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Subiaco Post Office & Telephone Exchange

Author

City of Subiaco

Place Number

24260
There no heritage location found in the Google fusion table.

Location

172 Rokeby Rd Subiaco

Location Details

Local Government

Subiaco

Region

Metropolitan

Construction Date

Constructed from 1926, Constructed from 1973

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type Status Date Documents More information
(no listings)

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type Status Date Grading/Management More information
Category Description
Place within a Heritage Area Adopted 15 Oct 2013 Considerable contribution

Considerable contribution

Very important to the significance of the heritage area. These properties may also be considered for individual entry on the Scheme Register.
Local Heritage Survey Adopted 04 Feb 2003

Statement of Significance

The place has historic significance representing a stage in the continuing development of communications in the area.

Physical Description

The Subiaco Post Office was designed as a face brick and tile Inter-War Free Classical building. The original materials, finishes and general detail can still be seen along the Park Street frontage, including the prominent roof lantern, tiled hipped roof, rusticated pilasters and 6/1 double hung windows.
The 1970s frontage to Rokeby Road includes a row of 6 arches, which open onto an arcade that provides access to the modified main entry and post office boxes. These arches are framed by a plain rendered wall with a flat parapet.

History

On a plan dated 1904, the only building between Park Street and Bagot Road was shown as being located on Lot 29. During the first 20 years of the 20th century, the occupants of the corrugated iron shop on this site (known as 166 Rokeby Road) included confectioners (c.1901-1906); a caterer (c.1907); plumber (c.1908); and painters (c.1909-1910 & c.1912-1918)
The first Post Office in Subiaco had opened on the SW corner of Rokeby and Bagot Roads in early 1898, and by 1924 the Subiaco Council was agitating for new, up-to-date premises.
Lots 29-31, on the corner of Rokeby Road and Park Street, had been selected as the new site by 1925, and a plan was forwarded to the Council showing a main hall 46 ft by 40 ft (14m by 12m), with rooms for staff and provision for future extensions. The new premises had been completed by August 1926 (after which the old Post Office was adapted as a library).
The 1926 Post Office was remodelled in c.1973. This removed the original entry porch at the corner of Rokeby Road and Park Street, extensively altered the adjacent front bay, and removed a rear wing at the north-east corner. An arcade of white arches was constructed across the remodelled Rokeby Road façade, in a style that complemented the nearby Crossways shopping centre (built in 1971).

Condition

Good

References

Ref ID No Ref Name Ref Source Ref Date
Review of the Rokeby Road and Hay Street Heritage Area Stephen Carrick Architects July 2023

Other Keywords

Very important to the significance of the Rokeby Road and Hay Street Heritage Area.
This building illustrates the development of community services as an integral part of the main commercial centre of the suburb.
It has particular historical value and contributes to the local community’s sense of place through its service as the suburb’s post office since 1926.

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

Construction Materials

Type General Specific
Roof TILE Ceramic Tile
Wall BRICK Face Brick

Creation Date

14 Aug 2012

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

07 Aug 2026

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.