Oamaru Post Office - Current Waitaki District Council

The most splendid and ambitious monument built in Oamaru

We are in front of the former main post office of Oamaru, designed by the architectural firm Forrester and Lemon in 1883.

This French-style building holds historical, architectural, and social significance, reflecting the essential role of communication and postal services in 19th-century New Zealand. It is considered the most splendid and ambitious monument built in Oamaru.

A clock tower that stands firm...

The building that served as the Oamaru post office was constructed in 1864, but the originally planned tower was only completed in 1894. In the mid-1940s, due to concerns about earthquakes, many clocks and bells from post office buildings were removed. The Oamaru clock tower was on the list of elements to be removed, but, as in many other cases, public mobilization allowed it to be preserved. In 1994, the post office vacated the building, and the Waitaki District Council moved in, making it their new headquarters.

Extract of
Explore the Victorian Quarter of Oamaru

Explore the Victorian Quarter of Oamaru image circuit

Presented by : NZ Xplore
Get There
logo
Download the BaladoDiscovery app (for Android and iOS) and access the largest network of self-guided tour experiences in Canada.