Mundaring Post Office

Statement of Significance

The former Mundaring Post office has high social and historic significance for the community it has served over the years and the landmark value of the site.

Physical Description

The former Mundaring Post Office is located on the south-west corner of the intersection of Nichol Street with Great Eastern Highway. Located opposite the police station and diagonally opposite the old primary school and war memorial, the former post office completes a civic precinct in the centre of Mundaring on the Nichol Street axis. The weatherboard building, built in 1926 exhibits elements of the Federation / Inter-War period Arts and Craft and Bungalow styles of architecture. This is evidenced by the decorative weatherboard gable end, pediment to the roof, the half timbered frieze around the top of the walls under the eaves. Vertically proportioned, double hung windows with six paned top sashes and single bottom sashes contribute to the character of the building. The entry porch, facing Great Eastern Highway, sits uncomfortably with the rest of the building. It has been rebuilt and its pipe columns and flat gable end pediment are out of keeping with the original fabric (see Elliot, I., p. 129).
In 1997 the former post office was modified internally for use as an art gallery for the Mundaring Arts Centre Inc.

History

The first post office in Mundaring operated from July 1898, to late 1925 in a weatherboard and iron building on the corner of Jacoby and Hodgson Streets. As well as posts and telegraphs, from sometime after 1912, the post office, in common with many others, operated as a Commonwealth Savings Bank Agency. The original post office is now used as a playgroup centre (Site 44). In early 1926, in line with the shift of the commercial centre of Mundaring from the railway line side of town to the York Road (Great Eastern Highway), a new weatherboard and iron post office was opened on the corner of York Road and Nichol Street. Postal-facilities now operate from the new Mundaring Shopping Centre, on part of the site of the original Mundaring Primary School (Site 41). In June 1997, after some internal modifications, the former post office building re-opened as the Mundaring Art Gallery, which had previously operated from a converted service station in Great Eastern Highway Mahogany Creek.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Very high
Modifications: front entry porch rebuilt together with other additions to the rear.

Condition

Very Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

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.