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CASTLEMAINE POST OFFICE
202 BARKER STREET CASTLEMAINE, MOUNT ALEXANDER SHIRE

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Victorian Heritage Register
CASTLEMAINE POST OFFICE SOHE 2008
CASTLEMAINE POST OFFICE SOHE 2008
CASTLEMAINE POST OFFICE SOHE 2008
1 castlemaine post office barker street castlemaine front view jun1997
castlemaine post office plan
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Statement of Significance

The Castlemaine Post Office was built in 1874-5 replacing an earlier post office constructed in 1857, both designed by the Public Works Department. The present post office was designed by Public Works architect John James Clark in a style much influence by Renaissance classicism and a popular choice for public buildings, particularly those designed by the Works Department during the years William Wilkinson Wardell was the principal architect. The two-storeyed rendered brick building features a prominent clock tower and like many classically inspired buildings of the sixteenth century, has a rusticated ground floor level and semicircular arched openings throughout. When constructed the building was used as the post and telegraph office, water-supply office and survey office, as well as providing a residence for the post office manager. The building retains its function as the principal post office for Castlemaine and is substantially intact.

The Castlemaine Post Office is of historical and architectural importance to the State of Victoria.

The building has historical importance as it demonstrates the rapid growth of a principal gold mining centre during the 1870s, with the establishment of permanent infrastructure reflecting expectations for permanent settlement of the gold mining towns.

The post office is of architectural importance as an intact and good example of a substantial public building constructed to a design of JJ Clark of the Public Works Department, and in a style of popular nineteenth century public architecture derived from sixteenth century Renaissance classicism. The building is a well composed and prominently sited public place, demonstrating the importance of communications in nineteenth century Victoria.

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    • History

      CASTLEMAINE POST OFFICE - History

      Contextual History:History of Place:
      Diggings began in the Castlemaine area, at the Forest Creek mine, in 1851, by which time a mail coach passed through Castlemaine en route from Mount Macedon to Serpentine Creek. A Post Office was established in 1848 and an office was opened in March 1852. A post office was erected in Castlemaine in 1857 for a cost of £1330, and this was soon found inadequate for the needs of the rapidly growing mining community and in the early 1870s the Public Works Department was approached to prepare a design for a new post office in Castlemaine more appropriate to the increasing prominence of the town to the State. The design of Post Offices in Victoria was the responsibility of the State Government’s Public Works Department, which during the period in which the Castlemaine Post office and Public Offices was cosntructed was under the design mangement of Chief Architect and Clerk of Works, William Wilkinson Wardell.

      The drawings of the design of the new Castlemaine Post Office were dated June 1873 and initialled JJC, for John James Clark, who at the time of preparing the drawings was a Clerk of Works and Draftsman. The design is described by Bruce Trethowen in his thesis on the Public Works Department as a Palazzo Style with Recessed Colonnade with 5 arches. Many other such post offices were constructed at the time including Ararat, Stawell, St Kilda, Clunes, Fitzroy, Carlton, Colac, Warrnambool, and, most similarly, Echuca. The design drawings of the Castlemaine Post Office show that, externally, the building remains intact.

      Construction of the new government offices was commenced in mid 1874 and the building was opened by several members of the state Ministry, including the Premier, the Post Master General, the Solicitor General and the Minister for Public Instruction on July 5, 1875. The building was to provide accommodation for four government functions; the post and telegraph office; water-supply office and survey office. A report in The Argus of 6 July 1875 detailed the opening ceremony, including transcribing parts of several of the speeches made.

      In 1908 local contractor, Thomas Odgers converted the battery room into a sorting and receiving room. As well the telegraph office, which, after telephone, was superfluous, the mail room and letter carrier room were converted to public space.

      Permit Exemptions

      CASTLEMAINE POST OFFICE - Permit Exemptions

      General Exemptions:

      General exemptions apply to all places and objects included in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR). General exemptions have been designed to allow everyday activities, maintenance and changes to your property, which don’t harm its cultural heritage significance, to proceed without the need to obtain approvals under the Heritage Act 2017.

      Places of worship: In some circumstances, you can alter a place of worship to accommodate religious practices without a permit, but you must notify the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria before you start the works or activities at least 20 business days before the works or activities are to commence.

      Subdivision/consolidation: Permit exemptions exist for some subdivisions and consolidations. If the subdivision or consolidation is in accordance with a planning permit granted under Part 4 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the application for the planning permit was referred to the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria as a determining referral authority, a permit is not required.

      Specific exemptions may also apply to your registered place or object. If applicable, these are listed below. Specific exemptions are tailored to the conservation and management needs of an individual registered place or object and set out works and activities that are exempt from the requirements of a permit. Specific exemptions prevail if they conflict with general exemptions.

      Find out more about heritage permit exemptions here.

      Specific Exemptions:

      EXEMPTIONS FROM PERMITS:
      (Classes of works or activities which may be undertaken without a permit under
      Part 4 of the Heritage Act 1995)

      Whole of the Building
      Where a conservation analysis and management plan approved by the Heritage
      Council or Executive Director exists, permit exemptions identified in the plan
      shall be available.

      The Interior
      Alterations in non public areas are permit exempt where they do not affect the
      exterior, structural elements ororiginal/early ceilings, joinery or decorative
      features.

      Demolition of recent partitioning is permit exempt.

      Sunset Clause
      Exemptions to cease on change of use of building.

Public contributions

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