The exterior of the building as it appears on the plans will be decidedly handsome; having a height to the top of the parapet of 45 feet, and from the above description it will be seen that the accommodation provided for the public will be a decided improvement upon the existing state of things.The building was opened in 1884, but much to the population's disappointment, the clock tower was not erected initially.

[1] As it was large and richly ornamented, it soon was a favourite motive for post cards, calendars, and crockery.

[3] Ten years later, the tower was added, but the Post and Telegraph Department insisted that the clock and chimes be funded by the Oamaru Borough.

[1] John McLean, a rich runholder and businessman who had lived in Oamaru for the last few decades of his life and who died in 1902, left money in his will for the clock.

Whilst lobbying against this measure was often unsuccessful, the clock in the Oamaru post office was allowed to remain.