Local stamp of authority
ONE of the strongest memories of growing up in Belmont in the 1960s was the old Belmont Post Office on the corner of Corio and High streets.
It seems that the old port office was just a temporary affair, and South Barwon Shire Council had made representations to the Postmaster-General’s Department in June 1965 to have it replaced by a permanent structure.
The ran a story to this effect at the time, accompanied by today’s main photo taken during a wet day in June.
The said that the prefabricated temporary building had stood on the site for nine years.
Looking at the photo, we have to admire the cars out the front, with an FC Holden surrounded by an EJ Holden ute and an EJ Holden sedan.
The wheels of government turned slowly back then as well, and it was not until 1971 that a new post office was opened on the Belmont site.
So was the President of South Barwon Shire, Cr L Roberts, thankful when he spoke at the opening? Nay. Cr Roberts instead took the opportunity to complain about the lack of parking spaces for the new facility, stating that there was one set of rules for individuals and another for the government.
``If this beautiful post office had been built by private enterprise, parking would have been necessary,’’ he said.
Of course, Belmont was not the only suburb to have a temporary post office, with Norlane boasting an identical structure back in the 1960s.
As late as 1973 the temporary Norlane Post Office was still located next to Labuan Square, but by then there were moves to establish a new post office at Corio Village Shopping Centre.
Local shopkeepers and businesses were against the move because it would inconvenience residents, especially the elderly.
Nearly 45 years later there is still a Norlane Post Office situated within Labuan Square. Contact: peterjohnbegg@gmail.com