A Major Milestone: Restoration Plans Are Approved
We’re delighted to share a major milestone in the journey of the Old Guildford Post Office: our plans to restore and reactivate this remarkable building have received development approval.
On 10 September, the Metro Outer Development Assessment Panel unanimously approved our application for the restoration and adaptive reuse of the Post Office, paving the way for the next chapter in the life of one of Guildford’s most recognisable landmarks.
For us, this project has always been about much more than restoring a building. It is about securing its future, protecting what makes it significant and giving it purpose once again.
Restoring the Post Office’s original character
A central focus of the project will be reinstating the original character and landmark qualities of the Post Office.
Over many decades, changes to the building, piecemeal upgrades and limited maintenance have taken their toll. The restoration will address deterioration to important parts of the building, including the roof, clock tower and brickwork, while removing intrusive finishes and carefully revealing elements of its original design.
One of the most visible changes will be the removal of paint from the exterior where appropriate to reveal the original red face brickwork and decorative rendered features, guided by archival evidence and heritage conservation principles.
New additions have been deliberately designed to remain secondary to the historic Post Office. New kitchen and bathroom facilities will sit within contemporary masonry additions at the rear, while an enclosed indoor-outdoor dining area will reference the building’s former courtyard. The approach also allows modern services to be concentrated within the new additions, reducing their impact on the heritage building itself.
Bringing people back through the doors
The other important part of the project is returning the Post Office to community use.
For much of its history, this was a public-facing building and an important part of everyday life in Guildford. As postal services changed, that connection gradually diminished.
Our aim is not to restore the Post Office simply to be admired from the street. We want people to come back through its doors.
The restored building will become home to Parcels, a European-inspired bistro and French patisserie. It will create a place where locals can meet, families can gather, visitors can experience Guildford’s heritage firsthand and new memories can be made within a building that already holds almost 130 years of them.
Strong community support
One of the most encouraging parts of the approval process has been the support we’ve received from the Guildford community.
During the formal consultation process, 138 submissions were received, with 130 in support of the proposal. We also welcomed the community through the doors during our open days and, more recently, worked with the Swan Guildford Historical Society to facilitate a community archaeological dig at the site.
At the DAP meeting, Swan Guildford Historical Society President Andrew Minogue spoke in support of the project, describing it as the first development application of its kind the Society has supported. The Society highlighted the importance of preserving the Post Office for future generations and the opportunity to return a significant Guildford landmark to greater community use.
We are enormously grateful to everyone who has taken the time to engage with the project and share their support and feedback.
We also thank the City of Swan and its officers for their work and collaboration throughout the assessment process, together with our planning, heritage, architecture and wider project teams.
And we thank the Presiding Member and Panel Members for their unanimous support of the proposal.
What happens next?
With development approval now secured, our attention turns to detailed design and preparing for the restoration and construction phase.
There is still a significant amount of work ahead, and with a building of this age and heritage significance, it is important that the next stages are approached carefully.
But this approval takes us an important step closer to our ultimate goal: restoring the Old Guildford Post Office, securing its future and returning it to the heart of community life in Guildford.
We look forward to sharing the next stages of the journey with you.
Parcels is planned to open in late 2027 / early 2028.
Watch the meeting and read the supporting documents
The Development Assessment Panel meeting, agenda, minutes and related documents are available through the WA Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage. Look for the Metro Outer DAP meeting of 10 September 2026 (MODAP/157) and Item 3.1, DAP/26/03086 – 24 Stirling Street, Guildford. The Department confirms that recordings are available alongside DAP agendas and minutes.
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