Post Office (former)

Item details


Name of item:	Post Office (former)
Other name/s:	Post Office
Type of item:	Complex / Group
Group/Collection:	Postal and Telecommunications
Category:	Post Office
Location:	Lat: -34.4517074015 Long: 150.4478808850
Primary address:	5 Station Street, Mittagong, NSW 2575
Parish:	Mittagong
County:	Camden
Local govt. area:	Wingecarribee
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Illawarra

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Section Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
LOT	1		DP	746469

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
5 Station Street	Mittagong	Wingecarribee	Mittagong	Camden	Primary Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
	Private	15 Mar 99

Description


Construction years:	1890-1891
Physical description:	Site and setting: The former post office is a significant historic element in the commercial streetscape of Mittagong. It is an imposing public building. The buidling has an allotment size of 658.6 square meters, with a primary frontage to Station Street and a secondary frontage to Ward Lane. Landscaping on the site includes a mature Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis) and a well in the rear yard. The site is generally surrounded by single and two storey commercial buildings, including a police station and court house to the south. A Council car park is to the west of the site (Bolst and Conacher, 2014, in Heritage NSW report). Buildings: The site comprises a two storey brick building (the (former) post office) with an early timber framed clad addition to the rear (ibid, 2014). 9 rooms with 12/ ceilings, timber floors, wide skirting boards, polished cedar staircase. Four bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 659 sq.m. Zoned commercial/residential with an approved DA for a boutique hotel and cafe. Restored, keeping many of its original features (Campbell Property, 2/2021). Outbuildings: In the rear yard adjacent to Wards Lane are two structures (a metal container and a single storey timber / asbestos-clad shed)(ibid, 2014). Fenced yard, old garden with original well and space for parking (Campbell Property, 2/2021).
	Date condition updated:08 Feb 21
Modifications and dates:	1915: alterations and repairs - Building was originally all facebrick. Facebrick has been painted and paint removed over time. In 1917 a photo shows the eastern wall painted but the front unpainted. 1924 a telephone line was installed, 1925 electricity. 1948: the street awning was removed 1952 a stamp machine was installed and 1953 a 'pay phone' was installed (ibid, 2014). - Balcony infilled with windows featuring glass louvres some time after 1949. Low cast iron lace work balustrade also removed.


Current use:	Residence
Former use:	Aboriginal land, farm, post office, retail shop (Patchwork) and teaching classes

History

Historical notes:

INDIGENOUS HISTORY
Gundungurra or Gandangarra people lived in the Southern Highlands area, which includes Mittagong, for many thousands of years. People who spoke the Gundungurra language lived in the Blue Mountains, the Southern Highlands and the Goulburn Plains of New South Wales. They lived in small groups of extended family members, who were attached to particular country areas. After Anglo-European settlers caused displacement of Gundungurra people, they often worked on farms or grazing properties within and adjacent to their traditional countries (Di Johnson: 2004).

Gundungurra groups left archaeological evidence of their occupation throughout their traditional homelands, including scarred trees where bark was removed for use as a boat or other object, grinding grooves on rocks where axes were ground, and occupation sites which include middens. Well-worn Gundungurra pathways on ridge tops were often the routes used as the first roads by colonists (Di Johnson, 2004). Possibly this could have been the origin of the Old South Road where the Hassall and Jefferis Cottages are located.

The area is home to the Tharawal and Gungungurra people (Robinson, 2008).

Camden and the Cow Pastures:
The area is associated with the early history of the colony of New South Wales. Governor Hunter named it 'The Cowpastures' after cattle which had strayed from the Farm Cove settlement were discovered there in 1795 (to the south-west of Sydney). Due to the early European settlers, namely the Macarthurs, who established flourishing wool, wine and wheat industries here, the area is said to be the 'birthplace of the nation's wealth' (ibid, 2008).

