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Former Post Office, 2 Napier Street, ST ARNAUD
Location2 Napier Street ST ARNAUD, NORTHERN GRAMPIANS SHIRE LevelRecommended for Heritage Overlay |
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Statement of Significance
The former Post Office, 2 Napier Street, St. Arnaud, was initially constructed in 1866, with the two storey additions occurring in the mid 1890s. The building has significance as a representative example of two types of Post Office design in Victoria in the 19th century. Although partially altered, the main street facades are relatively intact and in good condition. It also has significance as being one of an unusual grouping of former government and civic 19th and early 20th century buildings in a predominantly Victorian town, of which most are visually linked to the Queen Mary gardens. The former St. Arnaud Post Office is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level. It demonstrates some original design qualities of both a rudimentary Public Works Department Victorian style, and a Public Works Department Victorian Romanesque style. The Victorian Romanesque qualities include the dominant two storey gable roof form that traverses the site, together with a two storey gable that projects towards the Napier Street frontage. Other intact qualities of this style include the flat-roofed wing that addresses the corner, unpainted brick wall construction, slate roof cladding, wide eaves, unpainted red brick chimneys with corbelled tops, and particularly the predominance of brick wall mass; and strong modelling of tripartite, double and single window openings (accentuated by the sculptural cement rendered or unpainted brick drip moulds above), and broadly arched front porch that is supported by round, squat columns with decorative capitals. The dentillated stringcoursing under the eaves, gabled dormer with blind oculus, gable ventilators, bluestone and brick plinths, and yellow brick and cement rendered stringcoursing also contribute to the significant Romanesque design qualities. The rear section of the building demonstrates the significant, Victorian rudimentary design qualities including the simple gabled roof forms, brick wall construction, galvanised corrugated iron roof and cladding. Both the two storey and rear sections of the building share other significant physical characteristics that include the timber framed, double hung, two paned windows and the masonry sills. The former St. Arnaud Post Office and site are historically significant at a LOCAL level. They are associated with the postal service in St. Arnaud from 1866 until 1924. They are also associated with the St. Arnaud Boy Scouts, Electoral Commission, Court system and the Air Force Training Corps. The former St. Arnaud Post Office is socially significant at a LOCAL level. Although no longer operating as a Post Office, it is still recognised by the St. Arnaud community for its former purpose and as the location for numerous community and other uses. Overall, the former St. Arnaud Post Office is of LOCAL significance.
Group
Postal and Telecommunications
Category
Post Office