Steve and Caroline Hickenbotham of Wellington Point Post Office to retire

The owners of one of Redland’s busiest post offices have made a shock announcement after 14 years of serving the community.

Steve and Caroline Hickenbotham of Wellington Point Post Office to retire

Two familiar faces from one of the Bayside’s longest-serving post offices have announced shocking news leaving the community devastated.

Redland residents Steve and Caroline Hickenbotham had been running the Wellington Point Post Office at Main Road since 2010 and on Sunday announced their plans to retire.

The couple owned the well known Stradbroke Island one-stop-shop, Amity Point General Dealers, for 16 years prior to taking over the post office.

Mrs Hickenbotham said the couple had thoroughly enjoyed socialising with their customers who they now called “friends”.

“We see these people nearly everyday and they have become part of our social lives and have become dear friends,” Mrs Hickenbotham said.

“We have seen babies in prams and time goes so quickly that they’re now driving, we get to see families grow up.

“It was such a hard decision we made with much consideration,” she said.

Owners of the Wellington Point Post Office have announced their retirement plans after 14 years of community service.

The couple is in the process of selling the business and has not yet announced when they will be leaving.

Mrs Hickenbotham said her and her husband have reached their early 60s and are looking forward to a well deserved break.

“We are excited to get up to some travelling and Steve can’t wait to get his boat out on the water and go fishing,” Mrs Hickenbotham said.

“We’ve been so busy he hasn’t been out on the boat for six months,” she said.

The couple said they will dearly miss the friends they have made and their daily interactions with customers.

“The people have definitely made our experience, we would like to thank you all for the lifetime of wonderful memories, and friendships made,” she said.

Redland residents shared their appreciation for Mr and Mrs Hickenbotham to social media.

A Cleveland resident said he would drive out of his way to visit the Wellington Point Post Office.

“I loved the customer service and their smiling faces,” he said.

Another resident thanked the couple for their courteous and helpful customer service over the years.

“Wishing you all the very best in the future, Wello won’t be the same without you”.

“I will sure miss your humour and charm and attention to customer service, it’s been a pleasure to have known,” she said.

Another Redland resident said this marks the “end of an era”.