Published on Tuesday, 27 November 2018 at 8:14:02 AM
Geraldton’s rich CBD history will be aptly commemorated in the Rocks Laneway Project with an artistic adaptation of the old Geraldton Post Office.
The 122-year old Geraldton Post Office Clock will soon return to its former position in the new ‘Ghost Office’ setting on Marine Terrace as announced in the recently released project designs.
As one of the key elements of the Rocks Laneway Project, the Ghost Office structure will be constructed in the exact location of the former Geraldton Post Office that officially opened on 13 November 1893.
City of 91Ï㽶µ¼º½ Mayor Shane Van Styn said returning the clock to its rightful place is about recognising our past whilst looking to the future.
“The Geraldton Post Office was built to meet the growing demand for postal and telegraphic services brought about by the discoveries of gold in the Murchison,” he said.
“Following the opening of the new Post Office on Chapman Road in 1975, the old Post Office was unfortunately demolished in September 1979 despite offering the building to various public organisations in Geraldton.
“However, the Rocks Laneway Project is going to resurrect this early landmark in a modern architectural interpretation of the former building that not only brings our history back to life, it also provides a very fitting place for the original Geraldton Post Office Clock to reside.”
Following the demolition of the Post Office building almost 40 years ago, the clock was rehomed on site to a brick structure adjacent to the footpath.
In 1994, the Geraldton Building Company was hired to build the current clock tower. As part of the streetscape works, central Marine Terrace was made one-way and a bend in the traffic lane was created to accommodate the new tower where the Post Office Clock is currently located.
The Ghost Office is one element within the Rocks Laneway project which is set to bring Marine Terrace back to life.
Other elements include the transformation of the Rocks building into a laneway, a revamped ‘town square’ and improvements to the Post Office Laneway which will be tied together with a colourful meta graphic design representing yellow, white and pink wildflowers on a bed of dark green sea grass.
Construction of the project is anticipated to begin early next year with an estimated date of completion for September 2019.
PICTURE CAPTION: Old Geraldton Post Office built in 1893 and the ‘Ghost Office’.
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