Mittagong settler history:
(Colonial) settlement in Mittagong developed early in (the 19th century). In 1816 (Governor) Macquarie referred to Mittagong as 'Marragan or Minnikin' and then (surveyor) James Meehan spelt it Mittagong in March 1818. James (?surveyor, John) Oxley also spelt it this way two years earlier. In its early application Mittagong referred to the range, which ends in the Gib (Mt. Gibraltar) but in March 1818, Meehan mentioned 'Mittagong Station Flat'. A village was formed at the Iron Works called 'Nattai' and then known as 'New Sheffield'. In 1848 Thomas Moore gave evidence before the Select Committee on Railways that the neighbourhood of Chalkers Flat was a place where a station could be formed. In 1867 the railway was completed and called 'Mittagong'. This area is now known as Lower Mittagong, where William Chalker had his property in 1821. A permit was granted to him in 1821 that allowed him to go through the Cow Pastures (Southwestern Sydney) with 93 head of cattle with 2 stock keepers to graze his stock on the Mittagong Range. Chalker was the Principal Overseer of Government Stock at the Cow Pastures and for his services received 200 acres of land, but he died before the grant was surveyed. This land was later granted to Elizabeth Sheckell, his widow, who remarried after his death. William Chalker is regarded as a pioneer of the district of Mittagong and his land climbed over the Mittagong Ranges that is now known as Old South Road (Bolst and Conacher, 2014)

In 1827 George Cutler built a building to be used as an inn, which was originally granted to Robert Plumb. This land is known as Portion 73, Parish of Mittagong. Cutler ended up being fined as he anticipated the issue of a license and began selling alcohol. In July 1830 a free license was issued for 1 year and the inn was named 'The Kangaroo' (ibid, 2014).

For some years Charles Sturt resided on a property on Old South Road. In 1836, Sturt as a dairyman employed the notorious bushranger Martin Cash. He began milking two cows, which later increased to eight. Cash said Sturt was a quiet man and was rarely seen (ibid, 2014).

On Rowels Hill in the 1850s the first church was built, which was also used as a school. The church was a slab and bark structure, which was replaced by a better building with the foundation stone being laid on 28/8/1861. In 1873 services ceased and the building (was) demolished with two of the stones being built into the extensions of St. Stephen's Church, Mittagong, in 1928 (ibid, 2014)..

From 1820 to 1835 traffic to the south used the old road that went through Mittagong. When the new line (of The Great South Road) through Berrima opened, the highway over the Mittagong Range and to Bong Bong was deserted. Lower Mittagong was the first (colonial) pioneer settlement of the district (ibid, 2014).

The Great Southern Railway:
1867 was a momentous year. In December, the newly completed railway line from Sydney opened and in anticipation for an influx of people, the owners of the large estates began subdividing, with the first town plots sold in 1863. By the time Moss Vale station opened, the town had a store, postal service and hotel, mainly to cater for the needs of the large number of railway workers and their families who had come to the district. Their small tent communities had sprung up all along the Great Southern Railway line as it forged south to Goulburn. Lewis Levy from Berrima opened the first store, having cannily anticipated the decline in business in Berrima once it was bypassed by the railway. Business people of Sutton Forest saw Moss Vale's potential as the future centre of the district and many of the first land buyers in Moss Vale were Sutton Forest and Berrima people (ibid, 2001, 82).

The coming of the railway to Moss Vale required subdivision of part of Throsby Park estate and provided impetus for the establishment of the town of Moss Vale. Its name commemorates Jemmy Moss, an ex-convict servant of Charles Throsby, who lived in a hut on Throsby land in what is now Spring Street, Moss Vale. Moss had been transported to NSW for 7 years in 1828 for stealing but proved a valued employee to the Throsby family.

The opening up of the Yarrawa Brush (rainforest area, split up and cleared for farming) in the 1860s - the Robertson, Burrawang and Wilde's Meadow area - added to the importance of the rail head at Moss Vale, which became the district centre for sending produce and other freight to the Sydney market (Emery, 2001, 82).

In 1869 a visitor to the area described passing through a number of farms and homesteads with cleared pasture country and fertile lands in a more or less satisfactory state of cultivation (ibid, 2014).

The Government leased 100 acres in 1895 to supply the Cottage Homes with wood and vegetables. The Southwood Estate was later leased with these properties covering ...540 acres being purchased. 22 men from an Asylm cleared and cultivated the land. Some of these men were then employed in boot repairing and making clothes for the Homes. The property was then used as a home for wayward boys with a building for 50-80 boys being built in 1906. Since then many more buildings have been erected. A modern school was built in 1959 with 12 houses, which can accommodate 250 boys now standing on the property (ibid, 2014).

