Stawell Post Office, 87 Main Street , STAWELL
87 Main Street STAWELL, NORTHERN GRAMPIANS SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
The Stawell Post Office building, 87 Main Street, makes a significant contribution to the architectural and visual amenity of the predominantly 19th century building forms of the streetscape. The building has significance as an important legacy of the 19th century government infrastructure established during Stawell's prosperous gold era. In particular, this building was constructed in in 1874 from a designed attributed to A.T. Snow, District Architect with the Public Works Department and built by the Ararat contractor, Thomas Walker. Although in good condition, the building has experienced some external changes over the years, while the interior was remodelled in 1923.
The Stawell Post Office building is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level. It demonstrates original design qualities of a Victorian Italianate palazzo style. These qualities include the simple rectangular form with a five-bayed symmetrical composition and a hipped roof surmounted with a small iron tower platform. Other intact or appropriate qualities include the two storey height, galvanised corrugated iron roof cladding, rendered brick wall construction, rendered brick chimneys with bracketed segmental pediment tops, wide dentillated eaves and finely detailed frieze bands, arcaded ground floor with plain banded rustication, arched timber framed windows, arched timber framed door opening and transom, smoothly rendered first floor facade with finely modelled window architraves and drip moulds, rectangular timber framed double hung windows, and the moulded first floor stringcourse that forms a capping to the balustraded window balconettes.
The Stawell Post Office building is historically significant at a LOCAL level. It is associated with the development of the post office at Stawell by the Department of Public Works from 1874 to the present day. The building also has possible associations with A.T. Snow, District Architect with the Public Works Department, together with the Ararat contractor, Thomas Walker. In 1923, considerable internal remodelling was carried out.
The Stawell Post Office building is socially significant at a LOCAL level. It is recognised and valued by the Stawell community as an integral part of the infrastructure in the town.
Overall, the Stawell Post Office building is of LOCAL significance.
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Stawell Post Office, 87 Main Street , STAWELL - Physical Description 1
The Stawell Post Office building, 87 Main Street, Stawell, makes an important architectural and visual contribution to the streetscape of predominantly 19th century building forms. The building remains today as an important legacy of the 19th century government infrastructure established during Stawell's prosperous gold era.
The symmetrical, two storey, rendered brick, Victorian Italianate palazzo styled Post Office building is characterised by a simple rectangular form having a five-bayed composition and a hipped roof surmounted with a small iron tower platform. The roof form is clad in galvanised corrugated iron. Early rendered brick chimneys with bracketed segmental pediment tops adorn the roofline. Wide dentillated overhangs and finely detailed frieze bands are features of the eaves.
The five bayed palazzo composition consists of an arcaded ground floor with plain banded rustication. The three inner arches have early timber framed double hung windows, with the corner opening has an early timber door frame and transom, and an introduced aluminium framed and glazed door. The other flanking opening appears to have originally been a doorway, now a timber framed window with sidelights and transom.
The first floor is smoothly rendered having finely modelled window architraves and drip moulds, with rectangular timber framed double hung windows. A moulded stringcourse interrupts the window openings, forming a capping to balustraded balconettes.
At the front of the building, the concrete ramp has been introduced, as has the signage on the ground floor piers.
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: Local
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HILL PIPE ORGAN - ST PETER'S LUTHERAN CHURCHVictorian Heritage Register H2177
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CENTRAL PARKVictorian Heritage Register H2284
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COMMONWEALTH MEMORIALVictorian Heritage Register H1943
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