Gingin Post Office

Author

Shire of Gingin

Place Number

01076

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Location

16 Brockman St Gingin

Location Details

Cnr Brockman & Constable Streets

Local Government

Gingin

Region

Avon Arc

Construction Date

Constructed from 1886

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type	Status	Date	Documents	More information
State Register	Registered	27 Feb 1996	Register Entry Assessment Documentation	Heritage Council

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type	Status	Date	Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type	Status	Date	Grading/Management		More information
Type	Status	Date	Category	Description	More information
Statewide Post Office Survey	Completed	01 Mar 1992			Heritage Council
Classified by the National Trust	Recorded	05 Mar 1979			Heritage Council
Municipal Inventory	Adopted	17 Oct 2017	Category 1	Category 1 A place of exceptional cultural heritage significance to Shire of Gingin and the state of Western Australia, that is either in the Heritage Council of WA's Register of Heritage Places or worthy of consideration for entry in the Register. A development application needs to be submitted to the Heritage Council for any proposed development. Recommend: Retain and conserve the place. Full consultation with property owner prior to making the recommendation.

Statement of Significance

Gingin Post Office is significant as a rare example of the Colonial Government's post office building program and is the oldest extant purpose built post office in Western Australia. It represents the vigorous lobbying by the Gingin community for its construction and the associated connection to the telegraph line from Perth to Geraldton. It represents the complementary association between police and postal service in the early development of public facilities. The residence demonstrates the role and lifestyle of the postmaster at the time.

Physical Description

The masonry building faces Constable Street in an elevated position overlooking the town. The building is domestic in scale and design. The frontage is symmetrical with two protruding bays rooms with faceted bay windows flanking the central entry. The hipped tiled roof continues over the central entry with gablets to the flanking elements. Additions on both sides of the frontage have break pitch skillion extensions of the main roof.

History

The first mail service to Gingin (at WL Brockman's property) was in 1853 on the Champion Bay route. In 1854 John York set up post office at Creaton, becoming the first post master and Registrar, until 1863. Mrs Tyler, the policeman's wife, and school mistress who lived near the police paddock in the establishing town, became post mistress, and in 1864 John Cockram was contracted for the monthly mail delivery. In 1881 Mrs Hackett was Postmistress, with mail distributed through the Police station. Tenders for the Post Office quarters were called on 20 August 1886. It was constructed by Chas Smith on Police reserve land next to police station. Officially opened on 28 October 1886. Mr and Mrs Hackett resided there 1893-1914 with Mrs being the Postmistress and Mr being the police officer (until 1893).
George Temple Poole was the Government Architect of the period, and his design influence is evident in Gingin Post Office and the other six that were built to the same design in that period; Pingelly, Narrogin, Wagin, Katanning, Broomehill, Mt Barker.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High degree
Authenticity: Moderate degree

Condition

Good

References

Ref ID No	Ref Name	Ref Source	Ref Date
	Dr I H Van Bremen; "Thesis submission for the Doctorate of Philosophy- Dept of Architecture".	UWA	1990

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch	General	Specific
Present Use	Transport\Communications	Comms: Post or Telegraph Office
Original Use	Transport\Communications	Comms: Post or Telegraph Office
Present Use	RESIDENTIAL	Single storey residence

Architectural Styles

Style
Victorian Georgian

Construction Materials

Type	General	Specific
Wall	BRICK	Rendered Brick
Wall	RENDER	Roughcast
Roof	TILE	Cement Tile

Historic Themes

General	Specific
SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES	Law & order
DEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY	Government policy
TRANSPORT & COMMUNICATIONS	Mail services
OCCUPATIONS	Technology & technological change
DEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY	Technology & technological change
TRANSPORT & COMMUNICATIONS	Technology & technological change
TRANSPORT & COMMUNICATIONS	Telecommunications

Creation Date

24 Jan 1989

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

28 Jan 2020

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.