The Marist Brothers with the idea of building a sanatorium purchased Dr. Chisholm Ross' Rowes Hill farm with 400 acres. In 1917 the Australian Juniorate of the Order was moved to Lower Mittagong and additions were made in 1923. In 1930 new buildings for the Juniorate were opened and blessed (ibid, 2014).

(Surveyor-General) Major Mitchell's new road was constructed through Mittagong to cater for travellers. Edward Chalker got a license for the King('s?) Arms on the 27/6/1836 and then George Cutler got a license on the new line of road for the Kangaroo Inn on 13/8/1836. In 1837 Chalker renewed his license and then on the 26/6/1832 Chalker got a license for the Woodpack Inn at the Nattai Bridge. William McGrath held the Kangaroo Inn license but in 1839 its licensee was Ann Culter and she continued to hold it, as did John Chalker for the Woodpack Inn. The Kangaroo Inn was situated at the southern end of Mittagong with the Woodpack Inn at the northern end. Ann Cutler employed Alexander Brand in 1845 to build a new inn, which was named the Fitzroy Inn (after the then NSW Governor). This building became known as 'Oaklands' and still stands and is used a s aguesthouse (ibid, 2014)..

A subdivision of land known as 'Town of Gainsbrough' had an attempt at being sold in 2/1841, and then a subdivision called 'Livingstone Township' was alse offered for sale but both appeared to fail (not sell). No land was then subdivided until the (Fitz Roy) Iron Works began, with (the) company using some of its land as housing. In 1865 the iron works were situated on the right hand (west) side of the road going south, with the workers housing located on the opposite side. The houses were on the side of a gently sloping hill and were either slab or bark huts (ibid, 2014).

In 8/1861 it was suggested by Surveyor Campbell that a portion of land close to the mine be reserved for village purposes as he thought that in time the position might become the centre of a large manufacturing district. The reserve was made in 1862 and named 'Village of Fitzroy' (ibid, 2014).

In 1863 the Government intended to form a principal station on the southern (railway) line near the iron works. A subdivision with 245 blocks int he township of 'New Sheffield' was offered for sale in 5/1865. Many attended the sale with 3000 pounds worth of land sold (ibid, 2014).

In 1/1866 a news report stated that during the previous months the importance of 'New Sheffield' had increased with many dwellings made of slab, bark or corrugated iron, the township would know (sic: now) have at least two hotels, stores, a Wesleyan church and some weatherboard cottages. Many structures were erected with not a week passing w(h)ere (sic: without) a building being started or finished. In March 1867 the station in Mittagong came into use and adjoined the town on a small flat with bush all around it (ibid, 2014).

The prosperity of the town relied on the iron works and when it periodically closed, it (the town) stagnated (ibid, 2014).

John McCullum, a native of Argylshire (Scotland) arrived in New South Wales in 1860 (and) founded the coach building in Mittagong that was very prosperous for many years. He worked on a Government contract and then ASN Co. employed him to fit up a steamer. He worked on railway construction for five years and then etered into a partnership with a man by the name of Stobo at the blacksmiths and general wheelwrights in 1866. After dissolution of the partnership, McCullum continued the business till he died in 1882. McCullum's two sons, HEctor and Archibald Duncan continued the business for many years. The business manufactured all descriptions of vehicles as well as ploughs and ironwork. The brothers erected a building in Bowral between 1903-4,w here business was conducted until 1908, when it was sold (ibid, 2014).

There was a demand for building sites in the 1880s with the land required not being available. The Mittagong Land Company had acquired 1500 acres of iron works land and in 1883 they subdivided 140 acres. In 4/1884 they put the land up for auction and sold 120 acres for 13,809 pounds. Business sites sold from 1 pound 15 shillings to 10 pounds 10 shillings per foot, with housing sites varying from 8 pounds to 1 pound 6 shillings per foot. Houses began to be erected later in the year (ibid, 2014).

In 1890 many substantial buildings were erected and in 1910 the building trade was reported to be busy with cottages being built. In 1921 there was a large building boom with Horton's and WH.Jones' new stores (being) built, the Roman Catholic church built, at a cost of almost 2000 pounds and a number of cottages were erected. In 1926, 84 building applications were approved with a new convent and wing being added at Frensham (school, to Mittagong's east) (ibid, 2014).

