Kempsey Post Office facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kempsey Post Office |
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Kempsey Post and Telegraph Office
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| Location | Belgrave Street, Kempsey, Kempsey Shire, New South Wales, Australia |
| Architect | Colonial Architect's Office under James Barnet |
| Owner | Australia Post |
| Official name: Kempsey Post Office | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 22 December 2000 |
| Reference no. | 1420 |
| Type | Post Office |
| Category | Postal and Telecommunications |
| Builders | Gabriel and McMorrine (original construction) Hocking Brothers (1903–4 addition) |
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The Kempsey Post Office is a special old building in Kempsey, New South Wales, Australia. It's located on Belgrave Street. This important building was designed by the Colonial Architect's Office under a famous architect named James Barnet. It was built by Gabriel and McMorrine, and later additions were made by Hocking Brothers. Today, Australia Post owns the building. Because of its history and beautiful design, it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 22 December 2000.
Contents
History of Postal Services
Early Mail in Australia
The very first official mail service in Australia started in April 1809. A merchant named Isaac Nichols became the first Postmaster in the colony of New South Wales. Before this, ship captains would deliver mail directly, which wasn't very safe or reliable.
In 1825, the government created the Postmaster General's Department. This meant postal services were now managed from Australia, not Britain.
Growing Postal Network
By 1828, the first post offices outside of Sydney opened. These were in places like Bathurst, Parramatta, and Newcastle. By 1839, there were 40 post offices across the colony. As more people settled in new areas, more post offices were built.
From the 1860s, the railway network helped postal services grow even faster. In 1863, the Postmaster General said it was important for postmasters to live in the same building as the post office.
James Barnet's Designs
James Barnet became the Acting Colonial Architect in 1862. During his time, from 1865 to 1890, his office built and looked after 169 post and telegraph offices in New South Wales. Barnet believed that different towns liked different building styles.
Building new post offices continued even during tough economic times in the 1890s. After Australia became a federation in 1901, the Commonwealth Government took over all post, telegraph, and telephone services.
Modern Postal Services
In 1975, the old Postmaster General's Department was replaced. Two new organizations were created: Telecom (for phones) and Australia Post (for mail). In 1989, Australia Post became a self-funded business. This led to changes, like moving towards smaller, shop-front style post offices.
For a long time, post offices offered many services. They handled mail, acted as banks, helped with voting registrations, and provided telegraph and telephone services. The town post office was often a central point, built in a main spot near other public buildings.
History of Kempsey Post Office
Early Days in Kempsey
Europeans first settled in the Kempsey area in the 1830s. In 1836, a man named Enoch Rudder started selling land for a town he called Kempsey. This area, along with a growing timber industry, helped the town grow.
The first Postmaster for Kempsey was appointed in August 1843. The first post office opened on 1 September. From 1843 to 1859, the Kempsey office was in East Kempsey. Then, in 1859, it moved to West Kempsey, into a new store owned by Miss E. P. Dangar.
Telegraph and New Buildings
In May 1870, the first telegraph line reached Kempsey. The Telegraph Office was in West Kempsey, but it was in a separate building from the Post Office.
By 1875, people wanted a proper Post Office building in West Kempsey. There was some confusion because there were three post offices: Kempsey, West Kempsey, and East Kempsey. By 1878, it was suggested that the Kempsey and East Kempsey offices should close. All mail would then go to the new West Kempsey office.
In 1880, the Kempsey Post Office and Telegraph Office joined together. By 1882, this combined office was very busy. A postal inspector said the only government land for a new office was near the wharf, which was risky during floods. So, they rented a building from Mrs. Mary Smith for £40 a year.
Building the Current Post Office
The government set aside £2,500 for a new post office. Mrs. Smith offered to sell a piece of land for £600. This land was next to the wharf area. Even though there were some issues with the land size, Mrs. Smith's site was eventually bought.
The Colonial Architect's office, led by James Barnet, drew the plans. The builders, Gabriel and McMorrine, were chosen to construct the building for £2,679. The new post office was finished and opened on 23 March 1886. The people of Kempsey were so happy they sent a telegram to the government to say how impressed they were!
The two-storey building had the Post Office, a drawing room, dining room, four bedrooms, a bathroom, and a clock tower. A ball was placed on top of the clock tower to signal when steamers arrived at the wharf. However, it broke within five months and was replaced by a flagstaff. The clock itself was installed later, in 1892.
In 1903, £489 was spent to make the public area of the Post Office bigger. A new room was added to the north side of the building with a street door. In 1908, the Kempsey Manual Telephone Exchange opened in the Post Office.
Major Changes Over Time
In 1927, the building had a big renovation costing £5,496. The original entrance was changed, and the front of the office became an entrance lobby with private mailboxes. The telephone exchange moved to its own room. This gave more space for the postal area and public space. New rooms were built for batteries, power, bathrooms, a bike shed, and a storeroom. A new staircase led to offices upstairs.
