Sydney GPO, NSW, 2000
S 33° 52.054 E 151° 12.456
56H E 334208 N 6251083
The former Sydney GPO dominates Martin Place in the centre of the city.
Waymark Code: WM87YW
Location: New South Wales, Australia
Date Posted: 02/17/2010
Views: 53
The General Post Office is a landmark building in the city of Sydney. Designed by colonial architect James Barnet, it was built in stages, from 1866 to 1891. It features a neo-classical sandstone facade, with a colonnade running around the building at street level for approximately 100 metres.
Each arch of the colonnade features a carved face on the keystone (representing many parts of the British Empire and other foreign lands), and spandrel figures, whose comical references to real-life personalities (including Barnet himself) caused a controversy at the time of construction.
At the centre of its facade is a white marble statutory group, featuring Queen Victoria flanked by allegorical figures. Above this stands the clocktower.
It function as the main centre for Australia Post in Sydney until 1996, when it was sold to private owners. It was subsequently refurbished and now houses shops, restaurants, hotel rooms, and the lobby of two adjoining tower blocks. A small post office continues to function on George Street.
Text adapted from Wikipedia