Hay Post Office facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hay Post Office |
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| Location | 120 Lachlan Street, Hay, Hay Shire, New South Wales, Australia |
| Architect | Designed by the Colonial Architect’s Office under James Barnet. |
| Owner | Australia Post |
| Official name: Hay Post Office | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 22 December 2000 |
| Reference no. | 1441 |
| Type | Post Office |
| Category | Postal and Telecommunications |
| Builders | E Noble and Co under the management of RW Duncan. |
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The Hay Post Office is a historic building located at 120 Lachlan Street in Hay, Australia. It was designed by the Colonial Architect's Office, led by James Barnet, and built by E. Noble and Co. Today, Australia Post owns this important building. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on December 22, 2000, meaning it's officially recognized as a place of special historical value.
Contents
History of Hay and Postal Services
Early Days of Hay
The area around Hay was first explored by Charles Sturt in 1829. By the late 1830s, people started settling here with their livestock. The spot where Hay now stands was known as Lang's Crossing-place. It was a key river crossing on the Murrumbidgee River for a major stock route. This route led to markets in Victoria, especially during the Victorian gold rush.
In 1858, steamboats began traveling up the Murrumbidgee River to Lang's Crossing-place. This helped the area grow. By October 1859, the town was officially named "Hay." It was named after John Hay, a wealthy local politician. Hay became an important center for the Riverina region.
How Postal Services Grew in NSW
Australia's first official postal service started in April 1809 in New South Wales. Before this, ship captains delivered mail, which wasn't always reliable. In 1825, a Postmaster General's Department was set up. This made mail delivery more organized.
By 1828, the first post offices outside of Sydney opened. More offices appeared as settlements spread across the colony. The railway network also helped postal services grow in the 1860s. It became important for postmasters to live at the post office.
Telegraph lines, which sent messages quickly, started in NSW in 1858. At first, post offices and telegraph offices were separate. But by 1870, they joined together. New buildings were then designed to include both services. The first telephone exchange in Sydney opened in 1881. Soon, telephones also reached country areas, with post offices managing these services. This made post offices even more central to communities.
James Barnet became the Acting Colonial Architect in 1862. His office designed and maintained many post offices across NSW between 1865 and 1890. These buildings came in different styles. Later, Walter Liberty Vernon continued building post offices, even during tough economic times in the 1890s.
After Australia became a federation in 1901, the Commonwealth Government took over postal services. This included post, telegraph, and telephone offices. In 1975, the Postmaster General's Department changed. It was replaced by the Postal and Telecommunications Department, which led to the creation of Telecom and Australia Post.
For a long time, post offices offered many services. They handled mail, acted as banks, managed voter registrations, and provided telegraph and telephone services. They were often built in important spots in town, becoming a focal point for the community.
Hay's Own Post Office
Hay grew around Langs Crossing, a key spot for moving cattle. Captain Francis Cadell first asked for a post office in the late 1850s. His request was initially turned down. Officials wanted to wait until Hay was an official town.
Once Hay was officially named in 1859, postal service began. The first postmaster, Robert Neilson, worked out of Cadell's store. In 1862, a new brick extension was built next to the store just for the Post Office.
A telegraph station opened in Hay in April 1864. Eventually, the post office and telegraph services started operating from the same government-owned building. This was a big step for communications in Hay.
In 1876, the Government Savings Bank opened a branch inside the Hay Post Office. This showed how important the office was becoming. People soon suggested building a new, bigger Post and Telegraph office. The town council chose the site of the existing office, next to the old lock-up.
In 1881, E. Noble & Co. won the bid to build the new office. It cost £3,030. The new building, designed by Colonial Architect James Barnet, was finished and opened by December 18, 1882.
In 1890, a clock from the Bathurst Post Office was placed on the balcony. But it didn't work well. So, in July 1901, a new clock tower was built. It had a new four-faced clock and an hour bell. This tower was possibly designed by Walter Liberty Vernon's office.
In 1974, the Post Office was renovated and restored. Public telephone boxes were added. The building was recognized by the National Trust of Australia (NSW) in 1979. In 1988, it was repainted, and a pergola was added at the front.
Building Features
The Hay Post Office was built in 1882 on the main street of Hay. It's a two-story building in the Victorian Italianate style. This means it has features like arches and decorative details, similar to Italian Renaissance buildings. A tall, three-story clock tower stands on its northeastern corner.
