Residents of Fingal are planning to form the “longest queue the valley has ever seen” this weekend in a desperate bid to save their almost 200-year-old post office from closure.
Locals will gather at 11:30am on Sunday to create a human chain from the Fingal Post Office along the A4 highway, with free sausages and doughnuts for everyone who takes part.
The demonstration follows Australia Post’s announcement that it plans to shut down the historic service, which has been operating since the early 1830s.
Hamish Thompson, spokesperson for the community’s ‘Stop Taking Away My Post Office’ (STAMP) committee, said closing the post office would be devastating for the valley.
“If the post office goes, it would be a major loss to this town and the valley community as a whole,” he said.
“It’s a lifeline for the residents of several local towns and the farms and properties here.”
The post office sits on the main road to the east coast.
Thompson believes it would be a “fantastic business opportunity” for the right person.
“The picturesque building has enormous potential and would make a great cafe, gallery and craft shop in the extra space available,” he said.
Locals have already had one win, with federal MP Rebecca White and Break O’Day Mayor Mick Tucker convincing Australia Post to keep the office open until a new licensee can be found.
But time is running out, with the post office – originally set to close last month – now staying open only until the end of August.
“We need a new licensee who sees the potential in this historic valley and this amazing building,” Thompson said.
“And we need our politicians to ensure that our post office stays open until a new licensee is firmly in place.”
