Artarmon Australia Post: $8.65m plans to replace postal branch with housing

Business owners have raised concerns over plans to demolish a suburb’s only Australia Post office branch to make way for a new multistorey housing development.

Artarmon could soon be left without an Australia Post office as part of plans to bulldoze the suburb’s only postal branch to make way for a new housing development.

The long-running Australia Post branch in the Hampden Rd shopping strip has been earmarked for demolition as part of plans for a new $8.65m five-storey shop-top housing development.

The demolition of the site would mean residents relying on the branch would have to travel to alternative outlets including Lane Cove, Chatswood or the Royal North Shore Hospital.

Development plans recently released show the postal outlet would be replaced with a new development incorporating a mix of 18 one and two bedroom apartments.

There would also be a ground floor retail tenancy, basement carparking and a communal rooftop area for tenants.

A concept image of the new development.

It is understood Australia Post – which leases the site – was unaware of the development proposal until contacted by this publication on Tuesday.

It is also understood any decision on the future of Australia Post’s presence in Artarmon would depend on whether the application is approved.

The postal branch has been earmarked for demolition

Plans by developer Ignazia Pty Ltd state the new building would address demand for new housing in the local government area.

“It will provide additional housing diversity to service demand in proximity to public transport, local jobs and services,” the plans state.

“The site is well serviced in terms of transport options (including) Artarmon train station directly opposite the site. Bus stops are also available on Hampden Rd.”

The development plans come after a string of other Australia Post branches have closed in suburban town centres – including the postal branch in nearby St Leonards.

A photo of the development site.

Artarmon business owners have raised concerns over the proposed development including chemist Daen Xu, owner of The Wilkes cafe.

“It’s used by a lot of people and it would have a big impact if it closes,” he said. “For us, we use it for cheques because there’s no other bank branch in Artarmon that does it. It’s convenient to have one in the town centre.”

If approved, the new development would become one of the tallest buildings in the shopping strip precinct which is listed by the council as a heritage conservation area.

Plans to Willoughby Council show the development would breach the site’s 15m height limit by 3.1m, or by 18 per cent.

The plans state the development had been designed to be “in harmony with the bulk and scale of surrounding buildings”. The proposal remains under assessment by the council and is currently open for public feedback.