Matakohe Post Office facts for kids
The former Matakohe Post and Telegraph Office was once a very important building. It opened in 1909. For many years, people in Matakohe used it to send letters and telegrams. It also helped them make phone calls. The office closed in 1988. A year later, in 1989, the Kauri Museum bought the building. They moved it next to the main museum complex on Church Street, Matakohe. Now, it shows how people used to communicate. It is a special historic building. Heritage New Zealand listed it as a Category 2 Historic Place in 1984.
Contents
History of the Matakohe Post Office
Why Matakohe Needed a Post Office
In 1907, the people of Matakohe really needed a post office. They asked their local Member of Parliament, John Stallworthy, for help. A Member of Parliament is someone elected to represent people in the government. Mr. Stallworthy spoke to the Postmaster-General. This person was in charge of all post offices in the country.
In July 1907, Mr. Stallworthy got a reply. The Postmaster-General said a post office could be built. But, the people of Matakohe had to provide the land. The land needed to be at least 40 feet wide and 80 feet deep.
Building the New Office
By November 1907, money was set aside for the new office. About £600 was planned for the Matakohe Post and Telegraph Office. In March 1908, companies were asked to bid for the building job. By May, the company Radcliffe and Burton won the contract. Their bid was £749.
Construction started in June 1908. The exact finish date is not known. However, by 1909, the post office was open and providing services. The building was made of timber. It looked like a residential villa, which is a type of house.
Inside the Post Office
The front of the building had a porch. This led to the public area, which was about 10 feet by 9 feet. A large counter separated the public from the mailroom. The mailroom was 15 feet wide and 21 feet long. It even had a fireplace!
The office also had a manual telephone exchange. This is where calls were connected by hand. There was a public telephone area too. Other rooms included a kitchen, a bathroom, and some smaller buildings outside.
The Office Closes and Reopens as a Museum
In the 1980s, the government changed how postal services worked. Many post offices were closed. In 1988, 432 post offices shut down. The Matakohe branch was one of them.
In 1989, the Kauri Museum bought the building. They moved it from its original spot. The museum then fixed it up. Now, it holds a display of old postal and communication items. You can see historic pictures there too. They even put in models of how postal workers used to look!
