Orange Post Office facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Orange Post Office |
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Orange Post Office, undated
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| Location | 221 Summer Street, Orange, City of Orange, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1877-1879 |
| Architect |
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| Architectural style(s) | Victorian Free Classical |
| Owner | Australia Post |
| Official name: Orange Post Office | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 22 December 2000 |
| Reference no. | 1416 |
| Type | Post Office |
| Category | Postal and Telecommunications |
| Builders | J.Douglas |
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The Orange Post Office is a special old building in Orange, Australia. It's listed as a heritage site, which means it's important to keep and protect. This grand building was designed by the Colonial Architect’s Office, led by James Barnet. It was built by J. Douglas between 1877 and 1879. Today, Australia Post owns it. The building was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 22 December 2000.
Contents
History of Post Offices
Early Mail Services
The first official mail service in Australia started in April 1809. A Sydney merchant named Isaac Nichols became the first Postmaster in New South Wales. Before this, ship captains just handed out mail when they arrived. This system was not very safe or reliable.
In 1825, the government in New South Wales created its own Postmaster General's Department. This meant they could manage mail services themselves, instead of having them run from Britain.
Spreading Across NSW
The first post offices outside of Sydney opened in 1828. These were in towns like Bathurst, Parramatta, and Newcastle. By 1839, there were 40 post offices in the colony. More opened as people settled new areas.
In the 1860s, postal services grew even faster as railways were built across New South Wales. The Postmaster General thought it was important for postmasters to live in the same building as the post office. This made the service more efficient.
Telegraph and Telephone
The first telegraph line in Australia opened in Victoria in 1854. In New South Wales, it started in 1858. Telegraphs sent messages quickly over long distances. Telegraph offices needed special equipment, so they couldn't just be in a local shop.
In January 1870, the Post Office and Telegraph departments joined together. New buildings were then designed to include both services. The first telephone exchange in Sydney opened in 1881. Like the telegraph, telephones soon spread to country areas. The Post Office was in charge of these new communication services. This made post offices even more important in their communities.
James Barnet's Designs
James Barnet became the Acting Colonial Architect in 1862. During his time, many new public buildings were constructed. Between 1865 and 1890, his office built and looked after 169 post and telegraph offices. These post offices were built in different styles, as local leaders often wanted unique designs for their towns.
After Australia became a federation in 1901, the Commonwealth Government took over responsibility for post, telegraph, and telephone services.
For most of its history, the post office did many things for the community. It delivered mail, acted as a bank, handled voting registrations, and provided telegraph and telephone services. The town post office was often a central point, usually built in a key spot near other public buildings. This created a proud civic center in many towns.
Orange's Post Office Story
Early Days in Orange
European settlement in Orange began in the early 1820s. The area was first known as Blackmans Swamp. The village of Orange was officially named and mapped in 1846. The very first post office in Orange opened in 1849. It was located inside a store owned by John Woodward.
Orange's population grew quickly when gold was discovered nearby. This meant more permanent buildings were needed. A second post office was built between 1851 and 1855. The amount paid to the Postmaster grew, showing how much the mail business was increasing.
Telegraph Arrives
The telegraph reached Orange in December 1860. This was six years after it first came to Australia. A Telegraph Station Master was appointed to manage the new service.
When the post office and telegraph services combined in 1870, Charles Cooper was the Telegraph Master in Orange. His wife, Rose Cooper, became the Postmistress. They seemed to work from the same building. In 1877, Charles Cooper asked for more help because he was working very long hours. As a result, he became both Postmaster and Telegraph Master.
Building the Current Post Office
The Colonial Architect, James Barnet, drew up plans for the current Orange Post Office in 1877. He designed it to hold both postal and telegraph services. The building also had space for the District Surveyor and Road Superintendent. The estimated cost was £6,000.
A clock and a tower were added to the design in 1879, costing an extra £395. The clock itself cost £205. The building was finished on 29 December 1879. It officially opened on 10 February 1880.
In 1903, it was decided that the Post Office would take over the entire building. This meant some changes and additions were made. The Road Superintendent moved out, and the Post Office used his section while work was done in the main office. Three rooms upstairs, which had been used by the School of Arts, were also taken over by the Post Office. The telephone switchboard was moved to an upper front room. These changes were finished in July 1904. More additions were made in 1913. Over the years, other changes have happened, like moving a staircase and updating the inside for retail services around 1995.
What the Building Looks Like
The Orange Post Office is a grand, two-storey building with fine details. It's built in a style called Victorian Free Classical. It stands in the middle of Orange's town center, surrounded by other old shops and businesses.
The building is made of stone that has been painted cream and stone colors. It has a mostly hipped and gable roof made of corrugated iron. There's a fancy fence-like structure called a parapet along the front (north) side. A clock with a white and black face is in the center of the front. Above the clock is a broken-apex pediment, which is a triangular shape.
Behind the clock, there's an open bell tower with a pyramid-shaped roof and a decorative weathervane. The main roof has three tall, painted chimneys.
The front of the building has a two-storey verandah. Both levels have arched openings and columns. The ground floor has an open arcade that runs along the entire front. This arcade has arched sections and a central porch with columns. The arches have decorative moldings and prominent keystones.
The building has many different types of columns, both attached to the wall and standing freely. The windows are mostly casement windows with arched fanlights.
Later additions, mostly made of brick, have been built at the back of the building. These include a two-storey brick section and some single-storey brick additions. There's also a newer brick shed for bicycles.
Inside, the ground floor has a carpeted retail area for the Post Office. There are also mail sorting and storage areas, and offices. The ceilings vary, with some having plaster and exposed beams, and others being suspended ceilings. The main staircase to the first floor has been moved during past renovations. The first floor is mostly empty now, but it has a lunch room, locker rooms, bathrooms, and a meeting room.
The building is generally in good condition. While some parts of the inside have been changed over time, the outside still looks much like it did originally. It keeps its important features like the classical front porch, columns, and clock tower.
Why It's Important
The Orange Post Office is important for several reasons:
- Historical Significance: It shows how postal services developed in Orange from 1849. It's linked to the town's fast growth during the gold rush. It also represents the time when post and telegraph services joined together in the 1870s. The building also shows how telephone services were introduced in 1903. It's connected to the work of the Colonial Architect's Office under James Barnet, who designed many post offices in New South Wales.
- Architectural Beauty: It's a great example of the Victorian Free Classical style. Its design, with its arches, columns, and clock, makes it visually appealing. It adds a lot to the historic look of Orange's town center.
- Community Value: As a well-known public building and a center for communication for over a hundred years, the Orange Post Office is very important to the people of Orange. It helps give the community a sense of place and history.
The Orange Post Office was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register because it meets these important criteria. It helps us understand the history of New South Wales, shows great architectural design, and has a special meaning for the community. It also has the potential to teach us more about the site's past. This building is a key part of Orange's history and its beautiful Victorian-era buildings. It was one of the first large regional post offices to use the arcaded design.
