Macksville Post Office facts for kids

The Macksville Post Office is a historic building located at the corner of Cooper Street and River Street in Macksville, Australia. It's a special place because it's listed on the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List. This means it's recognized for its important history and unique design.

A New Post Office for Macksville

The first post office in the Macksville area opened on 1 August 1868. It was originally called the Nambucca Post Office. In 1889, its name was changed to Macksville Post Office.

As more people moved to the area, the old post office became too small. In 1912, plans were made to build a new one. However, there were some problems finding a new spot. By 1915, local people were really pushing for a new building. One resident even said the old post office looked like "a medium sized dog kennel"!

Finally, in January 1917, the Commonwealth Department of Works and Railways was told to build the new post office. This new building opened for business on Monday, 18 February 1918. There wasn't even a big party or ceremony to celebrate!

Designed by the Commonwealth

The Macksville Post Office was designed and built around 1917. It's special because it was one of the first two post offices in New South Wales built entirely by the Commonwealth. This means it was designed by government architects. The main architect was likely E. Ferguson, working under George Oakeshott.

Next to the main building, a small separate building was built for the telephone exchange. Today, this smaller building is used by mail contractors. Over the years, some parts have been added, like a new area for private mailboxes, toilets, and a staff lunchroom.

What the Building Looks Like

The Macksville Post Office is on the southwest corner of Cooper Street and River Street. It's shaped like an "L" and is made of face brick. The building has two main parts that stick out, one facing east and one facing north. Each part has three tall, timber-framed windows. The top part of these windows has six small panes of glass, and the bottom part has one large pane.

Special Details

Above the windows, there's a smooth, decorative band called a frieze. On the side facing Cooper Street, this frieze clearly says "MACKSVILLE POST OFFICE". You enter the building through a covered area called a porch between the two main parts. This porch is held up by two brick columns.

The roof is gently sloped and covered with corrugated galvanised iron. The roof hangs out about 60 centimeters from the walls. This helps to shade the building from the sun. The underside of the roof, called the soffit, is made of timber boards. You can even see the wooden beams, called rafters, that support the roof.

Inside and Out

The part of the building facing the river (north) is where the public can buy stamps and send mail. The part facing Cooper Street (east) is now used as the back office. There are also two ramps made of brick tiles that lead up to the entrance on Cooper Street.

Over time, some new sections have been added to the building. A lunchroom and an area for post office boxes were added later, probably in the 1970s or 1980s. In the backyard, there's an old bicycle shed and a garage used for storage. The postal manager has an office in the back, which has been updated recently.

The old telephone exchange building, which faces River Street, is now used by mail contractors. It's made of timber and needs some repairs.

Building Condition

The Macksville Post Office is in good shape, especially considering how old it is and how its uses have changed.

Outside the Building

From the outside, the building still looks very much like it did when it was first built. Any changes, like new signs or ramps, are small. They don't take away from the overall look of this historic building.

Inside the Building

Inside, not much has changed, especially in the public area. The original ceiling is still there. Even though there are modern shelves and furniture, you can still see the original walls and some old decorative features like the picture rails. One old fireplace is still there, but it's now bricked up. The chimney is also still in place.

The separate building that used to be the telephone exchange is now used by mail contractors. The additions of the private mailbox area, toilets, and lunch space were likely made in the 1980s.

Why It's a Heritage Site

The Macksville Post Office was officially added to the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List on 8 November 2011. It met specific requirements to be listed.

Important History

One main reason it's listed is its historical importance. The Macksville Post Office was built in 1917. It's significant because it was one of the first two post offices in New South Wales (along with Botany Post Office) that was designed by architects working for the Commonwealth Government. Even with some changes, the building still looks like it did in 1917. The small, separate timber building that used to be the telephone exchange is also still there, even though it's not used for its original purpose anymore.