You don't need Ahmed Fahour's salary to afford these post offices
Head of Australia Post Ahmed Fahour might have a salary of $5.6 million, but you don’t need that sort of coin to stamp your ownership on these old post offices.
Some of them even come with a postmaster’s house, meaning you’ll have your living arrangements covered too.
While technically just buying a post office doesn’t always entitle you to the power of the postmaster – you need to acquire the licence too – it’s a solid start.
Some older post office buildings serve as a great home, retail or office conversion, and in smaller towns they can sometimes be the only meeting point for locals, or even the only store. So even if the practice of sending letters ends up going postal, you will still have a diversified investment.
1. Leura post office, NSW
Set in the Blue Mountains town of Leura, the former post office has most recently been a newsagency. Photo: Supplied
Okay, so this listing doesn’t offer the opportunity to buy a post office per se, or even the post office business. But it does allow you to set up shop in the town’s beautiful former post office building, and you’ll still be dealing with paper. The current tenants of the old Leura Post Office are looking to pass on the lease for the building, and their newsagent business located within, for $200,000. If that doesn’t float your boat, there’s the chance to split the space into three separate retail shops.
2. Menangle post office, NSW
The Menangle Store is in an area with a fast-growing population. Photo: Supplied
Built in about 1904, the Menangle Store currently operates as a post office, bottle shop and post office. It also includes two residential tenancies and a barn, which could be used as a workshop or function room. It’s located 52 kilometres from Sydney’s CBD, and a 10-minute drive to both Campbelltown and Camden – two of the city’s booming outer suburbs. The store is currently for sale via expressions of interest, with a price guide of about $1.8 million.
3. Former Pyrmont post office, NSW
The former Pyrmont post office is heritage listed. Photo: Supplied
Built between 1841 and 1851 from convict-hewn local sandstone, the former Pyrmont post office and post master’s residence is on the market, with offers of more than $6.6 million considered. The building, on the corner of Harris Street and Union Square is heritage listed. Partially tenanted to Bendigo Bank, partially vacant possession, the four-level building has period features, including original fireplaces, mantles and timber staircase, as well as a backyard.
4. Uki post office, NSW
Uki Post Office also includes a three-bedroom flat. Photo: Supplied
Opened in 1916, the Uki post office was owned by the same family up until 14 years ago, when the current owners purchased it. The building is also being used as a newsagents and comes with a three-bedroom flat attached. Uki is situated near Mount Warning in the Tweed Valley. The post office is on the market at $445,000.
5.Wiangaree post office, NSW
The Wiangaree General Store serves many purposes, one of them being the town’s post office. Photo: Supplied
Built in 1926, the Wiangaree General Store serves a number of purposes for the the small town: bottle shop, post office, truck stop, newsagents, grocery store and take away food shop. Priced at $1.22 million, the property also comes with a four-bedroom home. The store has been owned by two families since it was built.
6. Karangi post office, NSW
Karangi General Store, combining a commercial kitchen with a licensed post office. Photo: Supplied
The Karangi General Store consists of a freehold general store, licensed post office and commercial kitchen with attached two-bedroom creekfront home, with views of the creek from every room. The property has recently been renovated, and includes a fully equipped commercial kitchen. The store stocks general grocery items, drinks and ice creams and is located next to the local primary school. It’s for sale for $399,000.
7. Milton post office, NSW
This post office in the town of Milton was built in about 1879. When first built there was an entire room dedicated to the battery power required for the electronic telegraph equipment, as there was no electricity in the area at the time. Business at the post office was originally conducted through a window.
The building is being marketed as a blank canvas, with a bit of work to bring the residential section of the building into the 21st century. There is also the option to purchase the post office licence and continue to use the building as a business.
Under offer at the time of writing, listing agent Rhonda Finlayson could not confirm a price guide.
The former Milton Post Office building is currently under offer. Photo: Supplied
8. Clifton Hill Post Office, Victoria
Clifton Hill Post Office is on the market. Photo: Supplied
Located in the heart of Clifton Hill village in Melbourne’s inner-north, Clifton Hill Post Office comes securely tenanted with a long-term lease. The building is going to auction in March, with listing agent Damien Theisz of Nelson Alexander giving a price guide of $1.9 to $2 million.
