Meekatharra Post Office

Statement of Significance

Meekatharra Post Office is a place of social interaction and communication and the site has demonstrated that significance since 1902.

Physical Description

The single storey a timber-framed asbestos clad building has a low-pitched hipped roof.

History

Unpaid Mail Receiving Office opened in July 1900. From 16 August 1902, there was a non-official or allowance office operating from some premises, possibly a general store. A Post and Telegraph office opened 8 January 1906. Staff of postmaster, one assistant and telegraph boy could not handle the workload. Another assistant was provided from Nannine. In December 1914 additions were approved that added a new room 58 x 20 feet with improvements to the existing building.
It is believed that the first mail receiving office was located in a building near the Royal Mail Hotel in July 1900. This was followed by a non-official post office established in a timber and hessian building in August 1902, on the corner of High and Main streets. An official Post Office of timber and iron construction with quarters for the postmaster and his family, was established on the opposite corner on Lot 35, and was opened on 8 January 1906, with a staff of three. Because of the activity on the goldfields, there was a large traffic of mail and telegraphs and the staff had difficulty coping with the volume. On Mine pay days, there was a queue of miners wanting to deposit money into their savings accounts and send money orders home to their families. On 1 May 1912 a 12-hour telephone service was installed and a year later was extended to a 24-hour service. Meekatharra Post Office had the longest mail route in Australia covering 1,170 miles and initially taking 10-days, with a service to Marble Bar via Peak Hill and back through pastoral stations and the Jigalong Mission. This service continued until 1975. In 1971, the old Post Office was replaced on the same site.

Integrity/Authenticity

INTEGRITY High degree
AUTHENTICITY High degree

Condition

Fair-Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.