By Christine de Kock
ALTONA is thought to have been established as a township in 1918 with a post office, store, railway station and powder magazine.
The Altona Post Office, on the corner of Pier St and Queen St was established in 1969. Despite the passing of several decades, postal workers at Altona have preserved copies of the 1969 Altona Star which carried the postal office opening on its front page.
Post office worker Garry Marks, rediscovered the papers recently and was intrigued how the changes in communication had directly affected the way the Altona Post Office adapted to meet the needs of the community.
“Back then, the main purpose of the post office was a place where people could pick up their pension, pay for their television licence, pay their phone bill and of course mail things,” Mr Marks said.
“That changed in 1975 when the Post Master General split and Telecom formed, it became separate from the post office.
“Nowadays we have several things people can buy, including mobile phones and books.”
He said the Altona Post Office was also engaged in community building activities like taking part in local open market days for staff to personally introduce themselves to the community.
“We’re also selling a lot of AFL merchandise, especially the Western Bulldogs merchandise, getting ready for the footy season.”
The Post Office building has also changed over the years.
It was once a hub of activity as ‘posties’ sorted the mail, bundled it up and scooted out on their pushbikes to deliver the mail.
But the mail room was made obsolete in 2001and was renovated and leased as a $2 shop.
That too closed down and this month the former posties’ room opened as the restaurant Mosaic.
