Old Wollongong East Post Office facts for kids

The Old Wollongong East Post Office is a special heritage building in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. It used to be a post office, telegraph office, and telephone exchange. The NSW Colonial Architect's Office designed it, and it was built between 1890 and 1892. Before 1968, people also knew it as the Wollongong Post and Telegraph Office or Wollongong Post Office. This building was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on January 24, 2003, because of its important history and design.

History of Communication in NSW

Early Postal Services

The first official postal service in Australia started in April 1809. Before this, sending mail was not very safe or reliable. In 1825, the government created the Postmaster General's Department. This helped to organize mail delivery better.

By 1828, the first post offices outside of Sydney were opened. These included places like Bathurst and Parramatta. As more people settled across the colony, more post offices were built. By 1839, there were forty post offices in New South Wales.

In the 1860s, postal services grew even more with the expansion of the railway network. Postmasters often lived in the same building as the post office. This was important for keeping mail safe.

Telegraph and Telephone

Electric communication, or the telegraph, came to New South Wales in 1858. The first telegraph lines connected the Sydney GPO to other areas. In 1870, the postal and telegraph departments joined together. New buildings were then built to offer both services.

The first telephone tests in Sydney happened in 1878. By 1881, the first telephone exchange opened in Sydney. The telephone system quickly grew and spread to country towns. Post offices were often in charge of these public telephone exchanges. This made them even more important for communication in communities.

After Federation in 1901, the Australian Government took over all post, telegraph, and telephone services. Over time, different government departments managed the construction of post offices.

In 1975, the Postmaster General's Department was replaced. This led to the creation of Telecom Australia (now Telstra) and Australia Post. Later, Australia Post became a self-funding company. This meant they started using smaller, shop-front style post offices instead of large, traditional buildings.

For a long time, post offices offered many services. These included mail, banking, and electoral registrations. They were often a central point in towns, built in important locations near other public buildings. Telecommunications have been key to connecting Australia and helping its economy grow.

Wollongong's Post Office Story

Wollongong had a postal service since 1832. Its first government post office was built around 1864 in Market Street. This building was an extension of the telegraph office, which had arrived in Wollongong in 1862. When the post and telegraph services combined in 1870, the building was extended to hold both. In 1882, the Market Street office was rebuilt with a new look and a second floor.

By 1888, local leaders thought the existing building was too small and not in the best spot. They decided to sell it and build a new, larger office in a more central location. The chosen site was next to the Wollongong Town Hall on Crown Street.

Construction of the new office began in 1890. The Colonial Architect, James Barnet, finalized the plans. The builders, Messrs Banks and Whitehouse, completed the two-storey building on October 28, 1892. The ground floor had areas for postal services, money orders, and telegraphs. It also had a dining room, kitchen, and laundry. The first floor was the postmaster's home, with five bedrooms and a living room.

One interesting job of the post office was timekeeping. A signal from Sydney would cause a metal disc on the roof to lower. People on Flagstaff Hill would see this and fire a cannon at one o'clock! The disc is no longer there, but a flagstaff is in its place.

Over the years, the building changed. In 1914, the left side was extended for a new telephone exchange. Rooms were rearranged for a new public area and mailroom. In 1918, the public entrance moved forward, and a large general office space was created. An awning was also added to the front.

Around 1940, an annex was built for new public telephones. In 1968, a new main post office opened in Upper Crown Street. The historic building then became known as the Wollongong East Post Office.

In 1988, Australia Post spent a lot of money restoring the building. They removed the old awning and added a smaller canopy. Inside, they made more public space and added many private mailboxes. The post office continued to operate until October 2000. Today, the building houses a cafe and offices for different businesses.

Building Description

The Wollongong East Post Office is a very noticeable building on Crown Street. It was finished in 1892 and is a two-storey building made of stone that looks like smooth blocks. It is built in the Victorian Free Classical style.

The top floor has a hipped, tiled roof. There are four chimneys on the roof. The front of the building is mostly the same on both sides. It has a balcony on the first floor with a stone balustrade and pillars. There is also a coat of arms in the middle. A modern steel and glass awning is now over the front entrance.

The front of the building has simple, square pillars separating the ground and first floors. There are triple timber sash windows on each side of the central part. The pillars on the first floor have more detailed tops. The building has decorative bands of stone and a fancy cornice below the top wall. The current colors are an earthy yellow base, light brown body, and darker brown details.

The building has been changed quite a bit, especially on the ground floor. The back of the building, which used to be U-shaped with a veranda, is now enclosed. The eastern side was extended for telephone operations. A new entrance and access to post boxes were added on the western side. Many changes have also been made inside, like removing walls.

The main public entrance is at the front center. There is another entrance through the western extension. The steps at the front are concrete.

Inside, the ground floor has three main areas. These include the retail area and offices, the mailroom and sorting area, and staff facilities. The ceilings are mostly smooth plaster with decorative cornices. Lighting is usually modern fluorescent lights. There are also air-conditioning ducts throughout the building.

Many original features remain, like the window frames and some baseboards. The windows on the upper floor are original timber sash windows. The French doors leading to the balcony also seem original. The walls are mostly painted stone. Some fireplaces are still there, with one having a marble surround.

All signs about it being a post office have been removed, except for the stone coat of arms on the first-floor balcony. The area around the post office has mostly two to multi-storey shops and offices. The post office is next to a two-storey Victorian building and a visitors' center. The back yard is now used for car parking.

Condition and Changes

The building was in good condition in 2001. However, some paint was peeling inside, and some wood was rotting in a back addition. The outside of the building is mostly the same as it was built. The inside has changed a lot, especially on the ground floor. This was to create larger public areas and mail facilities. The first floor has changed less, so more of its original features remain.

The Wollongong East Post Office still has its important features, like its overall style, shape, and size. It is in fair to good condition, with some cracks in the ceilings and walls, and minor water damage.

Main Changes Over Time

The building was completed in 1892. It had offices, a telegraph office, public space, and a residence for the postmaster.

• 1914: The eastern side was extended for a new telephone exchange. The front of the ground floor was also rearranged.
• 1918: More work was done at the front. The front entrance area was enclosed. The mailroom and public space were moved. An awning was added to the front.
• Around 1940: A stone annex was built on the western side for public telephones. Other changes included enclosing the back of the building.
• 1988: Australia Post restored the building. They removed the 1918 awning and put in a smaller, modern canopy. More post boxes were added on the western side.

In 1968, the building was renamed Wollongong East Post Office. This happened when a new main post office was built elsewhere. The post office closed in October 2000.

Why This Building is Special

The Wollongong East Post Office is important for its history, its beautiful design, and its meaning to the community.

It has been a center for communication in Wollongong for over a hundred years. It shows how postal, telegraph, and telephone services grew in New South Wales. The building also reflects how Wollongong grew in the late 1800s, needing better services for its people.

This building was one of the last post offices designed by the Colonial Architect's Office in 1890 under James Barnet. He was a very important architect who designed many post offices in the Victorian Free Classical style. The building was finished when Walter Liberty Vernon was the Government Architect.

The Wollongong East Post Office is a great example of the Victorian Free Classical style. It is a striking public building in central Wollongong East. Its size, style, and location make it a landmark on Crown Street. It helps give the street its special character.

Because it has been a central place for communication for so long, it is very important to the Wollongong community's sense of place.

The Wollongong East Post Office is part of a group of specially designed post offices from the 1800s in New South Wales. These were all designed by the Colonial Architect's Office. Even though it's smaller than some, it's a wonderful example of its kind.

Images for kids

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  Undated photo of former Wollongong East Post Office