Pingelly Post Office

Statement of Significance

Pingelly began as an adjunct to the town of Mo·urambine and was probably considered by Mourambine's citizens as simpl y a railway .station. Howvei: with ·the completion .of the railway_ station, the post office was moved to Pingelly from Mourambine. As the years passed not only djd Mourambine lose·its postal ·. facilities but also its population . ·Pingelly's rapi.d growth is reflected by the first .Post Office which began · . as a single room attached to a residence and ended ·with a whole new building being constructed for postal services - . . . .·.·. *social significance In local context , the significance of the Post Offices as a meeting place gauged by the arrival and or departure of the mails initially, as well as a place for the dissemination of news and gossip, for the disbursement of social assistance, for the collection of war bonds and so on, the edifice is of significance to the development of a rural community. As the type of service provided changed in nature, the need to visit the post office in such a community diminished. Enormous social significance accrues to the Post Office.

Physical Description

The Post Office constructed in 1892 at Pingelly is very similar to that constructed at Gingin in 1887. It has the same bow windows at the front with glass side lights either side of the front door Photographic evidence shows that where Poole gave the Post Office at Gingin light coloured brick quoins, at Pingelly the brickwork was all one colour.( Lange p. 65) The interior layout of the original Pingelly Post Office also differs from that at Gingin. In 1918 when the Post Office was converted wholly for residential use the front room which had originally been the postal area became the lounge and next to this was the dining room. Located behind these front rooms were the bedrooms. and kitchen. The roof was originally clad with GCI; me cladding still covers the roof. The exterior is presently rendered and the decorative capping of the northern chimney has been removed . The front door has been removed and replaced with a window which matches the original side lights. The building is now owned by a Community Group. The 1918 Post Office is constructed of brick with GCI roof cladding. Above the front verandah roof the gable end is clad with weatherboard s. Three vents are centrally located in this space above the verandah roof. The simplicity of the building's design could reflect post-war austerity.

History

Assessment 1994 Construction 1892

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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