Timeless Wollongong

In early 2014, I submitted a nomination to the NSW Heritage Office to list the old Post and Telegraph Office in Market Street, Wollongong, which is now the Illawarra Museum, on the State Heritage Register.

The process has taken a year and on Friday, February 27, 2015, I received notification that the building was gazetted.

I always felt that the years I was involved with the Illawarra Historical Society, and over that time volunteering in the museum for some 17 years, that I lived a dual life.

I could enjoy all the modern conveniences of today's world, yet I was caring for and preserving items of another world - the past, a world where modern conveniences of the day were in fact at times quite primitive. As museum manager for four years, I learnt to appreciate how life was once.

I could well understand why the society was so attracted to the building in 1966 and the desire to establish a museum in a building filled with its original features.

The construction of the building took place over three stages. The first building in 1864 consisted of three rooms on a single level and operated as a telegraph station. Then in 1870 another three rooms were added to the western side and from then on the building catered for both the telegraph and post office. Philip Mackel was appointed post and telegraph master in March 1870.

In 1879, Mr Mackel suggested additions to the building by way of a residence for the postmaster. The building was sturdy enough to have a second storey added. Colonial architect James Barnet designed the additions, including giving the building an Italianate facade. Completed in 1882, it operated for only another 10 years before a new post office was built and the operations transferred to Crown Street.

Mr Mackel was fortunate to witness and work in the building when it was a single storey and then move his family into the upper floor in 1882. When the operations moved to Crown Street he was still the postmaster.

The building remained in government ownership and was used as the offices of the failed Wollongong Harbour Trust between 1892 and 1895. This was followed by the Public Works Department during the construction of the breakwaters at Port Kembla Bay.

During the Depression it became the offices for issuing dole and food tickets.

World War II saw the building used as a recruiting office, followed by motor registry and the electoral commission.

Over the last 133 years the original colonial features have been retained, such as cast iron fireplaces, mantles, doors and railings on the stairs.

In the 1920s, electricity was laid on with the wiring being carried through conduit. All the schoolhouse light shades installed at that time still hang from the ceiling by heavy chains. Another feature added in the 1920s was sewerage and pull-chain toilets, which are still in place today.

No doubt, the use of the building as a historical museum has aided in preserving the building's original features. Perhaps, if the building had been leased or sold and used for commercial purposes those unique internal features would have been lost forever during any modernisation.

Over the years I was inquisitive enough to study the construction of the building and I could see all the changes that had happened, with each addition noting carefully all original features. In 2013, I set about compiling all the information, with photographs I could find, on the building's various phases of construction.

This building must be one of the most intact heritage buildings in the Wollongong Local Government Area and is truly worthy of listing on the State Heritage Register.

Information courtesy of Carol Herben OAM.  Call 0409 832 854 or email sycado6@bigpond.net.au