Developments and Revelations

 Here is a photograph of the block in Hunter Street taken from the Post Office before the P&O building was an actuality

The old P & O Building was built in the  1930's. It has a steel frame (like the Chrysler Building in NY) and we think there may have been plans for it to go further skyward. P&O was at that time one of the principal shipping companies in the port, and for that matter, the world. The walk-in safe in the surgery probably indicates some of the wealth that needed protecting!  . (It is the gap next to the AMP Building.) The style of the building shows "inter-war classic revival characteristics" and the facade is made from Wunderlich glazed tiles and retains a Wunderlich  metal sign ; "P&O Building" above the awning. 

Two interesting features of this 1920's building have recently been revealed. The ceiling on the top floor actually appears to be a floor! It is made up of wide tongue-and-groove floorboards. There is a layer of metal above that, which will be, hopefully, strong enough to support our solar panels.It is unfortunate that the rain is presently leaking through these boards.

Floorboards in the ceiling!

The other interesting revelation is the set of steels windows which were packed in the wall. It seems that these windows used to open into the light well in the AMP windows. In 1997 the well was bricked in and the windows were enclosed within the wall. Interesting!!

Windows inside the wall!

Greg and John spent Friday pulling out the old wiring and data cables in readiness for the jackhammering to start on Thursday. (We are heading off to Qld on Thursday leaving them - and the neighbours- to it!!)

 One of the steel frames supporting the building.