Toodyay Post Office given permanent heritage listing

27/8/95

The historic Toodyay Post Office has been permanently listed on the State Register of Heritage Places.

Heritage Minister Richard Lewis said the post office and residence, built in 1897, would be preserved following a recommendation by the Heritage Council of Western Australia.

"The building is an important part of the streetscape of Toodyay and represents the development of postal services to the district during a time of growth," Mr Lewis said.

The Minister said the building was originally known as the Newcastle Post Office and it was not until 1910 that it was renamed to avoid confusion with mail destined for New South Wales.

"The town of Toodyay we know today emerged from two settlements, Old Toodyay (1836) and Newcastle (1860), which both had postal services until the Old Toodyay Post Office closed in 1864," he said.

"In the late 1880s, the towns of York and Northam had become the preferred centres of development.

"However, by the early 1890s the opening of the goldfields in the Yilgarn had resulted in renewed prosperity for Newcastle."

To keep up with the development in York, Newcastle residents called for the replacement of the town's existing post office in the old convict building, which was said to be in a dangerous condition.

After years of discussion the current site, on the corner of Duke Street and Stirling Terrace, was secured and the post office was built at a cost of nearly £2,000.

The architect in charge of the Public Works Department at that time, George Temple Poole, designed the building.

Toodyay Post Office is a rare example of the Federation Arts and Crafts style adopted by George Temple Poole, who designed many important buildings including the Western Australian Museum (1896-7), The Perth Mint (1896-9), The Observatory (1896), the Titles Office (1897) and the Pinjarra (1895) and Beaconsfield Post Offices (1896).

Mr Lewis said many buildings designed by George Temple Poole during this era have been demolished.

"The two-storey red brick post office remains in good original condition and has a high degree of authenticity," he said.

"The interior of the building has been recently upgraded, to allow its continued use as a post office."

The Minister said the work was carried out in consultation with the Heritage Council of Western Australia and the Australian Heritage Commission which ensured that the cultural heritage of the building was not compromised.

Media contact: Bronwyn Hillman 222 9595, 221 1377