Ingham Post Office facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ingham Post Office |
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Ingham Post Office, circa 1935
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| Location | 15 Lannercost Street, Ingham, Shire of Hinchinbrook, Queensland, Australia |
| Built | 1935 |
| Official name: Ingham Post Office | |
| Type | Listed place (Historic) |
| Designated | 22 August 2012 |
| Reference no. | 106200 |
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The Ingham Post Office is a special old building located at 15 Lannercost Street in Ingham, Australia. It was built in 1935 and is considered a very important historical site. Because of its history and unique design, it was added to the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List on 22 August 2012.
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History of the Ingham Post Office
Ingham is a town in Queensland, about 116 kilometers north of Townsville. The area around Ingham, called the Herbert River region, was first explored in 1864. Settlers began arriving in 1869 to grow crops like sugar, cotton, and coffee.
Mail services started in Ingham in 1871. The very first post office building, which also included a home for the postmaster, was built in 1875. At that time, mail was brought in by steamboat from Cardwell and by horse from Townsville.
In 1879, the person running the post office also became in charge of the telegraph station. A telegraph station allowed people to send messages over long distances using electrical signals. The town was officially named Ingham in 1882.
Over the years, mail, telegraph, and telephone services grew. By 1908, a main telephone exchange was set up. By 1910, the Ingham area had many sugar plantations and mills, with the Colonial Sugar Refining Company (CSR) being a major player. The sugar industry helped the town grow.
The current Ingham Post Office building was constructed in 1935. It was built on the same spot where the older timber post office stood. It's even possible that some parts of the original 1875 building are still hidden at the back of the current one!
After World War II, the sugar cane industry in the area grew even more. Around 1957, a new section and an L-shaped verandah (a covered porch) were added to the east side of the 1935 post office building.
What the Ingham Post Office Looks Like
The Ingham Post Office is located at 15 Lannercost Street, close to the main road through town, the Bruce Highway. It's a standalone building with a nice garden area at the front. On one side, it has a modern red brick office building, and on the other, a smaller bank.
The building has a unique shape, with two covered porches on the corners and a main front section that sticks out. The roof is made of corrugated iron. The porches have strong square columns that support a lighter roof edge. A metal fence runs between these columns and down the concrete steps at the entrance.
The front of the post office has a special design with three main windows. Above these windows, there's a decorative sunhood. The back of the building is covered with timber weatherboards. Over the years, some new additions like timber steps, railings, and a ramp for people with disabilities have been added.
You can enter the main retail shop through the original side porches. Inside, there's a long hallway that leads to offices, storage rooms, and staff areas. A section at the back of the building, which might be from the original 1875 post office, has old-style timber walls and doors. The larger mail sorting room and post office box area on the east side were added after 1957.
Key features of the building include:
- Its freestanding shape.
- The original design with a central front section and two side porches.
- Smooth, plastered walls and decorative features like the porch columns.
- Decorative metal screens and railings in the lower areas.
Building Changes Over Time
The Ingham Post Office has changed quite a bit since it was first built. The original design had two porches on either side of a central postal hall. This design likely allowed for separate areas for mail and telegraph services.
Over the years, parts of the building have been changed or covered up. For example, the retail shop area was made bigger, a loading dock was added, and the mailroom wing was extended. These changes have made the building more useful for modern postal services.
The original 1935 building is still mostly visible from the street, especially the front and west side. The newer parts, like the extended east wing, show how the building has continued to be used and adapted over time.
Timeline of the Building
- 1875: The very first post office in Ingham opened.
- 1935: The current Ingham Post Office building was constructed. Some parts of the 1875 timber post office might have been kept at the back.
- 1957: A new mailroom wing was added to the east side. The telegraph services were moved to a new building built in the same year.
- Around 1995: A new steel-framed storage area was added at the back for bikes, a forklift, and a loading dock.
- Around 1995: The retail area inside the post office was updated with the standard Australia Post look.
Why It's a Heritage Site
The Ingham Post Office is listed on the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List because it's an important part of Australia's history and has special architectural features. The listing mainly covers the original 1935 part of the building. Newer additions, like the east wing built after 1957, are not included in the heritage listing.
Historical Importance
The Ingham Post Office was built in 1935. It was designed by the Commonwealth Department of the Interior. It's one of many post offices built in Queensland during the years between World War I and World War II. These buildings helped provide important services to towns and regional centers.
The post office was built on the site of an even older post office from 1875. This shows how important the location has been for postal services over a long time. The building is also part of the main civic area of Ingham, near the Shire Chambers and Library, which adds to its historical value.
Unique Design and Style
The Ingham Post Office is a good example of a "third generation" retail post office, built between 1930 and 1974. These types of post offices started to focus more on retail services, had separate areas for telephone exchanges, and larger areas for post office boxes.
The original design of the Ingham Post Office, with its two porches and central postal hall, showed these new features. Even though later additions changed its original shape, they still helped improve the post office box area and mailroom.
The building's style is called "Neo-Georgian" or "Colonial Revival." This style is a bit old-fashioned for the time it was built, but it gives the post office a strong and important look in the town. It's one of the last post offices in Australia built in this style.
Aesthetic Qualities
The Ingham Post Office has a pleasing look, especially its main front section facing Lannercost Street. The Colonial-style verandahs and porch entries add to its charm and make it stand out in the area.
