General Post Office, Sydney
The General Post Office is a heritage-listed landmark building located in Martin Place, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The original building was constructed in two stages beginning in 1866 and was designed under the guidance of Colonial Architect James Barnet. Composed primarily of local Sydney sandstone, mined in Pyrmont, the primary load-bearing northern façade has been described as "the finest example of the Victorian Italian Renaissance Style in NSW" and stretches 114 metres (374 ft) along Martin Place, making it one of the largest sandstone buildings in Sydney.
The GPO as viewed from Pitt Street
Artist's impression of the time for the future extension of the GPO and creation of a public square, c. 1872.
Completion of the First Stage of Barnet's GPO facing George Street and the widening of St. Martin's Lane (now Martin Place), c. 1872.
GPO main façade, with the recently widened St. Martin's Lane providing unobstructed views as Barnet intended, c. 1890s.
Martin Place is a pedestrian mall in the Sydney central business district, New South Wales, Australia. Martin Place has been described as the "civic heart" of Sydney. As home to the Reserve Bank of Australia, the Commonwealth Bank, Macquarie Bank, Westpac and other corporations, it is also a centre of business and finance. The Sydney GPO is also located on Martin Place.
View from Castlereagh Street
Moore Street/Martin Place circa 1900
View from Castlereagh Street in the 1950s
Panoramic view of the western end of Martin Place: the General Post Office (No. 1) is on the right, the Bank of Australasia Building (No. 2) and Challis House (No. 4) are on the left.