Tanners, wool scourers and wool-washers, fellmongers, boiling down works and abattoirs had 10 years to move their businesses outside city boundaries.

Public meetings were held and after a flurry of petitions Redfern Municipality was proclaimed on August 11, 1859, the fourth in Sydney to be formed under the Act.

[1] Many of its services have disappeared or been substantially downgraded over the last couple of decades, even though Redfern is still a densely populated inner city suburb.

[2][1] The first official postal service in Australia was established in April 1809, when the Sydney merchant Isaac Nichols was appointed as the first Postmaster in the colony of NSW.

Again the Post Office was responsible for the public telephone exchange, further emphasising its place in the community as a provider of communications services.

[1] The appointment of James Barnet as Acting Colonial Architect in 1862 coincided with a considerable increase in funding to the public works program.

The post offices constructed during this period featured in a variety of architectural styles, as Barnet argued that the local parliamentary representatives always preferred "different patterns".

On 1 October 1871 a branch of the Government Saving Bank opened at Redfern Post Office, followed in c. 1875 by the introduction of the money order system.

Built in 1882, Redfern Post Office is a two-storey Victorian Italianate building with a dominant four and half-storey corner clock tower and is constructed in flush rendered brickwork with cut-render quoining.

The rendered and painted brick section (as shown in Image 7) contains the male bathroom and there is an external storage shed attached to it on the southern side.

The floors to all three porches have modern red tiles, concrete steps, and terrazzo doorway thresholds, with some new aluminium handrails attached to the corner entry.

The ground floor is dominated by moulded arched detailing with prominent keystones and pilasters, and ashlar cut render to the base of the tower and the eastern end of the northern facade.

There is a continuous moulded string course cutting across the arched windows of the first floor, with another at the level of the main roof eaves on the corner tower.

There are large pendant lights in the retail and office areas, with a ceiling fan and exposed air conditioning ducting.

There is a modern tubular steel rail attached to the wall and original or early timber panelling encloses the storeroom below the stair.

[1] The original first-floor residence of Redfern Post Office is currently vacant and has sheet-vinyl-flooring, excepting the tiled female bathroom and locker room in the southeastern corner, which are still utilised.

[1] The exterior form of Redfern Post Office is largely intact, with some modifications to the rear over time, and the addition of painted render.

The interior has undergone extensive change, which has been concentrated largely on the ground floor with the introduction of larger public areas and mail room facilities.

Redfern Post Office retains the features which make it culturally significant, which includes the prominent corner clock tower and the overall style, form and scale of the building.

[1] Conversion of the residence's dining room and kitchen into the rear ground-floor mailroom occurred c. 1938 and involved the removal of the original fireplaces and centre wall.

[1] As at 4 August 2000, Redfern Post Office is significant at a State level for its historical associations, aesthetic qualities and social meaning.

Redfern Post Office reflects the rapid population growth of the area during the latter part of the nineteenth century, which resulted in the need for an improved level of services to the local residents.

[1] Paired with the adjacent former Telephone Exchange building, Redfern Post Office provides an insight into the development of communications services in NSW.

[1] Redfern Post Office reflects the rapid population growth of the area during the latter part of the nineteenth century, which resulted in the need for an improved level of services to the local residents.

[1] Paired with the former Telephone Exchange building, Redfern Post Office provides an insight into the development of communications services in NSW.

Redfern Post Office was designed by Colonial Architect James Barnet, a key practitioner of the Victorian Italianate style of architecture.

Redfern Post Office was designed by Colonial Architect James Barnet, a key practitioner of the Victorian Italianate style of architecture.

[1] The scale, architectural style and location of the building, along with the prominent corner clock tower, also make it a focal point defining the centre of Redfern, endowing it with landmark qualities.

The adjacent Telephone Exchange is architecturally sympathetic to the Post Office, and together add to the character of the corner of Redfern and George Street.

Redfern Post Office is a prominent civic building and a local landmark, and has been the centre of communications for the area for over a century.