| General Post Office Adelaide | |
|---|---|
.jpg) View from Victoria Square, c. 1885 | |
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| General information | |
| Location | Adelaide, South Australia, Australia |
| Coordinates | 34°55′33.96″S 138°36′0.66″E / 34.9261000°S 138.6001833°E |
| Construction started | 1867 |
| Completed | 1872 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Edmund Wright and Edward Woods |
General Post Office, a colonial-era building situated on 141 King William Street on the north-west corner of King William Street and Victoria Square, is the former General Post Office for South Australia, Australia, Postal services operated from the building between 6 May 1872 and 11 October 2019.
The original 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]
On 14 October 2019, Adelaide's GPO was relocated to the adjacent 'GPO Exchange' tower at 10 Franklin St. The original building is planned to be turned into a retail and dining hub, with a 15-storey, 285-room Westin hotel to be built above it.[5]
