Redfern Post Office facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Redfern Post Office |
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Redfern Post Office, c. 1890
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| Location | 113 Redfern Street, Redfern, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1881–1883 |
| Architect | Designed by the Colonial Architect’s Office under James Barnet |
| Architectural style(s) | Victorian Italianate |
| Owner | Australia Post |
| Official name: Redfern Post Office | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 22 December 2000 |
| Reference no. | 1439 |
| Type | Post Office |
| Category | Postal and Telecommunications |
| Builders | Goddard and Pittman |
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The Redfern Post Office is a special old building in Redfern, a suburb in Sydney, Australia. It used to be a home but now it's a post office. This building is important because of its history and unique design. It was designed by the Colonial Architect’s Office, led by James Barnet, and built by Goddard and Pittman. Today, Australia Post owns it. The building is so important that it's listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register.
Contents
A Quick Look at Redfern's History
Redfern was once a place with sand hills and swamps. The Cadigal people, who lived there first, found lots of food in the area. The name Redfern comes from William Redfern, who received land there in 1817. Before that, it was known as Roberts Farm and Boxley's Swamp.
In the 1850s, most houses in Redfern were made of timber. Many market gardeners, including Chinese gardeners, worked in the area. Other businesses, like tanneries, moved to Redfern and Waterloo because of a law that banned noisy trades from the city. By the late 1850s, Redfern was a busy suburb with 6,500 people.
Redfern became its own local government area, called a municipality, on August 11, 1859. The Redfern Town Hall opened in 1870, and the Albert Cricket Ground in 1864. The Redfern Post Office opened in 1882. The Eveleigh Railway complex, which opened in 1886, became one of the biggest employers in the state. By the end of the 1800s, Redfern was a working-class area with many factories.
How Postal Services Grew in Australia
The first official postal service in Australia started in April 1809. Isaac Nichols, a merchant in Sydney, became the first Postmaster. Before this, ship captains delivered mail, but it wasn't very reliable. In 1825, the government created a Postmaster General's Department to manage mail services.
By 1828, post offices opened outside Sydney in towns like Bathurst and Parramatta. By 1839, there were forty post offices. In the 1860s, postal services grew even more as railways spread across New South Wales. Postmasters often lived in the same building as the post office.
Telegraph and Telephone Services
The first telegraph line in New South Wales opened in 1858. Telegraph offices needed special equipment, so they were built as separate buildings. In 1870, the postal and telegraph departments joined together. New offices were then built to offer both services.
In 1881, the first telephone exchange opened in Sydney. Like the telegraph, the telephone system soon reached country areas. The Post Office was in charge of these public telephone services, making it a key part of the community.
James Barnet and Post Office Design
James Barnet became the Acting Colonial Architect in 1862. Under his leadership, many public buildings were constructed, including 169 post and telegraph offices between 1865 and 1890. These post offices were built in different styles, as local leaders often wanted unique designs.
Even during the Depression years, new post offices continued to be built. After Federation in 1901, the Australian Government took over postal, telegraph, and telephone services.
In 1975, the Postmaster General's Department was replaced by new groups, including Telecom and Australia Post. In 1989, Australia Post became a self-funded company. This led to a change from large, traditional post office buildings to smaller, shop-front styles.
For a long time, post offices offered many services. They handled mail, acted as banks, managed voter registrations, and provided telegraph and telephone services. The town post office was often a central meeting point, usually built in an important spot near other public buildings.
The Story of Redfern Post Office
Redfern started to grow into a suburb in the 1840s and 1850s. The first railway in Sydney ended in Redfern, which helped the area grow even more. Redfern became a municipality in 1859. Between 1851 and 1891, Redfern's population nearly doubled every ten years.
The first post office in Redfern opened on July 1, 1856, on Pitt Street. Like most early post offices, it was in a rented building. In 1871, a government savings bank opened at the Redfern Post Office. In c. 1875, the ability to send money orders was added, making Redfern an official Post Office. This led to calls for a government-owned post office building.
Building the New Post Office
In August 1878, the local council asked the government to build a new post office. A piece of land was bought on Redfern Street for the new building. It cost about A£15 per foot.
In November 1878, a postal inspector visited the site. The Colonial Architect's Office was then asked to draw up plans for the new office. The plans included a telegraph office, living rooms, bedrooms, a kitchen, and stables. The estimated cost was A£3,000.
The Public Works department later added a clock tower to the design, costing an extra A£700. Goddard and Pittman won the bid to build it for A£3,692. The Redfern Post Office was finished by January 29, 1883, and opened on January 31.
Later, a new telephone exchange room was added in 1904. Around c. 1915, a separate Telephone Exchange building was built next door. It was designed to look similar to the Post Office.