Postal Service History:
Until the invention of hte electric telegraph, transport and communications were, in almost all cases, closely related. Letters and messages have long been part of humanity's cultural repertoire and by the time of foundation of British colonies in Australia, communication had developed into a formalised service (ibid, 2014)..

A regular collection and distrubition of mail in NSW dates from as early as 1809, with the appointment of Isaac Nichols as NSW Postmaster. Initially his task was confined to collecting mail from incoming ships' captains, then passing it on to addressees in his home (town) for the set fee of a shilling for a letter and up to five shillings for a parcel (ibid, 2014).

From 1828 the government began to invite tenders for mail carriage and delivery by both land and sea, and quickly a modest postal network developed, with road services as far as Bathurst and Goulburn (weekly) and sea services to Newcastle and Hobart (ibid, 2014).

During the 1850s postal services became far more regular, and a substantial colonial investment in postal infrastructure commenced. In 1849 there were already over 30 post offices in what would soon become Victoria, but after 1850 there was a spurt of post office construction in all the colonies. From the 1850s, each major rural centre had a postmaster of its own. The post office became a symbol of the presence of civilisation in many an outback town. Government Architects built enormous post offices in major provincial towns as statements of the authority and prescence of the government. In many towns, the post office was part of an official precinct, with the police station and courthouse built adjacent. If topography permitted, the railway station would be part of the same precinct. These buildings were designed intentionally to make a statement that the Australian colonies were civilised British countries (ibid, 2014)..

Rail transport was used for mail from the inception of regular train services in NSW in 1855. The colonial governments always gave preference to rail transport for mail contracts if it was available, not only because rail was easily the fastest and most reliable transport around but also because nearly all railways were owned by the same colonial governments which operated the post offices (ibid, 2014).

The post offices were so important in colonial social and economic life that they were under the control of a cabinet minister, known as the postmaster-general. Like all public institutions at the time, the colonial post offices became centres of pork-barrelling and political intrigue. Every rural electorate wanted improved roads and bridges, so the postmaster-general's position was a powerful one in the colonial cabinets (ibid, 2014).

During the 1860s, the post offices rapidly acquired ancillary services, most notably the burgeoning telegraphs and banking facilities. All colonies had some sort of government savings bank, in some cases owned by the post office, in others using the post offices as agencies. All these services meant that post offices, like railway stations, were focal centres of social interaction on (in) country towns in colonial Australia, and also played a similar role in the growing suburbs of the big cities (ibid, 2014).

There seems to have been a distinct heirarchy in the provision of Post Office buildings as follows:
1. main municipal public building: examples in Mittagong, Bowral, Moss Vale, Wollongong (Market Square and Crown Street), Kiama and Nowra, where large classical (Green and Roman Revival) buildings occupied important positions in the streetscape;

2. Suburban or Rural Buildings: these range widely in appearance, size etc, from sub-let spaces in general stores to existing buidlings. They were either purchased or let facilities (ibid, 2014).

Mittagong Post Office (former):
The first official post office (in Mittagong) was established in the old Fitzroy Inn, now Watson's Hotel (Oakdlands), with mail being received on the third day after posting in Sydney (ibid, 2014).

In 1866 the post office was established in a brick store in Fitzroy Street, approximately where (the) automatic telephone exchange is now situated. In 1867 the post office was removed to a different site which was described as being a bark hut in the centre of town. (This is presumed to be Burrows Store, also known as Bachelors' Hall, where the old Mittagong Shire Council Chambers now stands) (ibid, 2014).

In 1875 the name of the Post Office officially changed to Mittagong Post Office (on 1/8/1875) as the railway station was already known by that name. This probably coincided with the post office being moved to the railway station. For some years, the stationmaster was also in charge of the post office, operating from a room on the railway station premises (ibid, 2014).

In 1883 the post office was located at the west of the town at Jennie Coull's store (Andrew Prott was postmaster). This building stood on the western side of the present Boston Ivy building (ibid, 2014).

