Built by James Watts (or Watt) as a combination post office, general
store and butcher shop,
which he operated until his death in 1898. At the time of
James' death the building was both the family residence and also used
as a generay grocery store, newsagency and post office. There was also
a public telephone that was installed before 1898. The building
also served as a local community hall. His wife continued to
operate the business until her death in 1909, during which time her
widowed daughter Harriet Higgin was the postmistress. George Henry
Watts (s/o James) bought the property in 1910, after the death of his
mother, and applied for his daughter Ethel to
be postmistress, her sister Georgina to be assistant postmistress. In
1915 Georgina
became Postmistress. She retired in 1946 & the property was sold to
James Archibald White, who was appointed Postmaster 12/9/1946. The
last Postmaster,
Albert Waldren was appointed 14/11/1962. A conservation plan of the
site prepared by Paul Davies states that Waldren sold the property
to Andrew
Properties P/L in 1973. Since there is no evidence of a postmaster
after Waldren, it would seem that the Post Office closed in 1973.
George
Watts built a separate building for a dance hall for the locals, then
he donated land opposite on which the School of Arts was built.
The post office is the last surviving commercial building from old
Prospect, which was a thriving community until the 1920's when it
became overshadowed by nearby Blacktown.
James Watt arrived from England in 1852 and found employment with
William Lawson Jr at Veterans Hall.
His then future wife, Mary Ann, arrived in 1856 and she also found
employ at Veterans Hall and by 1858 they had married and had their
first child. The Watts remained at Veterans Hall (both residing and
being employed) until 1873 when they aquired 100 acres alongside the
Western Road. There was a house on the site, whether built by the Watts
or already existing, and James and Mary operated the local post office
from it. It is possible they may have lived there as early as 1871,
although they did not purchase the land until 1873.
The original house and post office burnt down some time in the 1880's
and the present building erected some time during the 1880's.
The post office was aquired by the Department of Urban Affairs &
Planning in 1976 which restored the building.
The building is closed to the public. Blacktown council is currently
examining the possibility of establishing a large area of parkland
which will contain both the post office and also St Bartholomew's,
which is owned by the council.
The
site contains the former shop, residence & post office, and a
garage, lean to and stables at the rear. The main building is
constructed from brick
with a hipped corrugated iron roof and projecting gable end addressing
the street. A verandah,
supported on turned timber posts and with a simple but distinctive
timber valence, runs across the front of the house. There is also a
partially enclosed rear verandah.
The
Post Office is believed to have operated from as early as
1871, in an earlier timber structure on the site.
Sources:
Prospect Trust, "Back to Prospect" tour, 21/7/1996
Prospect Trust, "Back to Prospect" tour, 16/7/2000 Blacktown Advocate, 9/7/2003 Blacktown Advocate, 29/3/2000 Blacktown Sun, 12/5/1998 Blacktown Advocate, 1/8/2001
NSW Heritage Office Website, http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au [Please note that this site disturbingly has errors on the history of the property post 1900] The Former Prospect Post Office -
Conservation Plan, Paul Davies Personal Correspondence, Jill Finch, Secretary, Prospect Heritage Trust Inc.