Wellington Post Office facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wellington Post Office |
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Wellington Post Office in the Federation Arts and Crafts style, pictured in 2008
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| Location | 21 Maughan Street, Wellington, Dubbo Regional Council, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1869–1904 |
| Architect | James Barnet (NSW Colonial Architect) |
| Architectural style(s) | Federation Arts and Crafts |
| Owner | Australia Post |
| Official name: Wellington Post Office | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 22 December 2000 |
| Reference no. | 1415 |
| Type | Post Office |
| Category | Postal and Telecommunications |
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The Wellington Post Office is a special old building in Wellington, Australia. It's listed as a heritage site, meaning it's important to history. This post office is located at 21 Maughan Street. It was designed by the Colonial Architect’s Office, led by James Barnet. The building was constructed between 1869 and 1904. Today, Australia Post owns it. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on December 22, 2000.
Contents
How Postal Services Began in Australia
Early Mail Delivery
Imagine a time when sending a letter was tricky! The first official mail service in Australia started in April 1809. A merchant named Isaac Nichols became the first Postmaster in Sydney. Before this, ship captains just handed out mail. This system wasn't very safe or reliable.
In 1825, the government in Australia took over managing mail. They created the Postmaster General's Department. This department used to be run from Britain.
Growing Postal Network
By 1828, post offices started opening outside of Sydney. Places like Bathurst and Parramatta got their own offices. By 1839, there were 40 post offices across the colony. More offices opened as people settled new areas.
In the 1860s, postal services grew even faster. This was because the railway network began to spread across New South Wales. Postmasters often lived in the same building as the post office. This made sure mail was always safe and handled properly.
Telegraph and Telephone Arrive
The first telegraph line in New South Wales opened in 1858. Telegraphs allowed messages to be sent quickly over long distances. Telegraph offices needed special equipment. They couldn't just be set up in any local shop.
In 1870, the postal and telegraph departments joined together. New buildings were then built to handle both services. The first telephone exchange in Sydney opened in 1881. Soon, telephones also reached country areas. Post offices became central hubs for all types of communication.
Famous Architects and Post Offices
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 buildings came in many different styles.
Construction of new post offices continued under Walter Liberty Vernon. He was the Colonial Architect from 1890 to 1911. Even during the Depression years, many post offices were built.
After Australia became a federation in 1901, the Commonwealth Government took over. They became responsible for all post, telegraph, and telephone offices.
Modern Post Office Services
In 1975, the Postmaster General's Department changed. It was replaced by the Post and Telecommunications Department. This led to the creation of Telecom (now Telstra) and Australia Post.
In 1989, Australia Post became a self-funded company. This meant they started managing their properties differently. They moved from large, traditional buildings to smaller, shop-front style post offices.
For a long time, post offices offered many services. They distributed mail, acted as banks, handled voter registrations, and provided telegraph and telephone services. The town post office was often a key part of the community. It was usually built in a central spot, near other important buildings.
The Wellington Area
Early History of Wellington
Before Europeans arrived, the land around Wellington belonged to the Wiradjuri people. Their land stretched from the Great Dividing Range to the Macquarie, Lachlan, and Murrumbidgee rivers. These rivers were important for travel and trade. The Wiradjuri people moved between river areas in summer and drier spots in winter.
You can still find signs of the Wiradjuri people in the Wellington area. These include rock shelters, carved trees, and ceremonial grounds. The name "Nubrygyn" comes from an Aboriginal word, "Lubrygee." It means "junction of the two creeks."
European Exploration and Settlement
The first Europeans to explore this area were led by John Oxley. He was the Surveyor-General. In 1817, he discovered the Wellington Valley. He named the Bell and Macquarie rivers. Oxley called the valley "The Vale of Tempe" after the Duke of Wellington.
In 1823, the first convict settlement west of the Blue Mountains was set up near the Bell River. This settlement was used for raising cattle. It closed in 1832. Wellington became a town in 1849. The railway arrived in 1880. By World War I, about 3,000 people lived there.
Wellington's First Post Office
The first post office in Wellington opened on April 1, 1838. It was run by William Turner. At first, the post office operated out of private homes. These were in Montefiores, across the river from Wellington.
Mail delivery was sometimes dangerous in the early days. Bushrangers often held up mail coaches. In 1840, the mail coach to Wellington was robbed twice! By 1848, mail ran from Penrith to Bathurst three times a week. It then went to Wellington and Molong once a week.
In 1862, Cobb & Co. extended their coach service to western New South Wales. They took over the mail contract for Wellington. Bushranging continued to be a problem, especially after gold was discovered in the 1850s. Both the Orange to Wellington coach and the Bathurst coach were robbed in March 1864. Gold brought thousands of miners to the area. This created a boom period in the 1850s and 1860s.
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Building the New Post Office
In 1868, the people of Wellington asked the government for a new post office. Tenders were called for a Post and Telegraph building in November. William Moffatt won the contract. The new building would house both post and telegraph offices. These had been separate since the telegraph arrived in Wellington in 1862.
The new building was finished on October 12, 1868. It was located on Maughan Street, close to the town center. The telegraph office moved into the new building. A branch of the Government Savings Bank also opened there in 1871. However, the post office itself stayed in a private home until 1872. This was because the postmaster, Thomas Croft, was also the telegraph master. He was often away fixing telegraph lines. Residents signed a petition in 1872 asking for the post office to move into the new government building.
