Adelaide General Post Office
The building was begun in 1867 when Prince Alfred laid the foundation stone at the base of the tower which is called the ‘Victoria Tower’. The main building on the corner was designed by Wright & Woods, architects, but it was erected under the supervision of R. G. Thomas, Colonial Architect, who to some extent altered the original design; this part was completed in 1872. An extension to the King William Street facade was built in the years 1891 to 1893. The designs of the nineteenth-century General Post- Offices in several Australian capital cities have many points in common, perhaps a relic of inter-colonial rivalries.
From its opening in 1872 the Adelaide GPO was one of South Australia’s most important public buildings and represents the critical role played by postal telegraphic and telephonic communications in the development of the state.The scale and impressive architectural detailing of the building and its prominent location in the centre of Adelaide reflect its importance as the focus of the network of communication services in South Australia for many decades. Its construction was the result of the entrepreneurial drive of Postmaster-General Sir Charles Todd who was instrumental in establishing telegraphic communications in both South Australia and Australia and in encouraging the state Government’s monopolistic control of all communication services in South Australia.The subsequent additions to the building and the construction of the separate Telephone Exchange were a direct response to increasing demand for the new technologies of telegraph and telephone services in the years leading up to and following Federation.
Current status and listings
Love this place!


I am interested (professionally) in the sound of the Adelaide GPO clock chime. In 1978 I studied in the tower (and reported on) the harmonic tones in all five bells. Yesterday at 1500h and today (5/2/2015) at 1000h the hour-strike bell did not sound after the usual Westminster chime on the four other bells. Is there a reason for the silence of the hour-strike bell? It is a grand bell weighing 2-1/2 tonnes.
Hi Hervey, apologies for the late response. As the building is still owned and maintained by Australia Post, it’s probably worth reaching out to their office to find current information on the maintenance of the bell tower: https://auspost.com.au/pol/app/locate/post-office/SA/Adelaide/5000/Adelaide-GPO-Post-Shop-530028
I am trying to find out more about my Grand Father Frederick Reynolds. He worked at the Adelaide GPO, was Postmaster and received the Queens Service medal (over 50 years service).
I wondered if you are able to provide any information or point me in a direction for further assistance…
Regards….Andy Wood
Hi Andy, do you know what his date of birth and/or death were? I’d recommend reaching out to State Records SA to find out what kind of records are kept for Post Office employees: https://www.archives.sa.gov.au/content/contact-us-form
Would like to know if there is a list of names who were the stonemasons on the PO and when the foundation was laid
Hi Margerie, it might be worth getting in touch with State Records SA for that kind of information: https://www.archives.sa.gov.au/content/contact-us-form