The building is made of brick. The front and corners are covered in a smooth, rendered finish, painted cream and grey. The rest of the two-story section is exposed brick. There are also newer additions at the back.
The main roof is U-shaped and covered with slate tiles. The clock tower has a pyramid-shaped metal roof with a pointed top. Three chimneys rise from the roof, adding to its classic look.
The Clock Tower
The clock tower has four clock faces, one on each side, with black numbers on a white background. The tower also has decorative details like fish-scale shingles and arches. The bell in the tower rings every hour, now controlled by an electric motor.
Front Design and Inside Areas
The front of the Hay Post Office has a beautiful two-story arcade. An arcade is a row of arches. On the ground floor, there are five large arches facing Lachlan Street. Above them, on the first floor, are smaller, paired arches. The ground floor arcade is open, with modern brown tiles. It has a wrought-iron gate at one end. This arcade connects to an area with public post boxes and telephone booths.
Inside, the ground floor has several main areas. These include offices, a retail area for postal services, a mail room, and post boxes. The retail area has a wooden ceiling. The walls are mostly painted masonry.
The main staircase in the middle of the building looks original. It has polished wooden posts and a shaped handrail. This staircase leads up to the first floor.
The first floor has a lunch room, a conference area, and staff bathrooms. These areas have vinyl flooring and plasterboard ceilings. Many original features, like French doors and windows, are still there.
Outside Area
The Post Office sits back from the street, creating a forecourt. This area has paving, planter boxes, seating, and a pergola over the footpath. There are also decorative pillars and wrought-iron gates at the entrance to a nearby laneway.
The buildings around the Post Office are mostly commercial. These include the Westpac Bank and the Department of Land and Water Conservation building. The Post Office has "Hay Post Office" written on its front, with the royal insignia "ER" above it. There's also a modern "Australia Post" sign.
The large yard behind the building has concrete and bitumen. It separates the Post Office from the Telstra building at the back. A tall telecommunications tower is also visible behind the Telstra building.
The Hay Post Office is in very good condition. While the inside has been changed for modern use, many original features remain.
Changes Over Time
The original two-story building opened in 1882.
- In the mid-1880s, a fence and stables were added.
- A clock was put on the first-floor arcade in 1890.
- The corner clock tower was built in July 1901, with a new four-dial clock and bell.
- In 1974, major renovations and restoration took place. This included adding telephone booths on the southern side.
- Around 1988, the Post Office was repainted, and a pergola was built at the front.
- In the 1980s or 1990s, a large, modern brick mailroom was added at the back.
Some modern additions, like an aluminum grille in the lunchroom and exposed air conditioning ducts, are noticeable. A large telecommunications tower also stands to the west of the building.
Why Hay Post Office is Important
The Hay Post Office is important for several reasons. It's recognized at a state level for its history, beautiful design, and its meaning to the community.
Historical Importance
The Post Office is connected to the early development of Hay. It's linked to the first postal services that started in 1859, the same year Hay became an official town. It has been a vital communication center for the Riverina area, providing telegraph and telephone services as they developed. The size and style of the building also show how important Hay was as a major center in the late 1800s. It also shows how postal and telecommunications services have changed over time in NSW.
Design and Architecture
The Hay Post Office is a great example of the Victorian Italianate style of architecture. It adds a lot to the main street of Hay. It's also a strong example of the many post offices designed by James Barnet, the NSW Colonial Architect. The building's size, style, and location, along with its clock tower, make it a local landmark in Hay. Its round arched arcades are similar to those found on the Forbes Post Office.
Community Connection
The Hay Post Office is a well-known landmark in the town. It has been the center of communications for over a century. Because of this, it's very important to the Hay community's sense of place and identity.
Potential for Discovery
The site of the Hay Post Office might hold archaeological information. This could tell us more about how the site was used before, especially when it was the location of the old gaol.
Unique Features
The Hay Post Office is a particularly fine example of James Barnet's work. It has an unusual front design. The clock tower is also an interesting example of a later addition from the Federation period that fits well with the older Victorian building. It shows the main features of Victorian Italianate architecture and represents the work of Colonial Architect James Barnet on post offices across NSW.