The post office finally moved into the new building in 1872. It stayed there until 1904. In 1900, it was decided that a new post office was needed. It was too hard to keep fixing the old one. Plans were made for a new building. It would have a 30 square foot office, a mail room, and a telegraph room. There would also be a residence with a living room, sitting room, and five bedrooms.
In 1902, it was decided to renovate and extend the old building instead. This cost £1,200. A temporary office was rented while the work was done. The new post office was finished on February 8, 1904. It cost £1,391.7s.0d. It opened on March 26, 1904, by Postmaster General Sir Philip Fysh.
The new office was an extension of the 1868 building. It was built to the north of the original. Matching bricks were used. A kitchen block was added at the back. There were also stables, a store, and toilets in the backyard. A picket fence surrounded the property.
In March 1905, the Wellington Telephone Exchange opened inside the post office. A trunk line to Sydney became available in January 1906.
The building has changed over time. Verandahs were filled in during the mid-20th century. A bathroom was added upstairs in the 1970s-80s. Post boxes were added to the west side in the 1980s.
What Does the Post Office Look Like?
The Wellington Post Office is in an area with other important brick buildings. These include the Court House and a Telstra building. The post office is surrounded by shops and businesses from the late 1800s and early 1900s.
The post office is a two-storey building made of red brick. It has changed a lot since it was first built in 1868. The original part was a single-storey telegraph office and residence. It was built in the Victorian Georgian style.
A two-storey section was added to the north in 1904. This part is in the Federation Arts and Crafts style. It has a complex hipped corrugated iron roof. There are brick chimneys with terracotta pots on the roof.
There are also additions at the back and on the western side. These include weatherboard and steel sheet infills on the western verandahs. There are also post boxes and rear awnings.
The front of the building is symmetrical. It has a two-storey verandah. The ground floor has five wide arched openings. These arches are supported by painted sandstone and brick pillars. The first-floor verandah has timber posts and a timber balustrade.
Inside, the ground floor has four main areas. These include the retail area, offices, mail rooms, and toilets. The ceilings are made with different materials. Lighting includes fluorescent lights and air conditioning.
Many original features remain, like door frames and skirting boards. Some doors are original four-panel doors. Windows on the front have fixed lights and arched fanlights.
The main staircase is straight with a landing. It is carpeted and has polished timber posts. The first floor has two former bedrooms and a tiled bathroom. The walls are painted in different colors.
The building has "Wellington Post Office" written across the front. There is also a standard Australia Post sign. Around the building, there are large trees, grass, and garden beds.
Outbuildings include the former stables and a kitchen block. The stables roof still has some original slate under the current iron cladding.
Condition and Changes
As of 2001, the Wellington Post Office was in very good condition. It still has most of its original structure from both building phases. The post office keeps its important features. These include the large round arches, prominent roof, and arcaded porch. Its location and style make it a landmark in Wellington.
What Has Been Changed?
- 1869: Original single-storey building for Telegraph Office and residence. Stables and kitchen block likely built then.
- 1872: Post office moved into the Maughan Street Telegraph Office.
- 1904: Two-storey section added to the north, with residence upstairs.
- 1950s-60s (approx): Western and rear verandahs filled in with weatherboard. Toilets added.
- 1970s-80s (approx): First-floor bathroom added. Ground floor southern room divided into storage rooms.
- 1980s (approx): Western post box addition and concrete loading dock built.
- 1990s (approx): Standard Australia Post retail fitout on the ground floor.
Some parts that don't fit the original look include the western dock and post office box addition. Also, the modern bathroom upstairs is in an original bedroom.
Why is Wellington Post Office Important?
The Wellington Post Office is very important for its history, beautiful design, and community value. It shows how the town developed over time.
It's linked to the first post office built in 1838. It also shows how communication services grew in the area in the late 1800s. The two building phases reflect Wellington's growth. The decision to extend the old building instead of building a new one shows the economic situation at the time.
The post office also shows how postal and telecommunications practices changed in New South Wales. It's rare to find stables connected to old post offices that are still around.
The Wellington Post Office is also important because of the famous architects involved. Both James Barnet and Walter Liberty Vernon from the Colonial Architect's Office worked on it.
Unique Design and Landmark Status
The Wellington Post Office is special because it combines two different architectural styles. The original part is in the simple Victorian Georgian style. The 1904 addition is in the Federation Arts and Crafts style. These two styles work well together and look very appealing. The addition has unique features like its prominent roof, slender chimneys, and large arched openings.
Because of its style and location, the post office is a focal point in Wellington. It stands out as a landmark. Its design also matches the nearby courthouse.
Community Connection
As an important public building and a communication center for over a century, the Wellington Post Office is very meaningful to the community. A petition from 1868 shows how much the local people valued a reliable postal service.
What Else Can We Learn?
The site might hold archaeological information. This could tell us more about how the site was used before. It could also reveal details about the original 1868 post office and its outbuildings.
Rare Features
The Wellington Post Office is uncommon because it includes large parts of the early 1860s post office. It's also unusual for combining two distinct architectural styles so well. The 1904 addition changed it from a small building into a more prominent public landmark.
It shows the main features of both the Victorian Georgian and Federation Arts and Crafts architectural styles. The 1904 addition is a strong example of the Federation Arts and Crafts style. It also represents the work of both the Colonial Architect's Office and the NSW Government Architect's Office.
Images for kids
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Wellington Post and Telegraph Office in the Victorian Georgian style, undated.
