(Former) Post Office, Moruya

(Former) Post Office, 52 Campbell Street, Moruya

This impressive building, designed by the Colonial Architect’s Office, was the second Post Office to be erected in Moruya. It is particularly important from a heritage point-of-view because it indicates the scale of essential services that the Government was prepared to provide to small rural NSW communities in the late 19th century, and it reflects just how important the Post Master’s position was considered to be in the town – a position that, unquestionably, demanded that he and his family be provided with a large, impressive residence!

This post office opened in November 1887. The Post Office itself operated from the ground floor and the Post Master’s family lived upstairs. An extension on the Campbell Street frontage was added in 1926 to accommodate a telegraph office.

The beautifully detailed cast iron lace balustrade and verandah are a particular feature of this building. Verandahs had risen in popularity in Australia in the 19th century because, as Professor Max Freeland (a Professor of Architecture, well-known for teaching the history of architecture and explaining architecture’s meanings) observed ‘country people found it (the verandah) was an excellent airy, shady place for cooling both of milk and people.’

Strangely, this Post Office was erected some distance from the main business district in Moruya. The result was that the business community were not happy because it was felt to have been sited too far from town…and, significantly, when the Post Office moved again, it was to Queen Street – one of the main business streets in town. It seems the Campbell Street site had been chosen because of the high cost of land closer to the centre of town.

This Post Office/Telegraph Office building was sold at auction in July 1996. It has since been converted to a B & B.