GPO

These days, most would never refer to the post office as the GPO -  General Post Office, and yet they are integral to each state capital city. All six GPO's are still standing although not all are used for postal services. This is Brisbane's GPO, built in 1872 in a colonial style. Locked front private boxes were installed for the first time in the British Colonies in 1876. It also accommodated the colony's telegraph department. The GPO's are such an intrinsic part of our capital cities that all official distances are measured from their doorstep. With electronic mail, faxes and mobile devices, many believe that the days of the letter are doomed, but hopefully these stately buildings will remain.