Old Dongara Post Office building to have heritage listing

27/9/99
The old Dongara Post Office building, an important part of the historic town precinct, has been entered in the State's Register of Heritage Places, Heritage Minister Graham Kierath said.
The Waldeck Street building, which operated as a post office for 95 years before being converted into the local library, is a landmark and its listing recognises its historic and aesthetic qualities.
"The building is characteristic of the country post offices built at the end of the 19th century as Western Australia began to grow rapidly," Mr Kierath said.
"It is also highly valued by the Dongara community for its social and civic associations and for its place in the historic town precinct."
Mr Kierath said Dongara, established in the early 1850s after a number of ships were wrecked in the area, was originally given the Aboriginal name Dhungarra, meaning place of seals.
The first major public buildings built in the early 1870s were a police station, courthouse and gaol.
In 1873, a three-roomed lean-to, operating as the post office, was attached to the north verandah of the Police Station adjacent to the cells.
It was known as the 'Telegraph Shanty'; locals resented the social stigma of having to collect mail at the police station through a barred window. Despite this, the lean-to operated for about 20 years, until the construction of the current building in 1894.
"The new post and telegraph office was built next to the police station, courthouse and gaol," Mr Kierath said.
"On the other side of the post office was the Mechanics' Institute Hall, destroyed by fire in 1950 but rebuilt as a public hall.
"With the State School and Anglican and Methodist churches located nearby, this section of Waldeck formed a significant social and civic precinct."
Mr Kierath said the limestone and sandstone post office and quarters were in the Federation Arts and Crafts style.
Changes were made to the building as telecommunications technology evolved over the years, from the introduction of the telephone exchange in 1909 to conversion to an automatic exchange in 1969.
In 1984 a new police station was built and the old complex was taken over for use as a tourist information centre.
In 1989, after 95 years of service, Australia Post moved its Dongara operations to new premises in the Batavia Boulevard Shopping Centre.
The Shire of Irwin bought the property from Australia Post and renovated it for use as the district library. The Dongara Public Library was officially opened by Governor Sir Francis Burt in May 1990.
Mr Kierath said the building was in sound condition and although it no longer operated as a post office, it still served an important community function as the town's library.
"The building is highly valued by the local community and deserves the protection of the State's heritage laws," he said.

Media contact: Steve Manchee (08) 9213 6400