From 1927 to 1981, only small repairs were done. In 1981, Kempsey Post Office became a "Distributing Post Office" (DPO). This meant it would sort and send out local mail, connecting with Sydney for next-day delivery. Because of more staff and mail, the DPO moved to a separate building in October 1983.
In the same month, the Post Office building was reorganized. The public space was made larger, and offices were moved around. New floor coverings were laid, and the building was repainted. The DPO closed in July 1988, and its buildings were then used by the Kempsey Post Office for extra space.
Building Design
The Kempsey Post Office is built in the Victorian Italianate style. It has a grand, balanced look with a three-storey clock tower at the corner. The building is made of red brick, but the front ground floor is covered in cream-painted plaster that looks like stone blocks. The sides and back are red brick.
The roof is green corrugated steel, and the clock tower has a pyramid-shaped roof. The clock tower has four clock faces with white numbers and hands on a black background. The two-storey part of the building has three cream-painted brick chimneys with terracotta pots.
The ground floor on the western side has three arched openings, like a covered walkway, with red clay tiles on the floor. The first floor is red brick with decorative corners and a wide band below the windows. The corner tower has arched windows on the first floor and red-painted areas around the clock faces. There is a concrete ramp and stairs leading to the front.
The southern side is red brick with cream-painted lines at window and roof level. There's another concrete ramp here, leading to the post boxes inside a tiled porch.
The Kempsey Post Office has been changed and added to over time. The main building was built first, then a single-storey part was added to the north around 1904. Around 1927-28, another single-storey wing was added to the east. Later, a separate timber building was added along the northern side.
Inside, the ground floor has a retail area with counters and display panels. The rest of the ground floor is used for mail sorting, storage, and offices. The ceilings are made of plaster or timber. There are modern lights and air conditioning ducts. The walls are mostly painted brick.
The main staircase is not original and is made of polished timber. The first floor has the Postal Manager's office, storage rooms, and a large lunchroom. There are also modern toilets. The ceilings on the first floor are different styles, and there are modern lights and air conditioning. Many of the window frames are original.
The Post Office is on a very important corner in Kempsey, near the Macleay River bridge. It stands out in the street and is surrounded by other shops. There are plants and trees around the building, along with seating, a fence, bins, and a phone booth. Lights are set up to shine on the clock tower at night.
The building is in good condition, though some paint is peeling, and there are signs of wear inside. The site might have old remains from previous buildings, like a hotel that was there before.
Even with changes, the Kempsey Post Office still has its important features. These include the tall tower, the arched walkway, the plaster walls, and the mix of brickwork. Its overall style, size, and location make it very special.
Changes Over Time
- 1886: The original building was completed. It included the Post Office, living areas, and a clock tower. The first entrance was on the western side of the tower.
- 1888: A flagstaff was put on the tower, replacing a ball that announced steamers.
- 1892: The clock was installed in the tower.
- Around 1904: Additions were made, likely including the single-storey part to the north, making the public space larger.
- 1917: Plans show outbuildings like toilets and a horse shelter.
- 1927-1928: Major changes included creating the front covered walkway, moving the internal stairs, and building the eastern wing for the telephone exchange and other rooms.
- Around 1960s: A timber addition for staff facilities and storage was built.
- 1982-1983: The retail counter area was rearranged, and repairs were done.
- 1985: Air conditioning was installed.
- Around 1990s: Australia Post updated the retail area, and concrete ramps were likely added.
Heritage Listing
The Kempsey Post Office is important for its history, beautiful design, and what it means to the community. It is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register.
Why it's Important
- Historical Significance: The Post Office is linked to the very first mail services in Kempsey, which started in 1843. For over a century, it has been the main communication hub for the town. Its changes show how postal and telecommunications services have grown in New South Wales. Even its brief time as a "Distributing Post Office" in the 1980s is historically important. It was designed by James Barnet, a key architect of the Victorian Italianate style.
- Beautiful Design: The Kempsey Post Office is a great example of the Victorian Italianate style. Its use of plaster and brickwork, along with its tall corner tower, makes it stand out. Its size, style, and location make it a landmark in the center of Kempsey.
- Community Connection: As a well-known public building and a local landmark, the Post Office has been central to the town's communication for over 100 years. It has a strong connection with Kempsey's postal services, making it very important to the community's sense of place.
- Potential for Information: The site might hold archaeological clues about its past, like the hotel that was there before, or how the Post Office building changed over time.
- Unique Features: The Kempsey Post Office is a particularly fine and special example of the Victorian Italianate architectural style in New South Wales.
- Part of a Group: It is one of many 19th-century post offices in New South Wales designed by James Barnet's Colonial Architect's Office.
Images for kids
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Kempsey Post Office, Smith Street, July 2021
