Italian Palazzo styled Portland Post Office 1881–1882: known to be open to the public by April 1883. Victoria Australia
This was Portland's second post office.
Used as Municipal Offices 1969–1983.
Now in private ownership.
Portland’s first post office was built in 1857 and demolished 1969.
The construction and finish of the 1881 post office did not go smoothly and it took until 21 April 1883 before the public was advised the building was actually opened.
The present former Portland Post Office.
Erected in 1881-2 is built in the highly ornate “Italian Palazzo” style.
*Portland December 13
The new post office works are proceeding with surprising rapidity. The excavations are all completed, the concrete foundations, 2 feet deep – laid in six inch layers. Two thirds of the underground basement is built. Window and door frames for this story are all fixed.
The foundation stone will be ready for the formal ceremony about a month from this date. Ref: Hamilton Spectator (Vic) Thursday 15 December 1881 p4.
*Portland March 23
I am glad to say that the new post office will be fit for occupation in about a fortnight. A Ballarat firm has the contract for furnishing.
The change from old to the new will be very grateful, particularly to those who do much telegraphing.
The officials, too, will appreciate the increased space and superior accommodation that is provided.
There are quarries near Portland that furnish the grandest bluestone to be found in the colony. You only need to look at the steps in front of the new post office to see the magnificence of the stone.
Ref: Hamilton Spectator (Vic) Saturday 24 March 1883 p2.
*Portland Tuesday 27 March 1883
The way in which Government works are carried on in this town is altogether inexplicable.
Look at our fine new Post and Telegraph office, for instance. That was finished, according to contract, months ago. Then there were supplementary buildings that should have been provided for in the original contract, but were not included. These were undertaken as an afterthought, and completed many weeks since. But the fine building still stands closed against the public…a monument to Departmental inefficiency.
When the building was finished it was discovered that it required certain fittings and furniture which had not been thought of before elaborate plans and specifications of these were prepared, tenders for the execution of the work were invited in the Government Gazette and in our own columns, and were received at the appointed date, and one tender was duly accepted, but there the matters rests, apparently for all time. What is now being done in regard to these fittings, if anything, nobody seems to know and the opening of the new premises to the public stand adjourned sine die. Ref: Portland Guardian (Vic)Tuesday 27 March 1883 p2.
*Portland May 31.
The new post office would be externally complete in a very few days. The roof is almost ready for the slates, and the plasterers have commenced on the walls.
The building is a very handsome one and is quite the lion of Bentinck Street.
Ref: Hamilton Spectator (Vic) Thursday 1 June 1882 p4.
*Portland April 13
The new post office is now in full working order, and after a careful investigation of both inside and outside conveniences, I am bound to say that the public have been considered to a much greater extent than the officials.
Instead of an open verandah…ours is closed in when you like, with large doors, so that in rough weather applicants for letters, writers of telegrams &c, will be as comfortably accommodated as in a spacious room. The telegraph compartment is ample as to space, and so is the money-order lobby opposite.
The old building has already been visited by the Free Library Committee, who virtually, are now in possession in part.
I hear that the dwelling house, lately occupied by Mr Maplestone, is to be tenanted by the chief operator, Mr Gill.
Ref: Hamilton Spectator (Vic) Thursday 19 April 1883 p2.
Italian Palazzo styled Portland Post Office 1881–1882: known to be open to the public by April 1883. Victoria Australia
This was Portland's second post office.
Used as Municipal Offices 1969–1983.
Now in private ownership.
Portland’s first post office was built in 1857 and demolished 1969.
The construction and finish of the 1881 post office did not go smoothly and it took until 21 April 1883 before the public was advised the building was actually opened.
The present former Portland Post Office.
Erected in 1881-2 is built in the highly ornate “Italian Palazzo” style.
*Portland December 13
The new post office works are proceeding with surprising rapidity. The excavations are all completed, the concrete foundations, 2 feet deep – laid in six inch layers. Two thirds of the underground basement is built. Window and door frames for this story are all fixed.
The foundation stone will be ready for the formal ceremony about a month from this date. Ref: Hamilton Spectator (Vic) Thursday 15 December 1881 p4.
*Portland March 23
I am glad to say that the new post office will be fit for occupation in about a fortnight. A Ballarat firm has the contract for furnishing.
The change from old to the new will be very grateful, particularly to those who do much telegraphing.
The officials, too, will appreciate the increased space and superior accommodation that is provided.
There are quarries near Portland that furnish the grandest bluestone to be found in the colony. You only need to look at the steps in front of the new post office to see the magnificence of the stone.
Ref: Hamilton Spectator (Vic) Saturday 24 March 1883 p2.
*Portland Tuesday 27 March 1883
The way in which Government works are carried on in this town is altogether inexplicable.
Look at our fine new Post and Telegraph office, for instance. That was finished, according to contract, months ago. Then there were supplementary buildings that should have been provided for in the original contract, but were not included. These were undertaken as an afterthought, and completed many weeks since. But the fine building still stands closed against the public…a monument to Departmental inefficiency.
When the building was finished it was discovered that it required certain fittings and furniture which had not been thought of before elaborate plans and specifications of these were prepared, tenders for the execution of the work were invited in the Government Gazette and in our own columns, and were received at the appointed date, and one tender was duly accepted, but there the matters rests, apparently for all time. What is now being done in regard to these fittings, if anything, nobody seems to know and the opening of the new premises to the public stand adjourned sine die. Ref: Portland Guardian (Vic)Tuesday 27 March 1883 p2.
*Portland May 31.
The new post office would be externally complete in a very few days. The roof is almost ready for the slates, and the plasterers have commenced on the walls.
The building is a very handsome one and is quite the lion of Bentinck Street.
Ref: Hamilton Spectator (Vic) Thursday 1 June 1882 p4.
*Portland April 13
The new post office is now in full working order, and after a careful investigation of both inside and outside conveniences, I am bound to say that the public have been considered to a much greater extent than the officials.
Instead of an open verandah…ours is closed in when you like, with large doors, so that in rough weather applicants for letters, writers of telegrams &c, will be as comfortably accommodated as in a spacious room. The telegraph compartment is ample as to space, and so is the money-order lobby opposite.
The old building has already been visited by the Free Library Committee, who virtually, are now in possession in part.
I hear that the dwelling house, lately occupied by Mr Maplestone, is to be tenanted by the chief operator, Mr Gill.
Ref: Hamilton Spectator (Vic) Thursday 19 April 1883 p2.