Even on a street filled with historic facades, the old Enmore post office - with its red brick, stucco decoration and cottage style - stands out. Now seemingly abandoned, covered in graffiti and decidedly less glamorous, locals are left wondering what comes next for this Enmore icon.
The post office was built in 1895 and designed by government architect, Walter Liberty Vernon. In its first year 96,320 letters were posted from the office.
The building is listed on the Register of the National Estate as an example of Federation Queen Anne architecture - a style which was "quite radical at the time" compared to the "pompous" style of the Newtown Court House, according to Marrickville Historian, Mark Matheson.
READ MORE: Film to revive lost Summer Hill icon
"Even though it looks grungy now and its use has been taken from it, it can be enjoyed from 270 degrees in clear contrast to the buildings next door which, like Hollywood film sets, are meant to only be seen from the front," he said.
Noble intentions
In 1995 the iconic building was sold by Australia Post to the Our Lady of Snows Society, a charity set up in the 1980s by the owners of Marie Louise Hairdressing Salon on Enmore Road, Haberfield locals George and Nola Mezher. The brother and sister pair used some of the $429,000 they won in the Lotto to set up a soup kitchen near Central Station and distribute food to the homeless, sick and elderly around Newtown.
The charity also operated 14 refuges as halfway houses for men recently released from prison. But minutes of the charity's meetings show by July 2006 they had stopped providing meals and running refuges. The charity's last documented meeting was in 2011. Ms Mezher died in 2009 and Mr Mezher passed way in 2016.
With the charity no longer operating, their assets - including the Enmore post office and a second property at 30 Smith Street in Tempe which the court noted are "unoccupied and in a parlous condition" - were left in legal limbo.
"It looks grungy now and its use has been taken from it"
- Mark Matheson
The next chapter
When the last trustee of the charity passed away in 2019 her son was left with the responsibility over the charity's trust.
Due to his ailing health, last year the Supreme Court of NSW appointed Mark Green and Kim Probert, partners of Pikes & Verekers Lawyers, as trustees of the charity.
Mr Green and Ms Probert will now find a new owner for the buildings under a 'cy-près scheme', according to court documents, where a similar charity is invited to take the buildings, or profits from their sale, on. Pikes & Verekers Lawyers were contacted for comment.
Have something to say? Send a letter to the editor at: editor@innerwestreview.com.au
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
- Bookmark Inner West Review
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Facebook
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
