Stawell Post Office
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| Stawell Post Office | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | 87–89 Gold Reef Mall, Stawell, Victoria, Australia |
| Coordinates | 37°03′22″S 142°46′48″E / 37.0562°S 142.7801°E |
| Official name | Stawell Post Office |
| Type | Listed place (Historic) |
| Designated | 22 June 2004 |
| Reference no. | 105513 |
  Location of Stawell Post Office in Victoria | |
Stawell Post Office is a heritage-listed post office at 87–89 Gold Reef Mall, Stawell, Victoria, Australia. It was designed by Alfred T. Snow of the colonial Department of Public Works and built by Thomas Walker in 1874–75. It was added to the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List on 22 June 2004.[1]
Postal services to the Stawell region began during the late 1850s, with two formal post offices opening at Pleasant Creek (Stawell West) in 1857, and Quartz Reef (Stawell) in 1859. In 1869 the two settlements were joined and the Pleasant Creek Post Office ceased its operations. In 1873 plans were prepared by Department of Public Works' architect Alfred T. Snow for the erection of a more substantial post office building. Works were commenced by Thomas Walker in 1874 and the structure was completed in early 1875 at a cost of £5,501.[1]
In c. 1878, the original corner loggia providing access to delivery and receiving windows was infilled with panelled timber doors and glazed screens, possibly to incorporate the area into the building due to increased space requirements or to provide protection to loggia porch. A postal slip was also installed in principal elevation at that time. In 1905, a telephone exchange was installed and a small rear addition constructed at northwest corner of original building. The southeast corner of the building or original loggia, used as the telephone room by 1923, may have been created at this time.[1]
Extensive internal alterations were carried out in 1923. Ground floor changes included reorientation of the main post office after removing the telephones and associated equipment from the former loggia space. The wall between the former loggia and post office was completely removed, extending the post office to the external wall along Wimmera Street. The works may have included the creation of a second entrance to the public space from the former private side porch in Wimmera Street. A wall between the mail room and post master's office was also demolished, extending the mail room into the original passage. A new telephone switchboard and public telephone is installed in the former "private" room (kitchen wing?), opening onto the mail room. Around this time first floor staff amenities wing was probably added at northwest corner of original building. Alterations also carried out to storeroom and offices in yard and the whole building electrically lit.[1]
The original signage was altered at some stage between 1943 and the 1960s. A general refurbishment in the 1960s included installation of oil heaters and brick surrounds in fireplaces; installation of wallpaper and vinyl tile finishes, and new kitchen joinery to the first floor tea room. A first floor partition was demolished to form one large room in lieu of two smaller rooms, and alterations were made to partitions in southern floor spaces at unknown dates. The date of the construction of the brick offices in the rear yard and the extension of the contractor's area behind the mail room to create post box bays and a lobby, as well as the demolition of the original rear fences and their replacement with brick walls and steel gates is also unknown.[1]
In c. 1995, a disabled access ramp and screen was constructed along front elevation, and the public space was completely reoriented and refurbished including conversion of the north entrance door (original telegraph office entrance) in the principal elevation to a window. An office for the postal manager was constructed within rear mail room area and a partition wall installed within opening between the mail room and post office. An aluminium-framed sliding door was installed in the principal entrance. General interior refurbishment of finishes and fittings including lighting, heating, joinery was also undertaken.[1]