Around c. 1938, the dining room and kitchen of the original residence were changed into a mail room. This meant some original features, like fireplaces, were removed. The building has had other changes over the years, including a new roof and the removal of chimneys around the c. 1950s.
What the Redfern Post Office Looks Like
The Redfern Post Office is a famous building in the Redfern area. It stands on an important corner, facing towards the city. Built in 1882, it's a two-storey building in the Victorian Italianate style. It has a tall, four-and-a-half-storey clock tower at the corner. The building is made of brickwork covered in a smooth finish. It has a red-tiled hipped roof and no chimneys anymore.
The clock tower has four clock faces on its fourth floor. Below them are single windows. We don't know if the original clock parts are still inside.
At the back of the building, there are three newer, single-storey additions. One of these has the men's bathroom.
There are three entrances on the ground floor. The floors of these entrances have modern red tiles. The building is painted in tan and maroon colours, with dark green window frames. The ground floor has fancy arched details with prominent keystones and pilasters. The windows are tall, arched timber sash windows.
Inside the Post Office
The ground floor inside has four main areas: the retail area (where you buy stamps) and office areas, and mail rooms and staff facilities. The ceilings are made of different materials, and many have peeling paint. There are large lights and air conditioning ducts. Some original doors and skirting boards are still there. The walls are painted masonry. The main staircase has original timber posts and railings.
The first floor used to be the residence and is now empty. It has different types of ceilings, many painted green. This floor still has many original features and its layout is mostly the same. Some original windows and doors are also still there.
Signs for Australia Post are on the outside. The words "Redfern Post Office 1882" are above the arched windows on the northern side.
The buildings around the Post Office are mostly two to multi-storey shops, offices, and homes. Next to the Post Office is a tall Telstra building and the old telephone exchange, which matches the Post Office's style. These buildings enclose the concrete yard behind the Post Office.
Condition of the Building
As of August 2000, the Redfern Post Office was in very good condition. The outside of the building looks much like it did originally, with some changes at the back. The inside has changed more, especially on the ground floor, to create larger public areas and mail rooms. However, the first floor still has many original parts. The building still has its important features, like the tall corner clock tower and its overall style.
Changes Over Time
The original Post Office had two floors, with a home on the upper floor. It's possible that parts of the original building were open colonnades that have since been filled in.
- Around c. 1938: The dining room and kitchen were changed into a mail room. Fireplaces and a central wall were removed. A porch was added at the eastern end.
- After 1938: A single-storey section at the back was removed.
- Around the c. 1950s-60s: The original slate roof was replaced with red tiles. Chimneys were removed, and fireplaces were closed up.
- Recently: The post boxes from the western side porch were removed.
The building is in very good condition, but the paint inside is peeling badly. There might be old things buried under the concrete yard from earlier uses of the site.
Why Redfern Post Office is Important
Redfern Post Office is important for its history, its beautiful design, and what it means to the community.
- Historical Importance: It's connected to the early postal services in Redfern, which started in 1856. It shows how Redfern grew quickly in the late 1800s and needed better services. It has been the main place for communication in the area for over a hundred years.
- Design Importance: It's a great example of the Victorian Italianate style. It's a grand 19th-century public building that adds a lot to central Redfern. It was designed by James Barnet's office, who was a key architect of this style. The building's size, style, and location, especially its clock tower, make it a landmark.
- Community Importance: It's a well-known public building and a local landmark. It has been the communication hub for the area for over a century. Because of this, it's important to the Redfern community's sense of place.
The Redfern Post Office was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on December 22, 2000, because it met several important criteria.
Demonstrating History
The Post Office shows the history of Redfern's early development and the growth of postal services. It reflects the fast population growth in the late 1800s, which led to a need for better services. It has been the communication center for the community for over a century. Along with the old Telephone Exchange building next door, it helps us understand how communication services grew in New South Wales.
Showing Creative Achievement
The Redfern Post Office is a strong example of the Victorian Italianate style. It's a large, important public building that adds beauty to central Redfern. It's similar in style to post offices in Kempsey, Hay, and Forbes, but Redfern is bigger. Its size, style, and the prominent clock tower make it a focal point and a landmark in Redfern.
Community Connection
As a prominent public building and local landmark, the Redfern Post Office has been the center of communication for the area for over a century. This makes it very important to the Redfern community's sense of identity.
Potential for Information
The site might contain archaeological information about its past uses and how the building changed over time.
Rare or Unique Aspects
The Redfern Post Office is a particularly strong example of the Victorian Italianate style. Its large size gives the tall corner clock tower an unusual importance. The old Telephone Exchange next door also seems to be mostly unchanged, and it's a rare example of early 20th-century exchange buildings.
Principal Characteristics
The Redfern Post Office is one of many 19th-century Victorian Italianate post offices in New South Wales designed by the Colonial Architect's Office under James Barnet.
