In the back yard, there are a few smaller, single-storey buildings. These include a storage shed and a small electricity building. There's also a carport from the 1980s over a conveyor belt for mail trucks.
Condition and Changes
Building Condition
The Goulburn Post Office is in very good condition overall. There are some small cracks and general wear, but the main structure is strong. The outside of the building is mostly unchanged. The inside has seen some changes over time to meet the needs of a modern post office.
The building still has its important features. These include the arched walkways, the tall tower with its classical designs, and its large size and grand style.
Some newer additions that don't quite fit the original style include a concrete ramp at the front, a public telephone booth, and a large brick Telstra building at the back. Inside, some suspended ceilings and exposed air conditioning ducts are also modern additions.
Updates Over Time
The Goulburn Post Office was completed in 1881. It originally had a driveway going through the middle of what is now the main retail area. This driveway was later filled in.
Major renovations took place in 1985-86. This included repainting the outside. The counter area was changed, and new offices were created for the postmaster and staff. Lighting was added to highlight the building's features. A new loading bay and conveyor belt were built at the back for mail trucks. The first floor was completely redone for Australia Post's staff. A ramp for disabled access was also added during this time.
In the 1980s, a public telephone booth was installed at the front. A steel fire escape was added at the back. The retail area on the ground floor was updated in the mid-1990s with new counters and display panels.
In 1999, the clock tower had new flooring. New clock faces and an electric motor were installed for the clock. The original clock parts are now kept on a lower level of the tower.
Why It's Important
The Goulburn Post Office is very important for its history, its beautiful design, and its role in the community.
Historical Importance
The Goulburn Post Office is connected to the very first mail services in the town, which started in 1832. This means it's part of Goulburn's early development. For over a century, it has been the main communication hub for the city and the surrounding area. Its size and style show how important Goulburn was as a growing regional centre in the late 1800s. The celebrations when it opened also give us a peek into life in Goulburn back then. It also shows how postal and telecommunications services have changed in New South Wales. The building was designed by James Barnet, a key architect of that time.
Beautiful Design
The Goulburn Post Office is a great example of the Victorian Italianate style of architecture. It has fine details and classical designs on its tower. Its large size, grand style, and central location, along with its prominent clock tower, make it a key landmark in Goulburn's main street. It helps define the historic look of the city. Along with the Town Hall and Court House, it forms an important group of public buildings.
Community Connection
As a well-known local landmark and the centre for communications for over 100 years, the Goulburn Post Office is very important to the people of Goulburn. It helps them feel connected to their town's history and identity.
Learning from the Past
The site might also hold archaeological information. This means there could be clues underground about earlier buildings or how the site was used before the current post office was built. This could help us understand more about the history of New South Wales.
A Unique Building
The Goulburn Post Office is a rare example of country post offices in New South Wales. This is because of its grand size, architectural style, and how prominent it is. Even though it has been changed, the original central driveway was an unusual design feature, making the building even more unique.
Part of a Special Group
The Goulburn Post Office is a strong example of the Victorian Italianate style. It is part of a group of 19th-century post offices in New South Wales designed by the Colonial Architect James Barnet.
Images for kids
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Goulburn Post Office
