General Post Office, Adelaide

General Post Office, Adelaide
View from Victoria Square, c.1869
General information
Location Adelaide, Australia
Coordinates 34°55′33.96″S 138°36′0.66″E / 34.9261000°S 138.6001833°E / -34.9261000; 138.6001833Coordinates: 34°55′33.96″S 138°36′0.66″E / 34.9261000°S 138.6001833°E / -34.9261000; 138.6001833
Construction started 1867
Completed 1872

Adelaide's General Post Office is a colonial-era building in the Adelaide city centre. It is located at 141 King William Street on the north-west corner of King William Street and Victoria Square.

Construction

The building was constructed in the period 1867-1872, and was the most expensive building constructed to that time by the colonial government in South Australia. Prince Alfred, The Duke of Edinburgh, was involved in laying the foundation stone. It is associated with several architects of note, including Edmund Wright, Edward John Woods, Edward Angus Hamilton and Robert G. Thomas[1] It was constructed from Glen Osmond and Glen Ewin stone, and ornamented with Bath limestone.[1]

The clock tower was officially named Victoria Tower by Prince Alfred on 1 November 1867 when he laid the foundation stone.[2] The capstone was put in place at a ceremony on 25 May 1870. The height of the tower was put at 154 feet (46.9 m), a little taller than the Albert Tower of the Town Hall on the other side of King William Street.[3] The original plans had the tower somewhat taller, but R. G. Thomas was obliged to redesign it, as a cost saving measure.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 "Place Details: Adelaide General Post Office, 141 King William St, Adelaide, SA, Australia". Australian Heritage Database. Retrieved 12 Jan 2015.
  2. ↑ "The Victoria Tower". Adelaide Observer. XXV, (1361). South Australia. 2 November 1867. p. 4 (Supplement to the Adelaide Observer.). Retrieved 27 December 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ↑ "The New Post-Office Tower". Evening Journal (Adelaide). II, (423). South Australia. 26 May 1870. p. 3. Retrieved 27 December 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ↑ "The Late Mr. R. G. Thomas". Adelaide Observer. XL, (2168). South Australia. 21 April 1883. p. 34. Retrieved 4 January 2017 – via National Library of Australia.

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