A new life for the Sydney G.P.O.

Now I’m pleased to report that you can still buy stamps at the Sydney G.P.O., and post your letters in those wonderful old post boxes facing George Street.

Off they go…

But these days the privatised, refurbished G.P.O building is also home to bars, restaurants, cabaret shows, cafes and high-end fashion stores. They are collectively known as G.P.O. Grand. Entry is from Martin Place.

Entrance to G.P.O. Grand

First things first….the Maximus Café, below the 8 storey glass atrium, is a great place for breakfast or just a heart-starter coffee.

,,, Looking up at the atrium.

Maximus Café. A perfect start to the day.

As lunch time approaches the Sosumi Sushi Train is ready for departure. Good grief, it’s nearly as long as the Indian Pacific.

Ready and waiting.

It doesn’t take long before all seats are taken;

All aboard!

Once upon a time it was lines of mail passing through, rather than delicate Japanese dishes.

Manning the mail stations, 1929

Cocktail hour has cometh…..

Pomegranate Blush Mojito.

Dinner? Well, what takes your fancy? Pizza, pasta, seafood, steak, tapas? It’s all here.

Then of course there is the option of dining outside in the colannades.

Perfect on a summer evening.

I can’t help wondering what previous generations would have made of all this.

A couple more Pomegranate Blush mojitos and I may have visited the all-male cabaret show in the Crystal Bar.

The G.P.O has changed radically, along with our society. There is now layer upon layer of history represented here. In the basement you can peer down into the foundations, where the colony’s first water source, the Tank Stream, once ran.

The building was privatised in the 1990’s. In June 2017 Australia Post quietly sold the freehold, creating great angst. Oh dear, I just try not to think about that. Never mind, the clock still chimes in the tower and I hope I’ll always be able to post my Christmas cards at the G.P.O. on George Street.