Architect Joshua Charlesworth, of Wellington, designed Palmerston North’s former Chief Post Office. James Trevor & Sons, of Wellington, erected the building in brick with cement render, after a tender of £5,254. Its foundation stone was laid by Postmaster-General Sir Joseph Ward on 27 May 1905, and it was officially opened by Ward on 5 February 1906.
In 1916-17 it was extended to its present form along its Square frontage, and enlarged twice, once in 1927, then in 1938.
The building’s elegant 24.3 metre asymmetrical tower, which was removed soon after the 1942 earthquake, originally housed the four-faced clock and chimes that is now part of the Hopwood Clock Tower in the Square. The clock, which was officially started on 9 November 1906, was christened ‘Kerei Te Panau’ after the very elderly Rangitāne chief, who was present for the event.
