Old WA post office for sale: Historic Bunbury building to go under the hammer

The 126-square-metre building at 500 Stephen Street was most recently occupied by a community group, the Bunbury Timber Jetty Preservation Society. It was also used as a telegraph office and to accommodate police and court officials.

The old Bunbury post office, one of the WA regional city’s oldest buildings, will be sold at auction on June 3.

In its early years, the post office also served as the town’s bonded store – a designated storage area for government or customs purposes.

Other significant WA buildings established around the same time include Fremantle Arts Centre and Perth’s Barracks Arch and Government House, both in St Georges Terrace.

In 2015, the state government offered to sell the post office to the Bunbury City Council but the council decided against buying the property.

The structure, one of the few buildings remaining from the original colonial settlement, was added to the WA Register of Heritage Places in July 2002.

Built in the Victorian Georgian style, the single-storey limestone building roofed in jarrah shingles stands on a 494-square-metre site at the junction of of Stephen and Wittenoom streets.

Government records show the building was designed by James Manning, Clerk of Works of the Department of Public Works.

A plaque at the old post office tells the story of the historical site.

Summit Realty is selling the property on behalf of the state government.

Principal Greg Gardiner expects the sale price to be “on either side” of $500,000.

A building company, mining company and solicitors have been among the parties to show interest in the site, which is close to the courthouse and police station.

Mr Gardiner says the building is highly valued by the community, who are keen to see it used again.

Original drawings of the Bunbury post office and bonded store by James Manning. Image: Courtesy State Records Office

The area is zoned City Centre, which allows residential use, but he believes it is more likely to be used for a business.

“It’s probably more suited to someone who wants a nice office that would accommodate three or four people in a central location and who likes the idea of having a unique building like that,” Mr Gardiner says.

A building condition assessment report carried out in 2015 found the property was in fair condition. It had been refurbished in the late 1980s in a reinterpretation of the original post office.

The interior has been refurbished but retains some of its early features.

As part of the sale, the new owner will be required to sign an agreement with the Heritage Council of WA to undertake work on the site for conservation and enhancement.

Urgent work includes repairing the roof and chimney; other less urgent work, including window repairs, stonework and replacement to bricks and mortar, is required to be completed later.

Mr Gardiner says such requirements are standard for heritage properties and recommends prospective buyers do their homework. The opportunity for restoring historical sites appeals to some buyers, he says.