New Post Office

Rare lithograph of the George Street Post Office in 1869 prior to construction and before the widening of Martin Place.

First stage construction (1866-1874)  The designs for the Post Office at present day Martin Place had begun in 1863 were completed and submitted for approval in February 1865. On 17 December 1866, it was announced that builder John Young was awarded the contract for “carpenters, joiners, slaters, plumbers, painters and glaziers. His tender for masons and bricklayers was also accepted [whilst]…the commission for ironworks went to P.N. Russell and Co.” Early progress proved to be a slow and difficult process, particularly due to the need to enclose the Tank Stream running below the foundations and to ensure construction would not affect adjoining buildings. In April 1869, The Duke of Edinburgh, set the keystone of the George Street entrance for the Post Office. A prominent newspaper of the time reported that the “ponderous keystone” was quarried at Pyrmont and weighted 26 tons.

References:
Ferguson, J. A. Bibliography of Australia Volumes 1-8, Canberra 1976 : 11569.
Holden, R. Photography in colonial Australia: the mechanical eye and the illustrated book, Sydney 1999: 68.

Collections:
National Library Australia: Bib ID: 2302925
State Library New South Wales: Call Number: 919.9441043/1
State Library Victoria: RARELT 824 N42 (v.19)