General Post Office, Adelaide: Difference between revisions

The original building was constructed in the period 1867–1872, and was the most expensive building constructed to that time by the colonial government in South Australia. [[Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha|Prince Alfred, The Duke of Edinburgh]], was involved in laying the foundation stone. It is associated with several architects of note, including [[Edmund Wright (architect)|Edmund Wright]], [[Edward John Woods]], [[Edward Angus Hamilton]] and [[Robert G. Thomas]]<ref name=AHDB>{{cite web |url= http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;search=state%3DSA%3Blist_code%3DCHL%3Blegal_status%3D35%3Bkeyword_PD%3D0%3Bkeyword_SS%3D0%3Bkeyword_PH%3D0;place_id=105518 |title= Place Details: Adelaide General Post Office, 141 King William St, Adelaide, SA, Australia |work=Australian Heritage Database |accessdateaccess-date= 12 Jan 2015}}</ref> It was constructed from Glen Osmond and Glen Ewin stone, and ornamented with Bath limestone.<ref name=AHDB/>

The clock tower was officially named Victoria Tower by Prince Alfred on 1 November 1867 when he laid the foundation stone.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article159514227 |title=The Victoria Tower |newspaper=[[Adelaide Observer]] |volume=XXV |issue=1361 |location=South Australia |date=2 November 1867 |accessdateaccess-date=27 December 2016 |page=4 (Supplement to the Adelaide Observer.) |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The capstone<!--not linked as no suitable WP article. "capstone" links to coping (architecture), a different beast altogether--> was put in place at a ceremony on 25 May 1870. The height of the tower was put at {{convert|154|ft|m|1}}, a little taller than the Albert Tower of the [[Adelaide Town Hall|Town Hall]] on the other side of King William Street.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article196731293 |title=The New Post-Office Tower |newspaper=[[Evening Journal (Adelaide)]] |volume=II |issue=423 |location=South Australia |date=26 May 1870 |accessdateaccess-date=27 December 2016 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

The original plans had the tower somewhat taller, but R. G. Thomas was obliged to redesign it, as a cost saving measure.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article159561213 |title=The Late Mr. R. G. Thomas |newspaper=[[Adelaide Observer]] |volume=XL |issue=2168 |location=South Australia |date=21 April 1883 |accessdateaccess-date=4 January 2017 |page=34 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

|url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/messenger/city/147-years-of-history-farewelled-as-cbd-gpo-moves-out-of-king-william-st-home-and-into-neighbouring-tower/news-story/c51c969c5ba83b7043f9ea6a85edfe6b |accessdateaccess-date=21 October 2019 |work=[[Messenger Newspapers]] |date=10 October 2019}}</ref>