The Subject Post Office Building (1890-91):
The Mittagong Post Office was built in 1890 and reflects the advancement Mittagong had made in the late 19th century and evidence of the rising importance of the Southern Highlands. It was designed in the (NSW) Colonial Architect's Office during James Barnet's term of office*. It opened for business on 4/5/1891. Andrew Prott assumed the position as postmaster of the new building for many years (ibid, 2014).

Tenders were sought for alterations and repairs in 1915 and in 1924 a telephone line was installed, in 1925 electricity. The street awning (on the building) was removed in 1948. In 1952 a stamp machine was installed and in 1953 a 'pay phone' was installed (ibid, 2014).

*James Johnstone Barnet (1827-1904) was made acting Colonial Architect in 1862 and appointed Colonial Architect from 1865-90. He was born in Scotland and studied in London under Charles Richardson, RIBA and William Dyce, Professor of Fine Arts at King's College, London. He was strongly influenced by Charles Robert Cockerell, leading classical theorist at the time and by the fine arts, particularly works of painters Claude Lorrain and JRM Turner. He arrived in Sydney in 1854 and worked as a self-employed builder. He served as Edmund Blacket's clerk of works on the foundations of the Randwick (Destitute Childrens') Asylum. Blacket then appointed Barnet as clerk-of-works on the Great Hall at Sydney University. By 1859 he was appointed second clerk of works at the Colonial Architect's Office and in 1861 was Acting Colonial Architect. Thus began a long career. He dominated public architecture in NSW, as the longest-serving Colonial Architect in Australian history. Until he resigned in 1890 his office undertook some 12,000 works, Barnet himself designing almost 1000. They included those edifices so vital to promoting communication, the law and safe sea arrivals in colonial Australia. Altogether there were 169 post and telegraph offices, 130 courthouses, 155 police buildings, 110 lockups and 20 lighthouses, including the present Macquarie Lighthouse on South Head, which replaced the earlier one designed by Francis Greenway. Barnet's vision for Sydney is most clearly seen in the Customs House at Circular Quay, the General Post Office in Martin Place and the Lands Department and Colonial Secretary's Office in Bridge Street. There he applied the classicism he had absorbed in London, with a theatricality which came from his knowledge of art (Le Sueur, 2016, 6).

It was used for approximately 73 years as a post office, until 1964 when it closed and was replaced with a new post office, (built) on a site on Hume Highway (now 61-63 Main Street) opposite the tourist office, on the present north side of the highway, where it remains today (LEP, 2010; ibid, 2014).

From 1964 the former (1890-1) Post Office was used by the Patchwork Shop for retail purposes and conducting of classes (ibid, 2014).

After 2012 the site was used as a private residence (ibid, 2014).

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments	Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures.	Other open space-
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments	Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures.	Changing the environment-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Commerce-Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services	Developing discrete retail and commercial areas-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Communication-Activities relating to the creation and conveyance of information	Postal and telecommunication services-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Communication-Activities relating to the creation and conveyance of information	Mail trains and parcels service-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Communication-Activities relating to the creation and conveyance of information	Communicating by mail-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Communication-Activities relating to the creation and conveyance of information	Communicating by telegraph-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Communication-Activities relating to the creation and conveyance of information	Post Office-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings	Developing local, regional and national economies-National Theme 3
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings	Landscapes of institutions - productive and ornamental-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings	Landscapes of urban amenity-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Accommodation-Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities.	Building settlements, towns and cities-National Theme 4
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Accommodation-Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities.	Victorian era offices-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Accommodation-Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities.	Housing in shop-based accommodation-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Accommodation-Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities.	Adapted heritage building or structure-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Townships-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Suburban Centres-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Expressing lines of early grant allotments-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Administering and alienating Crown lands-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Changing land uses - from rural to suburban-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Resuming private lands for public purposes-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Changing land uses - from suburban to urban-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Subdivision of urban estates-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Developing the social life of a rural community-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Railway Suburbs-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Impacts of railways on rural development-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Rural Estates-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Roadside Villages-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Suburban Expansion-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	19th Century Infrastructure-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Role of transport in settlement-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Beautifying towns and villages-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Developing private towns-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Creating landmark structures and places in regional settings-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Creating landmark structures and places in regional settings-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Cultural Social and religious life-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Shaping inland settlements-
5. Working-Working	Labour-Activities associated with work practises and organised and unorganised labour	Working on public infrastructure projects-
5. Working-Working	Labour-Activities associated with work practises and organised and unorganised labour	Working complex machinery and technologies-
5. Working-Working	Labour-Activities associated with work practises and organised and unorganised labour	Working in the public service-
5. Working-Working	Labour-Activities associated with work practises and organised and unorganised labour	Working in offices-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	State government-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Developing roles for government - administration of land-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Developing roles for government - building and operating public infrastructure-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Developing roles for government - conserving cultural and natural heritage-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Developing roles for government - facilitating telecommunications-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Developing roles for government - providing postal services-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Developing cultural institutions and ways of life-National Theme 8
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Interior design styles and periods - Edwardian-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Interior design styles and periods - Victorian-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Applying architectural design to utlilitarian structures-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Landscaping - Victorian period-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Architectural styles and periods - Victorian (late)-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with James Barnet, Colonial (Government) Architect 1862-90-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with Andrew Prott, Mittagong Postmaster, c1890+-

