Permanent heritage listing for Pinjarra Post Office

1/11/95

The historic Pinjarra Post Office is to have its heritage values protected by the State Government.

Heritage Minister Richard Lewis said the post office would be placed on the State Government's permanent Register of Heritage Places following a recommendation from the Heritage Council of Western Australia.

Built in 1896, the Pinjarra Post Office forms an important part of the town's heritage precinct at the corner of George and James Streets.

Mr Lewis said as well as being a fine example of late 19th Century public architecture, the building demonstrated the development of postal services in the Murray District.

"Postal services in the colony of WA were formalised in 1835, but the service between Pinjarra and Perth or Fremantle was irregular and unco-ordinated," he said.

"Until 1840, when soldiers began conducting a fortnightly service, travellers carried all mail.

"Civilian contractors were used for some time and later Aborigines were paid two pounds of flour daily for delivery of mail."

The Minister said for many years local resident Mary Ann McLarty was Pinjarra's postmistress, operating from a cottage opposite the police station and local courthouse.

The current two-storey Pinjarra Post Office was designed by renowned colonial architect George Temple-Poole in the Federation Arts and Crafts style.

A single storey addition was made in 1923.

Domestic in scale and style, the post office was constructed with gable roofs that were originally shingled and later replaced with tiles.

Mr Lewis said the building had a number of heritage features worth preserving.

"The Pinjarra Post Office is a fine example of the architecture of George Temple-Poole, one of Perth's most prominent architects," he said

"Together with the former police buildings, the adjoining police station and the site of the former post office, it serves as a heritage focus of the town."

Media contact:  Bronwyn Hillman 221 1377 or 222 9595