Mitcham post office to close in August after almost 140 years of operation

It is the end of an era in Melbourne’s east with a post office that has been operating for more than a century to shut its doors, in another blow to the already struggling shopping precinct.

The Mitcham post office will close on August 11, after nearly 140 years of trading.

A post office in Melbourne’s east will close its doors in August after operating for almost 140 years.

Australia Post has announced the Mitcham post office on Whitehorse Rd will shut on August 11 after a drop in customers, leaving the suburb with no banks, no newsagency and no post office.

Australia Post also recently announced the closure of post offices in Burwood and Brandon Park Shopping Centre.

Whitehorse Cr Ben Stennett said Mitcham Post Office first opened on June 1 1884 at the railway station.

“Australia Post has given notice it will close on 11 August 2023 — a period of nearly 140 years,” Cr Stennett posted online.

Whitehorse Historical Society Inc. called the current building built in 1924 which has a heritage overlay — “Mitcham’s most photographed building”.

According to the building’s heritage citation, it was built on the corner of Station St and Whitehorse Rd in 1924 and is of “historic and aesthetic” significance.

“It is historically significant as the centre of postal services at Mitcham since 1924, recalling the activities of the former Post Master General’s Department in Mitcham from as early as 1882.”

Mitcham post office in 1980. Picture: Whitehorse Historical Society

Local Russell Medhurst said he hoped the heritage overlay on the building would be enforced with any future development at the site.

“That building is a significant part of many Mitchamites memories including mine as I did mail sorting there as a kid during school holidays to fund my first car purchase.”

Local resident Bec Arandall said the closure was terrible news.

“This post office is so conveniently located and the staff are just wonderful.”

“No post office, no newsagent, no major bank ATMS … Shame Mitcham is losing local services,” Rebecca Walsh said.

“So now Mitcham has no bank, no newsagency, no post office,” Yvonne Robertson Wood said.

“What’s next?”

Karryn Roberts said: “No post office, no banks, no newsagent … no point in really going to Mitcham shops. Sad.”

Mishou’s Cafe owner Michael Nakat said the post office closure was a big blow to local businesses.

“They took away the banks, the newsagent shut three years ago and now the post office, so there’s nothing left in Mitcham, it’s like a war zone without shooting,” he said.

He said customers that visited the post office often then dropped into his cafe for a coffee and some food.

“Things are getting harder and harder for small businesses every year, already we had three years of Covid, and we don’t want anything else to add onto our problems.”

An Australia Post spokesperson said they knew many locals would have fond memories of the post office, and sincerely thanked all their Mitcham customers for their understanding.

“Unfortunately, the outlet has seen a 25 per cent drop in customer visits over the past five years, and now has very low levels of foot traffic compared with the state average,” the spokesperson said.

“The surrounding area is well-serviced, with four post offices within a 3km radius, including Rangeview LPO within 1.3km, and the Nunawading Post Office just one train stop away.”

All Mitcham Post Shop team members will be reallocated into positions at surrounding outlets or closer to home.

Whitehorse Council city development director Jeff Green said the post office site at 528 Whitehorse Road Mitcham was privately owned land.

Mr Green said the site was zoned Commercial 1 with a heritage overlay and a design and development overlay.

“These controls will dictate any future development,” Mr Green said.

“There are no current planning applications with council for this site.”