Chief Post Office Reopened
It’s official! The Chief Post Office (CPO) in Britomart has resumed its role as the ‘front door’ to Britomart Station after a four-year City Rail Link-related closure.
The 109-year-old building was reopened with a dawn blessing and ribbon-cutting ceremony in early April.
At ground level, the CPO has recommenced its role as the main entrance to Britomart with ticketing and information facilities, access to Britomart’s adjoining train platforms, and shops. The upper levels will be used for offices.
At first glance, the building looks largely the same - the big difference is out of sight below ground.
For the past four years City Rail Link Ltd (CRL Ltd) has been working hard constructing twin rail tunnels 14 metres below ground. These tunnels extend from the existing Britomart train platform and will eventually join up to the rest of the underground City Rail Link (CRL) line to Mt Eden.
The dawn blessing was led by elders from Tāmaki Makaurau iwi and attended by Transport Minister Michael Wood, as well as project staff.
Many of the CPO’s original interior features – including windows, lighting and brickwork – have been meticulously preserved. The building’s support columns, old and new, have been turned into engineering features for people to admire on the ground floor.
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff welcomed the reopening.
“This is one of Auckland’s iconic historical buildings and a much-loved feature of our city centre for more than 100 years—it’s great to see it open to Aucklanders and visitors once again,” he said.
Dr Sean Sweeney, Chief Executive of CRL Ltd said, “Aucklanders rightly have plenty to celebrate.
“The iconic best of Auckland’s past is preserved and revitalized to play its new role in the city’s transport future.”
The CPO opened in 1912. Its handsome exterior providing elegant Edwardian-age presence in the heart of the city - not only as a communications hub and bank, but the place where public announcements were made, where important visitors were welcomed to New Zealand, and where we farewelled soldiers marching off to a distant war.
Mark Lambert, Executive General Manager of Integrated Networks at Auckland Transport (AT), said AT is excited to welcome Aucklanders back to the CPO.
“Each weekday up to 38,000 customers use Britomart Station. This iconic building will be the start of many journeys for Aucklanders on our public transport network,” he said.
Auckland Transport has now started restoring and repairing the CPO’s façade, meaning the building is being wrapped and scaffolded - but station users will always have access into the building.
“This work is to clean and restore the stonework, and windows of this Heritage Category 1 site. We want to ensure that this grand 109-year-old building continues to receive the attention it deserves” Lambert said.