Geelong Post Office building

Geelong Post Office is a red brick structure with two stories built at the intersection of Ryrie and Gheringhap Streets in the city center. The building features a prominent tower containing a clock and displays French Second Empire architectural details such as multiple pediments and decorative rooflines.

The post office was constructed between 1889 and 1890 by architect David Kinnaird to replace an earlier postal building from 1857. This new structure reflected the growing prosperity and expansion of the colonial settlement during that period.

The tower and its bells were funded by local residents to commemorate a British monarch, showing the strong ties this region maintained with Britain at the time. Today, visitors can still hear the bells marking the hours as they pass through the central intersection.

The building sits at a prominent intersection in the city center, making it easy to locate and approach on foot. The large tower is visible from several blocks away and serves as a helpful landmark for orienting yourself in the area.

The building housed the Southern Hemisphere's first automatic telephone exchange when it opened in 1912, making it a technological milestone for the region. This pioneering installation demonstrates how quickly the city adopted advances in modern communication technology.