Tenterfield Post Office facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tenterfield Post Office |
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The Tenterfield Post Office, June 2010
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| Location | 225 Rouse Street, Tenterfield, Tenterfield Shire, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1881– |
| Architect | NSW Colonial Architect's Office under James Barnet |
| Architectural style(s) |
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| Owner | Australia Post |
| Official name: Tenterfield Post Office & Quarters | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 17 December 1999 |
| Reference no. | 1315 |
| Type | Post Office |
| Category | Postal and Telecommunications |
| Builders |
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The Tenterfield Post Office is a special old building in Tenterfield, Australia. It's located at 225 Rouse Street. This building is important because of its history and unique design. It was designed by the NSW Colonial Architect's Office under James Barnet. The building was constructed starting in 1881. Today, Australia Post owns it. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on December 17, 1999, meaning it's protected for its historical value.
Contents
A Look Back: Tenterfield's Mail History
The very first official mail service in Tenterfield began on January 1, 1849. Over the years, many different people ran the post office from various places.
Tenterfield's Role in Communication
Tenterfield became very important for mail and telegraphs in 1861. It was set up as the last "repeating station" between Sydney and Brisbane. A repeating station helped send messages over long distances. It would receive a message and then send it on to the next station. This made sure messages could travel far without getting lost.
Building the Current Post Office
Plans for a new post office building started in 1876. However, those plans changed. A new site was bought, and fresh plans were made in 1878. The building we see today finally opened in 1881. The famous clock on the tower was finished a bit later, between 1891 and 1892. Some big repairs were done to the building in 1894 and 1895.
What Does the Post Office Look Like?
The Tenterfield Post Office is a two-story building. It has a grand style called Victorian Italianate. This style often includes fancy details and arched windows.
Key Features of the Building
The building has a single-story covered walkway with arches, called a colonnade. It also has a tall, three-story clock tower. The clock tower has a special roof style called a Victorian Second Empire mansard roof. This type of roof has a unique shape with slopes on all sides.
The windows on the upper floor are arched. The roof is made of corrugated iron. The clock tower has clock faces on all four sides. At the top of the tower, there's a small walkway with an iron fence, called a widow's walk. The living quarters for the postmaster are entered from the side street through a covered porch, or verandah.
How Good is its Condition?
As of December 1999, the building was in good physical condition.
Changes Over Time
The post office has had some repairs and changes. Major repairs happened in 1894-1895. We don't know exactly when an addition was made to the front of the building on Rouse Street.
Why is it a Heritage Site?
The Tenterfield Post Office and Quarters is considered very important. It's a great example of the work done by the Colonial Architect's Office under James Barnet. Its unique design, with the corner tower and French-style roof, makes it stand out. It's one of the grandest and most noticeable buildings in Tenterfield. It's also a big part of the town's social history. It sits among other important buildings like the School of Arts, a hotel, and several shops.
What Makes it Special?
The Tenterfield Post Office was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register because it meets several important rules:
- It shows how history unfolded: It was a key "repeating station" for mail between Sydney and Brisbane in 1861. It also shows the work of famous architect James Barnet.
- It's beautiful and well-designed: It's a large building with Victorian Italianate and Second Empire styles. Its tall tower makes it a landmark in Tenterfield.
- It's important to the community: The Post Office is a big part of Tenterfield's history and how the community feels about their town.
- It could teach us more: The site might hold clues about how the area was used before and during the Post Office's time.
- It's a good example of its kind: It represents many other post offices in New South Wales. It also shows the typical work of Colonial Architect James Barnet.
