Wool was an early local export, with the original Maryborough site, occupied until 1855, located between the Bruce Highway and the Mary River.

[1] The Maryborough Post Office was constructed in this thriving period (1865-66) to designs prepared by Colonial Architect, Charles Tiffin.

The Wharf Street loggia was enclosed in 1875-77 by contractors J and J Rooney to increase accommodation and improve lighting and ventilation.

The first country telephone exchange was opened in Maryborough in November 1882, and a new wing constructed to house the expanding operation in 1885, as well as the enclosure of the Bazaar Street loggia.

[1][2] The design and alterations were undertaken by the Colonial Architect's office under Charles Tiffin (1865–66); then FDG Stanley (1875–79, tower extension), JJ Clark (1882–85) and Alfred Barton Brady (1896–1906).

[1] Maryborough Post Office is at the corner of Bazaar and Wharf Streets, near the Mary River docks area and next door to the Law Courts, a Federation-era building, with Queens Park to its immediate north.

The 1866-9 exterior was designed by Charles Tiffin, including the broad form of an astylar palazzo with each loggia in antis between flanking pavilions with layered arched windows on the ground floor.

[1] The upper level in Tiffin's design was composed of two recessed stories above each loggia framed by the first floors of each pavilion.

This arrangement needed more sun protection, so in 1886, during JJ Clark's term as Government Architect, the pavilions, tower and bays were then all linked by a deep sheltering verandah, carried on turned columns, rounded at the corner, with two low gables fronting its fascia directly in front of the corner tower bays.

Subsequently, the loggia arches were closed over on the Wharf Street side, being replaced by double-hung sash windows and partly hidden by the awning.

From this work, too, came the opening of the double-layered arch at the clock tower base, to allow better access to the post office boxes inside.

In 1948 a new telephone exchange building was added to the site, during Frank Gibson Costello's term as Government Architect, and a three-truck garage was built.

[1] The significant components of Maryborough Post Office include the main postal complex of 1877-78 and clock tower, together with the weatherboard outbuilding to the rear.

Its scale and imposing presence, including the prominent clock tower, is demonstrative of the growing regional importance of Maryborough in the nineteenth century.

Later nineteenth century works which impacted on the original form and planning include the enclosure of the loggias, a further storey added to the corner tower, a new wing constructed to house the expanding telephone exchange operation, a timber-framed balcony to the first floor level of the postmaster's quarters; and a variety of other internal and external alterations and additions in the twentieth century.

These later works have impacted and diminished the typological attributes of the building[1] Stylistically and architecturally, however, the building retains its Renaissance Revival and Italianate styling, as per Charles Tiffin's original design, including the symmetrical composition of a prominent corner clock tower flanked by arcaded loggias in antis between flanking pavilions and layered arched windows.

Its Renaissance Revival and Italianate styling, including the symmetrical composition of a prominent corner clock tower flanked by arcaded loggias and pavilions; the rusticated banding, moulded cornices and architraves; and the pattern of fenestration and original timber window and door joinery, all contribute to the building's presence within the streetscape.

[1] This Wikipedia article was originally based on Maryborough Post Office, entry number 106140 in the Australian Heritage Database published by the Commonwealth of Australia 2018 under CC-BY 4.0 licence, accessed on 1 October 2018.