POST OFFICE (FORMER)
Brown Street, BRANXHOLME VIC 3302 - Property No 7050
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Statement of Significance
The surviving former post office and its attached residence in Brown Street, Branxholme is only one of the many places in the township that have served this function. A conventional single-storey weatherboard structure, it was built by Alex Black of Macarthur in 1930. The post boxes were located under the small verandah. The first postmaster was Jabez Best. Other members of his family followed him and this became a pattern with the post office throughout its history. The Kemp and Gough families were typical. Other important postmasters and postmistresses were: Claire Allen, Frank Lott, Andrew Bell, Stephen Murtagh, William Hogan, and Patrick Nash. The post office also provided a savings bank opened in 1873, a telegraph service, initiated when it was located at the railway station in early 1880s, and from 1904 a telephone exchange. The manual exchange located in the 1930s post office was not automated until 1971. The post office was closed recently and the service is now provided from the nearby Junction hotel. The buildings remain in good condition but their integrity has been compromised by the relocation of the post boxes.
How is it significant?
The former Branxholme post office is of historical significance to the township of Branxholme and to the southern Grampians Shire.
Why is it significant?
The former Branxholme post office is of historical significance as the best surviving reminder of the critically important communications service provided by the post office and its many staff to the community for nearly 150 years.
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POST OFFICE (FORMER) - Physical Conditions
The building is in fair condition
POST OFFICE (FORMER) - Physical Description 1
Single storey timber shop and dwelling. The house is symmetrical about the front door. The walls are weatherboard, the hipped roof is corrugated iron. A gable projects over the 'shop' located on the west side of the building. A verandah, partly enclosed, is in front of the shop which was the purpose built post office. The post boxes have been relocated to the nearby Junction Hotel.
POST OFFICE (FORMER) - Historical Australian Themes
Theme 3: Developing local, regional and national economies
3.7 Establishing communications
3.7.1 Establishing postal services
3.7.2 Developing electrical means of communicationPOST OFFICE (FORMER) - Usage/Former Usage
Residence
POST OFFICE (FORMER) - Integrity
low degree of integrity
POST OFFICE (FORMER) - Physical Description 2
The Best family
Thomas Matthew Penrose
The Kemp family
Miss Claire Allen
Frank Lott
The Gough family
Andrew Bell
Stephen Charles Murtagh
William Leslie Hogan
Patrick NashHeritage Study and Grading
Southern Grampians - Southern Grampians Shire Heritage Study
Author: Timothy Hubbard P/L, Annabel Neylon
Year: 2002
Grading:
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