Fortitude Valley Post Office

Fortitude Valley Post Office is a two-story brick building located at the corner of Ann and Ballow Streets, featuring decorated rendered mouldings and cast iron balconies. The ground floor originally contained postal and telegraph services, while the upper level functioned as living quarters for the postmaster.

The building was constructed in 1887 by William Ferguson for the Queensland Post and Telegraph Department, combining postal services with accommodation for the postmaster. It represents one of roughly ten major post offices built in Queensland during the Victorian era between 1879 and 1898.

The building displays typical features of Victorian Italianate design that remain uncommon in Queensland today. The decorated facades and cast iron details reflect the importance that postal services held in the community during that era.

The building sits at a prominent corner location in the heart of Fortitude Valley and is easy to reach on foot. Since it is heritage-protected, visitors should note that it is best viewed from the outside, as the interior remains unavailable for public access.

During the 1920s, the office served as a major center for social security payments and processed hundreds of benefit checks each week. This function made it a crucial financial hub for the surrounding population during a period of economic transformation.