Scone Post Office facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scone Post Office |
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Scone Post Office, 2015
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| Location | 117 Liverpool Street, Scone, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1879 |
| Architect | New South Wales Colonial Architect's Office under James Barnet |
| Official name: Scone Post Office | |
| Type | Listed place (Historic) |
| Designated | 22 August 2012 |
| Reference no. | 106199 |
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The Scone Post Office is a special old building in Scone, Australia. It's located at 117 Liverpool Street. This building was designed by the New South Wales Colonial Architect's office under a famous architect named James Barnet. It was built in 1879. Today, it's recognized as a very important historical site. It was added to the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List on August 22, 2012.
The Story of Scone Post Office
Early Days in Scone
Scone is a town in the Hunter Valley, north of Sydney. It's a busy center for farming and raising animals, especially horses and cattle. The first European to explore this area was Henry Dangar in 1824. He wrote a good report about the land. This led many wealthy settlers to claim land here.
A small village called Redbank started around 1828. But then, a new road, the Great North Road, changed things. Traffic moved east, and a new settlement began in 1836. This new place had an inn and a store. It was officially named Invermein, but later became known as Scone in 1837.
The town grew slowly in the 1840s. It got a church, a school, and a courthouse. A national school opened in 1863. Then, in 1871, the railway arrived, helping the town grow even more.
Building the Post Office
A telegraph office opened in Scone in 1877. This allowed people to send messages quickly. Just two years later, in 1879, the current post office building was constructed. It was designed by the New South Wales Colonial Architect's office under James Barnet. This building was not just a post office. It also had living areas for the postmaster and their family.
Over the years, the building was changed and made bigger. Around 1908, more additions were made by architect Walter Vernon. In 1914, the Commonwealth Department of Works and Railways added more sections. A small part was added to the Liverpool Street side. In the 1960s, a new single-story section was built. This part created a lobby for post office boxes and more space for staff.
What the Post Office Looks Like
Scone Post Office is a large, two-story brick building. It has a hipped roof, which means the roof slopes down on all sides. It stands on a main corner where Liverpool and Kelly Streets meet. The main entrance faces Liverpool Street. The living quarters used to have their own entrance on Kelly Street.
Outside the Building
The original front porch on Liverpool Street was removed. This made space for a newer section built around the early 1900s. This new part has special brickwork and smooth, rough-textured panels. The main entrance sticks out a little. The front door has a special window above it called a fanlight and windows on the sides. A concrete ramp and steps were added later.
The roof over the balcony is sloped. There's a small decorative gable above the entrance. On Kelly Street, some windows and walls are also part of the early 1900s additions. You can see where the new bricks join the old ones. Some windows have small, shingled roofs over them to block the sun. The windows have rounded tops, but the doors have special, emphasized keystone shapes.
Upstairs, there are three windows spaced evenly. One of these is a "blind window," meaning it looks like a window but is actually a solid wall. This was done to make the building look balanced. The windows have wide sills supported by brackets. The main roof is a double hipped shape with brick chimneys that have flat tops.
Inside the Building
The main post office area on the ground floor has been updated. It now has two counters for customers. You can still see hints of old walls that were removed. There's also a fireplace hidden behind a new wall. The back of the post office has a sorting room, a place for post office boxes, and storage rooms.
The Kelly Street side of the building has a staircase. This area used to be a dining room and a telegraph room. The staircase is made of timber with square newel posts and turned balusters. Upstairs, which used to be the living area, has a landing and four rooms. Two of these rooms open onto what was once an open balcony, but it's now enclosed with glass.
A newer single-story addition on Liverpool Street is set back from the main building. It blends well with the older additions. It has three casement windows and a corrugated steel roof. This part holds a locker room, lunch room, toilets, a retail store, and a small sorting room.
The kitchen area is at the back of the main building. It has a corrugated steel roof. The windows in the kitchen area have special arched brickwork. A door with its original lock leads to a small entry area outside the kitchen. This shows the kitchen was added after the main building. The fireplace is still there, but it's now covered by cupboards. A bathroom and laundry are next to the kitchen.
The backyard is paved with concrete. There's a storage building made of concrete blocks. A fence separates a private garden, which has a steel gate leading to a carport.
Important Parts of the Building
- Its location on a busy corner.
- The original brickwork, arched windows, and special decorative details.
How Well It's Kept
The Scone Post Office is in fair condition. The newer parts added over time are seen as additions that have become part of its history.
Original Building Materials
The building has concrete foundations and floors. Its outside walls are made of brick. The inside walls are timber-framed and covered with plasterboard. The roof is made of timber and covered with corrugated iron. The windows are mostly timber-framed.
Changes Over Time
The original two-story building was built in 1879. The single-story kitchen wing was added later. In the early 1900s (1908 and 1914), more parts were added. This included a single-story section on the corner with an open balcony. Later, a roof was built over this balcony. A small extension was added along Liverpool Street. Around 1960, a large extension was built along Liverpool Street, and the balcony was enclosed.
Why It's a Heritage Site
Scone Post Office is important for its history and its role in the community. For over 130 years, it has been a key public building for postal services. It shows a mix of building styles, combining James Barnet's Victorian design with Walter Vernon's additions from the Federation period. It helps keep the historic look of Scone's old streets.
The important parts of the Scone Post Office include the original 1879 two-story building. This includes the living quarters entered from Kelly Street and the single-story wing on Kelly Street. The additions from 1908 and 1914 are also significant. The longer single-story section added in the 1960s for post office boxes is considered less important.
Scone Post Office was added to the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List on August 22, 2012, because it meets several important rules:
Historical Importance
The Scone Post Office, built in 1879, is very important historically. It has been a vital public and postal building for over 130 years in the center of Scone. It was built after a telegraph office opened in 1877, showing how Scone was growing. Even though it has been changed, the original 1870s building is still clear and stands out. This, along with its size and corner location, makes its history even more significant.
Special Features
Scone Post Office is a great example of:
- A post office and telegraph office with living quarters (a common design from 1870-1929).
- A mix of Victorian Italianate style with significant Federation-era additions.
- The work of famous government architects like James Barnet, Walter Vernon, and George Oakeshott/E. Henderson.
The building is a "second generation" post office. This means it was designed with both postal services and living areas. The changes made during the Federation period, especially to the Liverpool Street side, have altered its original look. However, the first floor still shows how it was used as a home.
Architecturally, it's a blend of styles. The Federation additions were designed to fit well with the older Victorian building. Even with these changes, the original 1870s parts, like its square shape, two stories, and hipped roof, are still easy to see. Some details, like the arched tops over the windows, are special and show a strong Victorian style.
Beautiful Design
Scone Post Office is a large and well-placed historic building. It adds to the beautiful, old-fashioned feel of Scone's streets, which are mostly from the 1800s. Its corner spot allows for great views of the building. The detailed design of the 1870s part is also very appealing.
Community Value
For over 130 years, Scone Post Office has been the main place for local mail and communication. Its important location, its valued historical look, and its role as a well-known public building among other old buildings in Scone make it very important to the community.
