Port Pirie Post Office facts for kids
The Port Pirie Post Office is a very old and important building in Port Pirie, South Australia. It's located on Ellen Street. This special post office was first built in 1880. A famous architect named Edward Woods designed it. Later, between 1905 and 1907, Charles Owen-Smyth added more parts to it. Because of its history and design, it's listed on the South Australian Heritage Register and the Commonwealth Heritage List. This means it's a protected building.
Contents
Why the Post Office is Special
A Building with a Rich History
The Port Pirie Post Office was built in 1880 and made bigger in 1905. This shows how much Port Pirie grew during that time. The town became an important port for farming areas in South Australia. Even as Port Pirie grew more in the 1900s, the post office stayed very important.
Port Pirie became known for its BHP lead smelter, which opened in 1889. By the 1930s, it was the biggest lead smelter in the world! By the 1950s, Port Pirie was South Australia's first big city outside of the capital. The post office, along with other old buildings, helps us understand how the area developed.
Its Unique Design and Look
The Port Pirie Post Office is a great example of a "second generation" post office. This means it was designed to serve a large regional town. It still looks much like it did in 1905. You can even see parts of the very first post office building at the back.
The building's early changes show how much busier it became. It was designed to handle both mail and telegraph services. Even though it has changed inside, you can still see its original layout. The building also had living areas for the postmaster upstairs.
The post office is a bold example of Edwardian Baroque Revival architecture. This was a new style for post offices in South Australia. Government architect Charles Owen-Smyth liked this style a lot. The building is large and looks very important. It fits well with other big buildings nearby, like the old railway station.
A Landmark in Port Pirie
The Port Pirie Post Office stands out on an old street. This street has many strong, important buildings. The post office looks great next to the exciting old railway station. It has a strong presence and fits well with its surroundings.
This building has been a part of the Port Pirie community for over 120 years. It has always provided postal and communication services. This makes it a very important public building with a lot of social value.
History of the Port Pirie Post Office
Early Days and Growth
The first post office in Port Pirie opened in 1873. This was a time when the town was growing fast. Farming in the area was expanding, and Port Pirie was needed as a port. Soon, you could also send money orders and telegrams from the post office.
In 1880, a new, bigger post office building was needed. J Fitzpatrick won the job to build it, and it was finished in December of that year. Port Pirie continued to grow after the BHP lead smelter opened in 1889. This smelter became the world's largest by 1934.
Changes and Additions
The post office itself also changed over time. In 1898-1899, new areas were added for telegrams and banking. Around 1905-1907, a new two-story front was built. This new front had the Edwardian Baroque style. It covered up much of the original 1880 design. The postmaster's living areas were moved upstairs. These upstairs balconies were later enclosed with glass around the 1940s.
A verandah roof was added in 1920 but removed in 1945. In the 1950s, Port Pirie officially became South Australia's first provincial city.
Key Architects
- Edward Woods: Designed the original building in 1880.
- Charles Owen-Smyth: Designed the big additions from 1905-1907.
- Commonwealth Department of Works and Railways: Made changes in 1921-1922.
Timeline of Changes
- 1880: The first single-story post office was built.
- 1899: A telephone exchange was added. New areas for telegrams and banking were also built.
- 1905-1907: A new two-story front was added. This included the postmaster's living quarters upstairs. It also had two arched openings for the main postal hall.
- 1919-1922: A triple-arched iron verandah was added (removed in 1945).
- Around 1940s: The upstairs balconies were enclosed.
- 1945-1956: A separate house was bought for the postmaster. This meant the living areas were no longer needed in the post office building.
- 1966: A new storage area and toilet were added. A new mail room was built on the south side. The upstairs area became a lunch room and staff facility.
- 1970s: Staff areas were updated.
- 1981: Major updates were made inside and outside. A new post box area and entrance were created.
- 1996: A new loading dock, a ramp for disabled access, and updates to the post shop were done. The front ground floor was changed to add more post boxes. The main entrances were moved.
What the Post Office Looks Like
The post office is in the main business and civic area of Port Pirie. It's next to the old railway station and the old customs house. The railway used to run right in front of the building until about 1937.
The main part of the post office is an old stone building from 1880. It had fancy stone corners and arched windows. From Ellen Street, the Port Pirie Post Office looks like a two-story building. It's made of brick with a smooth finish. It has a central part that sticks out slightly.
The central area now has open spaces on either side. These create a continuous walkway in front of the private letter boxes. The north side has the main entrance to the post shop. The south side has a covered walkway leading to a newer part of the building from the 1960s.
On the second floor, the areas that were once open balconies are now enclosed with windows. The building has tall, decorative pillars connecting the two floors. The north side of the building steps down from two stories at the front to one story at the back. This back part has a special roof that lets light in.
How Well Preserved is the Building?
When seen from the street, the Port Pirie Post Office looks very much like it did in 1905. Even though parts of the inside have changed, the building still shows its original purpose. You can see its unique style and how it was designed for both mail and telegraph services. Its connection to the nearby important buildings and the port also helps tell its story.
Inside, many changes have been made over the years. This means it's harder to see the original layout and how it was first used, especially on the ground floor. However, the first floor is much more original in its layout and features, even though it has been updated.
Overall, the building seems to be in good condition. There are a few cracks in the walls and some water leaks on the first floor.
Why is this Building Important to Australia?
The Port Pirie Post Office is listed on the Commonwealth Heritage List for several reasons:
- History and Development: It shows how Port Pirie grew from a small port to a major city. It played a key role in the town's economic growth, especially with the lead smelter.
- Architectural Style: It's a great example of an Edwardian Baroque Style post office. It was designed by a well-known government architect, Charles Owen-Smyth. It's one of the first grand buildings of this style in South Australia.
- Beauty and Location: It's a beautiful and important building on a historic street. It fits well with other important buildings in Port Pirie's main business area.
- Social Value: For over 120 years, this building has served the community by providing postal and communication services. It's a well-known public building that people in Port Pirie have used for generations.
