General Post Office, Brisbane

Last updated

General Post Office
Brisbane
General Post Office seen from Post Office Square, Brisbane, February 2020.jpg
General Post Office, Brisbane, 2020
General Post Office, Brisbane
Alternative namesGPO
General information
TypePost Office
Architectural style Neoclassical architecture
Location Brisbane central business district
Address261 Queen Street, Brisbane
Current tenantsAustralia Post
Construction started1871
Inaugurated28 September 1872
Owner Australia Post
Height50 feet (15 m)
Technical details
Structural systemBrick and stone
Floor count2
Design and construction
Architect(s) F. G. D. Stanley
Main contractor John Petrie
References
General Post Office History

The General Post Office (abbreviated: GPO) in Brisbane, Queensland, in Australia is a heritage-listed post office located at 261 Queen Street in 1872 and extended through to Elizabeth Street in 1908. It is still in use by Australia Post. Opposite the GPO building is Post Office Square.

Contents

History

Architectural plans for the Brisbane GPO, 1872 General Post & Telegraph Offices, Brisbane, erected 1872.jpg
Architectural plans for the Brisbane GPO, 1872

The first full-time postmaster in Brisbane was J. E. Barney in 1852. [1] In 1862, the first Postmaster-General for the state of Queensland Thomas Lodge Murray Prior was appointed. A small convict era building was used as for postal services but was too far from the telegraph office. The Postmaster-General choose a half hectare site which was centrally located. [1]

The GPO in 1931 StateLibQld 1 115272 Brisbane General Post Office, Queen Street, 1931.jpg
The GPO in 1931

The building already located at the Queen Street site which once hosted women convicts was demolished in 1871. [1]

Freestone and bricks were sourced from local materials. The GPO was opened on 28 September 1872. In 1873, the Queensland Museum was housed in the General Post Office building, but moved in 1879 to the William Street building. In the same year a second wing, which was constructed by John Petrie was completed which allowed the telegraph office to move to the building, pleasing business customers.

The building features deep verandahs and high ceilings. A clock mounted in the pediment positioned above the main entrance was once illuminated by a gas powered light. It was replaced by a smaller, electric clock. [1] The first typewriter to be used in any post office in any Australian city was used at the GPO in 1892. [1] Stamps and money orders were once available to customers outside the building via windows are now closed. [1]

The building has been listed on the Brisbane City Council Heritage Register. [2]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central railway station, Brisbane</span> Railway station in Brisbane, Queensland

Central railway station is located on the North Coast line in Queensland, Australia. It is the principal station on the City network and is located in the north of the Brisbane central business district. Central station is one of four inner city stations that form a core corridor through the centre of Brisbane.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albion, Queensland</span> Suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Albion is an inner north-eastern suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Albion had a population of 2,296 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kangaroo Point, Queensland</span> Suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Kangaroo Point is an inner southern suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Kangaroo Point had a population of 8,063 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Annerley</span> Suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Annerley is a suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Annerley had a population of 11,336 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woolloongabba</span> Suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Woolloongabba is a suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Woolloongabba had a population of 5,631 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brisbane central business district</span> Suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Brisbane City is the central suburb and central business district of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. It is colloquially referred to as the "Brisbane CBD" or "the city". It is located on a point on the northern bank of the Brisbane River, historically known as Meanjin, Mianjin or Meeanjin in the local Aboriginal Australian dialect. The triangular shaped area is bounded by the median of the Brisbane River to the east, south and west. The point, known at its tip as Gardens Point, slopes upward to the north-west where the city is bounded by parkland and the inner city suburb of Spring Hill to the north. The CBD is bounded to the north-east by the suburb of Fortitude Valley. To the west the CBD is bounded by Petrie Terrace, which in 2010 was reinstated as a suburb.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Petrie Terrace, Queensland</span> Suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Petrie Terrace is an inner suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Petrie Terrace had a population of 1,124 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queen Street, Brisbane</span> Street in Brisbanes CBD

Queen Street is the main street of Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, Australia. It is named after Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.

Newmarket is a north-west suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Newmarket had a population of 4,979 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Street, Brisbane</span> Street in Brisbane, Queensland

George Street is a major street located in the Brisbane CBD in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salisbury, Queensland</span> Suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Salisbury is a southern suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Salisbury had a population of 6,290 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ann Street, Brisbane</span> Street in Brisbane, Queensland

Ann Street runs parallel to Adelaide Street and is the northernmost street in the Brisbane CBD in Queensland, Australia. The street is named for Anne, Queen of Great Britain, as part of the CBD street naming series of female British royalty. It is a major thoroughfare, linking as a four-lane one-way street the suburb of Fortitude Valley in the northeast with the Riverside Expressway in the southwest; house numbers run the opposite direction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward Street, Brisbane</span> Street in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Edward Street is a busy thoroughfare in the Brisbane central business district, Queensland, Australia. It is a one-way street located between Albert Street and Creek Street, and runs from Upper Edward Street to Alice Street. It is named after Edward VII of the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">General Post Office, Sydney</span> Historic building in Sydney, Australia

The General Post Office is a heritage-listed landmark building located in Martin Place, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The original building was constructed in two stages beginning in 1866 and was designed under the guidance of Colonial Architect James Barnet. Composed primarily of local Sydney sandstone, mined in Pyrmont, the primary load-bearing northern façade has been described as "the finest example of the Victorian Italian Renaissance Style in NSW" and stretches 114 metres (374 ft) along Martin Place, making it one of the largest sandstone buildings in Sydney.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cardwell Bush Telegraph</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

Cardwell Bush Telegraph is a heritage-listed former post office and now heritage centre at 53 Victoria Street, Cardwell, Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. The Telegraph and Post Office at Cardwell was designed by Colonial Architect's Office and built in 1870 by George McCallum, making it one of the oldest buildings in North Queensland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toowoomba Post Office</span> Former post office in Queensland, Australia

Toowoomba Post Office is a heritage-listed former post office at 136 Margaret Street, Toowoomba City, Toowoomba, Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Francis Drummond Greville Stanley and built from 1878 to 1908 by John Gargett. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 24 January 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fortitude Valley Post Office</span> Heritage-listed post office in Brisbane, Queensland

Fortitude Valley Post Office is a heritage-listed former post office at 740 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Colonial Architect's Office and built in 1887 by William Ferguson. It is also known as Fortitude Valley Post & Telegraph Office. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 24 January 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gladstone Post Office</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

Gladstone Post Office is a heritage-listed former post office at 33 Goondoon Street, Gladstone, Gladstone Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1932 by relief workers. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 7 May 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rockhampton Post Office</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

Rockhampton Post Office is a heritage-listed former post office at 80 East Street, Rockhampton, Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by George St Paul Connolly and built from 1892 to 1896 by Dennis Kelleher. It is also known as Rockhampton Post and Telegraph Offices. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 24 January 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tambo Post Office</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

Tambo Post Office is a heritage-listed former post office and now museum at Arthur Street, Tambo, Blackall-Tambo Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1876 and 1885. It is also known as Post and Telegraph Office Tambo and Tambo Telecommunications Museum. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Gregory, Helen; Dianne Mclay (2010). Building Brisbane's History: Structure, Sculptures, Stories and Secrets. Warriewood, New South Wales: Woodslane Press. pp. 68–72. ISBN   9781921606199.
  2. "Brisbane City Council Heritage Register". Brisbane City Council. Retrieved 25 May 2013.

Coordinates: 27°28′05″S153°01′41″E / 27.468174°S 153.028173°E / -27.468174; 153.028173