Inglewood Post Office facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Inglewood Post Office |
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| Location | 885 Beaufort Street, Inglewood, Western Australia, Australia |
| Official name: Inglewood Post Office | |
| Type | Listed place (Historic) |
| Designated | 8 November 2011 |
| Reference no. | 106134 |
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The Inglewood Post Office is a historic building found at 885 Beaufort Street in Inglewood, Western Australia. It is a significant landmark in Western Australia, Australia. This building was added to the Commonwealth Heritage List on 8 November 2011. This listing means it is recognized and protected for its historical and architectural importance.
Contents
A Look Back: The Post Office's History
The Inglewood Post Office was built between 1947 and 1949. It was constructed by the Commonwealth Department of Works and Housing. Since it opened in 1949, the building has been updated. New sections were added for postal services and shops.
Around the 1980s, the building's inside was renovated. It became a modern retail post office. This included new entry doors and updated areas for customers. The postal area was also refreshed to match Australia Post's standard design.
What the Post Office Looks Like
The Inglewood Post Office is located at a busy corner. It sits where Beaufort Street and Ninth Avenue meet. Nearby, you can find the Inglewood Centre and Library. The area around the post office has also been updated with new brick paths.
This post office is part of the Beaufort Street shopping area. This area connects suburbs like Northbridge and Mount Lawley. These suburbs first grew during the time of the Federation. Beaufort Street leads towards important places like the museum and art gallery.
Unique Building Design
The post office has a very elegant and modern look. Its design was influenced by styles from the 1930s and 1940s. The front of the building, facing Beaufort Street, is made of two flat brick walls. These walls are a reddish-brown colour.
A light concrete trim sits on top of these walls. There is also a concrete "hood" that sticks out. This hood covers the main window of the post office. At one end, this hood goes into a small covered area. This area is called an alcove. It is next to the main entrance for customers.
Inside the Post Office
The side alcove provides a covered entrance to the post office. Customers enter through an automatic glass sliding door. The main retail shop inside is a simple rectangular shape. The counter where you get service is at one end.
The inside walls have been updated with standard Australia Post shelving. This shelving hides the long window along Beaufort Street. Behind the main counter, there is an office and a storage room. These parts were added in the 1980s. A short ramp from here leads to the mail sorting area. This area is practical, with a concrete floor and painted walls.
The rest of the building stretches out to the north. It runs alongside Ninth Avenue. This part includes a narrow lobby for post office boxes. It also has three shop spaces and a steel roof over the pavement. This section is built with concrete walls and a metal roof.
How Well It Has Been Kept
The outside of the building still looks very much like its original design. Even though new parts were added, the main flat design is still clear. The original brick walls and the special concrete details are still there.
The inside of the building has been completely updated. New shelving covers the original windows. Overall, the building seems to be well cared for and in good shape.
Why It's a Heritage Site
The Inglewood Post Office was officially listed on the Commonwealth Heritage List on 8 November 2011. This means it is recognized as an important part of Australia's history.
The Inglewood Post Office is special for several reasons:
- It's a good example of a retail post office from the 1930s to 1970s.
- It shows the "Postwar International" or early Modern style of architecture from the 1940s to 1960s.
- It's an example of work done by the Commonwealth Department of Works and Housing.
Important Features of Its Design
The Inglewood Post Office is an early example of a post office with a separate area for post office boxes. This area is part of the main building and can be accessed 24 hours a day. Often, post offices had to add these box areas later. But at Inglewood, the post office box area was designed as part of the building from the start. It is very close to the main postal room.
The outside of the Inglewood Post Office is quite unique among post offices built after 1945. It is considered one of the most elegant post office fronts from the 1940s and early 1950s in Australia. It is also an important example of Modern Movement design. This is because not many government buildings from this time still exist. It was one of the first truly Modern Movement post offices designed by the Commonwealth Department of Works. Its design focused on clean lines and flat surfaces. The Inglewood Post Office has also been lucky to have only small changes to its Beaufort Street front.
The building still has a lot of its original look. This includes the materials used and the outside design.
