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Post Office Cartoon
Title : Post Office Cartoon Post Office Cartoon
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Creator : Clint, Alfred, artist
Source : South Australiana Database
Date of creation : 1874
Format : Photograph
Dimensions : 145 x 930
Contributor : State Library catalogue
Catalogue record
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Description :

Cartoon by Alfred Clint showing a variety of people in the main hall of the General Post Office in Adelaide. The central hall has entrances from Victoria Square and King William Street. These are arched with coffered ceilings and have wrought iron gates. The steps are of Mintaro slate. The hall itself is 90 x 35 feet, and the height of the two storeys of the building. A gallery runs around the hall and is supported on cast iron trusses with a matching balustrade. The ceiling has decorative panels and centre pieces which conceal the ventilators.


The Adelaide General Post Office is located on Victoria Square on the corner of King William and Franklin Streets. A design competition was held in 1865. Included in the competition's design parameters was that the building not exceed 20,000 pounds to build. 13 design entries were received. Edmund Wright and Edward Woods submitted the winning design. Their design had to be modified somewhat as it exceeded the budget. When the GPO finally opened on the 6 May 1872 the final cost was 53 258 pounds 9 shillings and 2 pennies.
Further extensions were made including the installation of the tower clock in 1876 and the addition of a north wing in 1891-1892.
Subjects
Related names :

General Post Office (Adelaide, S. Aust.)

Wright, Edmund W. (Edmund William), 1824-1888

Woods, Edward John, 1839-1916

Coverage year : 1874
Period : 1852-1883
Place : King William Street (Adelaide: S. Aust.); Franklin Street (Adelaide, S. Aust.)
Region : Adelaide city
Further reading :
Centenary of the General Post Office, Adelaide, 1867-1967 [Adelaide: Postmaster-General's Dept., 1967]
Heritage of the city of Adelaide: an illustrated guide Adelaide: Corporation of the City of Adelaide, 1990
Page, Michael F. Sculptors in space: South Australian architects 1836-1986 [Adelaide, S. Aust.]: Royal Australian Institute of Architects (South Australian Chapter), 1986
Morgan, E. J. R. Early Adelaide architecture 1836 to 1886 Melbourne, New York: Oxford University Press [1969]
Turney, Barbara Adelaide, city of charm [Kent Town, S. Aust.]: Axiom Publishing, 1989
Internet links :
The Register of the National Estate : Search the register Enter General post office, Adelaide, South Australia
Exhibitions and events :

State Library of South Australia: Mortlock Wing. From the ground up August 2004-


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