Post Office Progress

The Property Council of Australia has welcomed reports that Chinese investors have approached the Awabakal Aboriginal Land Council to build an international hotel on the site of Newcastle’s heritage listed post office.

NSW Regional Director, Andrew Fletcher, said it was exactly the sort of creative solution needed to preserve the iconic building.

“We’ve seen what happens when any commercial use of the site is made unviable – our beautiful heritage crumbles before our eyes.”

“It is a blight on our city and should be an embarrassment for our civic leaders.”

“A proposal like this has the potential to generate the revenue needed to maintain this amazing example of Academic Classical style architecture for decades to follow”

Mr. Fletcher said the Post Office’s owners only needed to look as far as Sydney to see what could be achieved.

“The adaptive reuse of both the Queen Victoria Building and the Sydney GPO in Martin Place are perfect examples of how to conserve our heritage for future generations.”

“Newcastle should aspire to have world-class redevelopments within heritage precincts – just like Sydney has done.”

“But that will require political leaders to show some vision and flexibility around design.”

“Without the building height needed to provide enough hotel rooms, investors will continue to stay away”

“And to save our Post Office, serious investment dollars is exactly what’s required.”

Media contact: Andrew Fletcher | M 0407 410 017 | E [email protected]