Australia Post closures: Glenroy post office the latest to shut

As another community fights to save its post office, see our interactive map to find all the Australia Post branches that have shut across the state in the past year.

Australia Post has closed many outlets across the state this year, with Glenroy the latest on the list.

Another community is fighting to save its local post office, with Australia Post announcing it is shutting its branch in Glenroy.

More than 1600 people have signed an online petition calling for the company to keep the post shop open, with Australia Post blaming a drop in customer visits for its decision to close the branch.

It is the latest in a string of Australia Post closures across the state, with a historic post office in Mitcham to close this month, following closures in Burwood, Brandon Park Shopping Centre, Hampton and Essendon.

The closures have been likened to “ripping the heart out of the community” with many elderly residents in particular impacted by the loss.

Petition organiser Chris Miles said the closure demonstrated “a clear disregard for the needs of the community”.

“The small businesses, individuals without internet access, the elderly, and those with disabilities will particularly be hit the most,” he said.

“Financial elder abuse is already on the rise, and this is in part due to people lacking internet access or the necessary skills to handle banking and financial matters independently or being able to access services in their communities.”

Kevin Cassidy said his disability played a role in his decision to support the petition.

“I don‘t drive, I am disabled, on a pension and the closest post office will cost me a fortune in uber or taxi,” he wrote.

Broadmeadows state Labor MP Kathleen Mathews-Ward slammed Australia Post’s decision to close the post office.

“I‘m so furious. Communities need access to services, especially communities like ours (Glenroy) with higher-than-average disability and people over 80. We also have lower than average internet connection, income and car ownership,” she said.

“We are doing what we can to reverse the decision with a petition.”

An Australia Post spokeswoman told Leader that it carefully considered community needs and customer demand before making decisions on changes to the post office network.

“The Glenroy Post Shop has seen a decrease in customer visits by almost 30 per cent over the past four years,” she said.

HERE IS THE LIST OF ALL THE AUSTRALIA POST OFFICES SHUT IN THE LAST YEAR:

According to Australia Post, Glenroy post office customers are “well-serviced by six post offices located within a 3km radius”.

“This includes the Oak Park Post Office, which is located 1.5 kilometres away and next to the Oak Park train station,” the spokeswoman said.

“All Glenroy Post Shop team members will have roles at surrounding post offices.”

The spokeswoman said nationwide, Australia Post currently operates or licenses more than 4,300 Post Offices.

“Across Victoria, Australia Post provides service for the community through a network of nearly 500 Post Offices in metropolitan areas and close to 1000 statewide,” she said.