Recommended management:

Recommendations

Management Category	Description	Date Updated
Recommended Management	Produce a Conservation Management Plan (CMP)
Recommended Management	Prepare a maintenance schedule or guidelines
Recommended Management	Carry out interpretation, promotion and/or education

Procedures /Exemptions

Section of act	Description	Title	Comments	Action date
57(2)	Exemption to allow work	Heritage Act	general maintenance Order Under Section 57(2) to exempt the following activities from Section 57(1): (1) The maintenance of any building or item on the site where maintenance means the continuous protective care of existing material. (2) Any alteration to the interiors.	Nov 7 1986
57(2)	Exemption to allow work	Heritage Act	See File For Schedule Order Under Section 57(2) to exempt the following activities from Section 57(1): (1) The maintenance of any building or item on the site where maintenance means the continuous protective care of existing material; and (2) Garden maintenance including cultivation, pruning, weed control, the repair and maintenance of existing fences, gates, garden walls and tree surgery but not extensive lopping; (3) Change of use.	Mar 17 1989
57(2)	Exemption to allow work	Standard Exemptions	HERITAGE ACT 1977 ORDER UNDER SECTION 57(2) TO GRANT STANDARD EXEMPTIONS FROM APPROVAL I, Penny Sharpe, the Minister for Heritage, on the recommendation of the Heritage Council of New South Wales and under section 57(2) of the Heritage Act 1977: revoke the order made on 2 June 2022 and published in the Government Gazette Number 262 of 17 June 2022; and grant an exemption from section 57(1) of the Act in respect of the engaging in or carrying out the class of activities described in clause 2 Schedule A in such circumstances specified by the relevant standards in clause 2 Schedule A and General Conditions in clause 3 Schedule A. This Order takes effect on the date it is published in the NSW Government Gazette. Dated this 29th day of October 2025 The Hon Penny Sharpe MLC Minister for Heritage For more information on standard exemptions click on the link below.	Nov 7 2025

Standard exemptions for engaging in or carrying out activities / works otherwise prohibited by section 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Heritage Act - State Heritage Register		00631	02 Apr 99	27	1546
Heritage Act - Permanent Conservation Order - former		00631	17 Mar 89	32	1450
State Environmental Planning Policy	Illawarra REP no.1		11 Apr 86	60
Local Environmental Plan	Post Office (former)	I1492	16 Jun 10
Register of the National Estate	Post Office (former)	1570

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title
Written	Borst and Conacher Architects	2014	Statement of Heritage Impact - Mittagong Post Office Building 1890 - Proposed Alterations and Additions
Written	Campbell Property	2021	5 Station Street, Mittagong (advertisement)
Written	Emery, Linda	2008	Pictorial History Southern Highlands
Written	Le Sueur, Angela	2016	Colonial Architects - part 2

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.

(Click on thumbnail for full size image and image details)

Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Heritage NSW
Database number:	5045583
File number:	S90/02079 & KHC 861552

Every effort has been made to ensure that information contained in the State Heritage Inventory is correct. If you find any errors or omissions please send your comments to the Database Manager.

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