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The Old Post Office, 1 Queens Place. Photograph date unknown. Photograph: Balmain Association. Leichhardt Historical Journal No. 24 (2014), p. 26 (PDF p. 28).
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1 Queens Pl, Balmain NSW 2041
1 Queens Pl, Balmain NSW 2041
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Cover photo: The Old Post Office, 1 Queens Place. Photograph date unknown. Photograph: Balmain Association. Leichhardt Historical Journal No. 24 (2014), p. 26 (PDF p. 28). — Date unknown
Year built1850
Timeline entries13
Memories0
Photos2
At a glance
- House typeCottage
- StyleChoose Option
- HeritageYes
- Current statusUnknown
The story of this house
A shop, a home and Balmain’s post officeThe Old Post Office at 1 Queens Place began as a combined shop and home.
In May 1842, Sydney innkeeper Alexander Chape bought Waterview Estate lots 21–22 for £149 1s 6d.
His land stretched along Queens Place and eventually accommodated several buildings; the earlier weatherboard cottages at 2–4 Waterview Street were separate from the stone shop at No.
1.
Around 1850, Chape established a grocery in the new two-storey stone building, with living accommodation upstairs. [1] In 1857, Chape became Balmain’s postmaster and ran the postal service from his grocery.
His appointment connected an ordinary neighbourhood shop with the growing suburb’s communications, and he was also authorised to issue departmental money orders. [1] Catherine Chape and the expanding postal serviceAlexander Chape died at the post office on 21 May 1871.
His widow Catherine inherited No.
1, continued the grocery business and took over as postmistress.
That year she opened a Government Savings Bank agency at the post office.
A telegraph transmitter followed in 1873, adding another service to the building’s role in local life. [2] Catherine retired from postal duties in 1885.
Her successor, Andrew Melville, served until the new post office opened in Darling Street in 1887.
The old premises subsequently returned to other commercial and residential uses.
The journal lists grocers George H Luchre & Son in 1888–1891, P Hall in 1892, Robert Roberts in 1896–1899, and plumber John Tatham from 1900.
Gaps in the listings do not establish that the building was empty. [2] The Tatham family and later tenantsCatherine Chape died in September 1905, and the property passed to her family.
In May 1911 they sold No.
1 together with 2–4 Waterview Street to Lucretia Ann Tatham, John Tatham’s wife.
The couple lived at No.
1 until…
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Timeline highlights
A compact summary of key moments. Scan the QR code to read the full timeline online.
- Alexander Chape acquired the land in May 1842
Alexander Chape purchased lots 21–22 of the Waterview Estate in May 1842 for £149 1s 6d. These lots included the later Old Post…
- Stone shop and upstairs home built around 1850
Chape built a two-storey stone shop with living quarters above and opened a grocery around 1850. The construction date is…
- Alexander Chape became Balmain postmaster in 1857
Chape operated the post office from his grocery at the building now known as 1 Queens Place.
- Catherine Chape took over the post office in 1871
After Alexander Chape died on 21 May 1871, Catherine inherited No. 1, continued the grocery and became postmistress.
- Savings Bank agency opened in 1871
Catherine Chape opened an agency for the Government Savings Bank at the post office in 1871.
- Telegraph transmitter installed in 1873
A telegraph transmitter was installed at the post office in 1873.
- Catherine Chape retired as postmistress in 1885
Andrew Melville succeeded Catherine Chape and served until the Darling Street post office opened in 1887.
- Postal service moved to Darling Street in 1887
The new post office opened in Darling Street in 1887, ending this building’s period as Balmain’s post office.
- John Tatham recorded at the building from 1900
The journal lists plumber John Tatham at No. 1 from 1900.
- Lucretia Ann Tatham purchased the property in May 1911
The Chape family sold No. 1 and 2–4 Waterview Street to Lucretia Ann Tatham, wife of John Tatham.
- Doris Thelma Sykes purchased the property in May 1945
The trustee of Lucretia Corrigan’s estate sold No. 1 and the associated properties to Mrs Doris Thelma Sykes.
- Golden Cob Products purchased No. 1 in July 1947
Mrs Sykes sold the Old Post Office on a separate lot to Golden Cob Products Pty Ltd.
- Alexander Chape acquired the land in May 1842
Alexander Chape purchased lots 21–22 of the Waterview Estate in May 1842 for £149 1s 6d. These lots included the later Old Post…
- Stone shop and upstairs home built around 1850
Chape built a two-storey stone shop with living quarters above and opened a grocery around 1850. The construction date is…
- Alexander Chape became Balmain postmaster in 1857
Chape operated the post office from his grocery at the building now known as 1 Queens Place.
- Catherine Chape took over the post office in 1871
After Alexander Chape died on 21 May 1871, Catherine inherited No. 1, continued the grocery and became postmistress.
- Savings Bank agency opened in 1871
Catherine Chape opened an agency for the Government Savings Bank at the post office in 1871.
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