Former Post Office, 2 Napier Street, ST ARNAUD
2 Napier Street ST ARNAUD, NORTHERN GRAMPIANS SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
The former Post Office, 2 Napier Street, St. Arnaud, was initially constructed in 1866, with the two storey additions occurring in the mid 1890s. The building has significance as a representative example of two types of Post Office design in Victoria in the 19th century. Although partially altered, the main street facades are relatively intact and in good condition. It also has significance as being one of an unusual grouping of former government and civic 19th and early 20th century buildings in a predominantly Victorian town, of which most are visually linked to the Queen Mary gardens.
The former St. Arnaud Post Office is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level. It demonstrates some original design qualities of both a rudimentary Public Works Department Victorian style, and a Public Works Department Victorian Romanesque style. The Victorian Romanesque qualities include the dominant two storey gable roof form that traverses the site, together with a two storey gable that projects towards the Napier Street frontage. Other intact qualities of this style include the flat-roofed wing that addresses the corner, unpainted brick wall construction, slate roof cladding, wide eaves, unpainted red brick chimneys with corbelled tops, and particularly the predominance of brick wall mass; and strong modelling of tripartite, double and single window openings (accentuated by the sculptural cement rendered or unpainted brick drip moulds above), and broadly arched front porch that is supported by round, squat columns with decorative capitals. The dentillated stringcoursing under the eaves, gabled dormer with blind oculus, gable ventilators, bluestone and brick plinths, and yellow brick and cement rendered stringcoursing also contribute to the significant Romanesque design qualities.
The rear section of the building demonstrates the significant, Victorian rudimentary design qualities including the simple gabled roof forms, brick wall construction, galvanised corrugated iron roof and cladding. Both the two storey and rear sections of the building share other significant physical characteristics that include the timber framed, double hung, two paned windows and the masonry sills.
The former St. Arnaud Post Office and site are historically significant at a LOCAL level. They are associated with the postal service in St. Arnaud from 1866 until 1924. They are also associated with the St. Arnaud Boy Scouts, Electoral Commission, Court system and the Air Force Training Corps.
The former St. Arnaud Post Office is socially significant at a LOCAL level. Although no longer operating as a Post Office, it is still recognised by the St. Arnaud community for its former purpose and as the location for numerous community and other uses.
Overall, the former St. Arnaud Post Office is of LOCAL significance.
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Former Post Office, 2 Napier Street, ST ARNAUD - Physical Description 1
The two storey former Post Office building at 2 Napier Street, St. Arnaud, dominates its site and is an important urban landmark in centre of the St. Arnaud township. The former Post Office forms part of an unusual grouping of government and civic buildings in a predominantly Victorian town. The inter-relationship of the many of the buildings in the group is the visual connection to the Queen Mary gardens.
The building abuts the street frontage along Napier Street, although small gardens and lawned areas have been established at the sides along the Napier and Millett Street frontages.
The two storey, unpainted brick, Victorian Romanesque, former Post Office building is characterised by a dominant two storey gable roof form that traverses the site, together with a two storey gable that projects towards the Napier Street frontage, a flat-roofed wing that addresses the corner, a rear gabled section and an introduced single storey addition along the Napier Street elevation. The two storey roof forms are clad in early slate tiles, while the single storey roofs are clad in galvanised corrugated iron (rear section) and possibly inappropriate zincalume (side addition). Wide overhangs are a feature of the eaves and unpainted red brick chimneys with corbelled tops adorn the roofline.
The Victorian Romanesque qualities of the design are particularly evident in the second storey section of the building: in the predominance of brick wall mass; and in the strong modelling of semi circular arches. These arches are especially apparent in the tripartite, double and single window openings (and accentuated by the sculptural cement rendered or unpainted brick drip moulds above), and in the broad arch of the front porch that is supported by round, squat columns with decorative capitals. Other early features of the Romanesque section of the design include the dentillated stringcourse under the eaves, gabled dormer with blind oculus opening, bluestone and brick plinths, and yellow brick stringcoursing.
The rear section represents the earlier, rudimentary Victorian styled wing, and is characterised by simple design of roof forms and plain brick construction. Other early decorative features of the design include the timber framed, double hung, two paned windows, masonry sills, and the gable ventilators.
Heritage Study and Grading
Northern Grampians - Shire of Northern Grampians - Stage 2 Heritage Study
Author: Wendy Jacobs, Vicki Johnson, David Rowe, Phil Taylor
Year: 2004
Grading:
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CROWN LAND OFFICEVictorian Heritage Register H1530
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ST ARNAUD RAILWAY STATIONVictorian Heritage Register H1594
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LORD NELSON TAILINGS DUMPVictorian Heritage Inventory
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