{"id":61409,"date":"2026-07-30T04:47:23","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T04:47:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/61409\/"},"modified":"2026-07-30T04:47:23","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T04:47:23","slug":"a-former-melbourne-post-office-is-now-an-art-filled-family-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/61409\/","title":{"rendered":"A Former Melbourne Post Office Is Now An Art-Filled Family Home"},"content":{"rendered":"

One October evening in the early 1900s, post and telephone employees, councillors and members of the Postmaster General\u2019s Department gathered in a large switch room to celebrate the establishment of the Windsor Post and Telephone Exchange. Made of red brick with freestone rockface, ashlar and leadlight windows, the former post office<\/a> building is still easily identifiable, thanks to its official stamp displayed on the exterior.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fast forward more than a century and the collection of rooms that formed the public office, mail, terminal and cable rooms is now a converted apartment block that, instead of workers, is filled with family. <\/p>\n

\"FormerThis 1900s building was originally the Post and Telephone Exchange in Melbourne\u2019s Windsor but was subdivided into private apartments about 25 years ago. (Photography: Courtney King | Styling: Bec Patterson)<\/p>\n

The building had been bought and subdivided more than 25 years earlier, but the interiors fell flat and the new owner enlisted architect Tim Milton of Milton Architecture and interior designer Lee Dwyer of Leftfield Studio to inject the place with the extra layer of personality it was lacking.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The owner \u2014\u00a0a friend of a friend of Lee\u2019s \u2014 swore she would never renovate, but loved the apartment so much she was prepared to make the necessary changes. The timeline was short and even before settlement, Lee was in there with a measuring tape. <\/p>\n

Aside from aesthetic updates, the brief also included transforming the loft into a library and adding a roof terrace.<\/p>\n

\"CeilingThe 12-seater dining table belonged to the previous owners. \u201cIt alleviated a lot of the stress of trying to get a new one up the stairs,\u201d says interior designer Lee Dwyer of Leftfield Studio. Fritz Hansen \u2018Series 7\u2019 chairs in Pale Rose, Cult. Console, owners\u2019 existing. Curtains in James Dunlop \u2018Kyoto\u2019 fabric in Linen, Lynch\u2019s Window Fashions. A combination of \u2018Peak Up\u2019 and \u2018Peak Down\u2019 pendants by Michael Anastassiades drop at different heights from the ceiling. (Photography: Courtney King | Styling: Bec Patterson)<\/p>\n

\u201cThe multiple living zones allow enough space for everyone to enjoy.\u201d<\/p>\n

THE OWNER<\/p>\n

\"HeritageThe owner has her coffee at the antique wine table and chair. The 12-seat dining table belonged to the home\u2019s previous owners. Fritz Hansen \u2018Series 7\u2019 chairs in Pale Rose, Cult. Curtains in James Dunlop \u2018Kyoto\u2019 fabric in Linen, Lynch\u2019s Window Fashions. \u2018Peak Up\u2019 and \u2018Peak Down\u2019 pendants by Michael Anastassiades. Artworks (clockwise from left), by Lauren Jones; John Mollison; Henrietta Harris; Elizabeth Zanzinger, from Gallery 1261; and Tom O\u2019Callaghan, from Gallery 247. The collection of pot plants has been acquired by the owner over the years. (Photography: Courtney King | Styling: Bec Patterson)<\/p>\n

Given the volume of the rooms, specifying appropriately sized furniture and fixtures was essential. With ceilings soaring<\/a> to nearly five metres, an oversized \u2018Gogan\u2019 modular Moroso corner sofa was the perfect fit and the chairs and rug were designed at a scale that would anchor the space and create a well-defined zone. <\/p>\n

An independent bistro table and armchair adjacent to the windows has been carved out as a cosy spot for the owner to enjoy her morning coffee.<\/p>\n

\"BayThe room is anchored by a \u2018Corsica\u2019 rug in Saltbush, Armadillo. In the foreground is a \u2018Ruff\u2019 armchair in pink velvet by Patricia Urquiola for Moroso, Mobilia. Round \u2018Sequence 01\u2019 table in stainless steel, Coco Flip. \u2018Phoenix\u2019 coffee table by Patricia Urquiola for Moroso, Mobilia. Wax and stone floor lamp by Linde Freya Tangelder for Cassina, Mobilia. \u2018Gogan\u2019 modular sofa by Patricia Urquiola for Moroso, Mobilia. Teak record cabinet, Southside Danish. Isla vase, Moss Made and pot by the owner. Flowers by Margo\u2019s. Cushions (from left): yellow and light blue cushions, Sage & Clare; Moroso scatter cushions in Clunis, Argo and pink; cushion in neutral, Sage & Clare. (Photography: Courtney King | Styling: Bec Patterson)<\/p>\n

Tim says that because of the expansive footprint, they created \u201crooms in rooms\u201d to minimise any sense of vastness. <\/p>\n

\u201cOnce you sit on the couch you feel like you are in a dedicated area while still being connected to the kitchen and dining. The proportions of the furniture and joinery relative to the existing spaces was crucial to the project.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Modern\u2018Diiva\u2019 swivel stools, Grazia & Co with powder-coated pink frames. Rakumba \u2018Highline\u2019 pendant in black, Est Lighting. \u2018Dado\u2019 sconces, Volker Haug Studio. \u2018Fiore\u2019 vase, Antico, with flowers from Margo\u2019s. (Photography: Courtney King | Styling: Bec Patterson)<\/p>\n

Lighting helped delineate the periphery spaces, most significantly with low-hanging pendants in areas like the dining and kitchen. \u201cThere were 45,000 downlights,\u201d says Lee, laughing. \u201cWe were able to remove some and substitute them with more ambient, themed mood lighting<\/a> \u2014\u00a0floor lamps, sconces and pendants.\u201d <\/p>\n

This included the \u2018Peak Up\u2019 and \u2018Peak Down\u2019 collection of cone-like lights by Michael Anastassiades and Rakumba\u2019s horizontal \u2018Highline\u2019 powder-coated pendant over the island. \u201cIt was about filling the space vertically as well as horizontally,\u201d adds Tim.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"ModernJoinery in Polytec Florentine Walnut Woodmatt. Splashback and benchtop in Verde Alpi marble, Signorino. Stovetop, Miele. Custom rangehood in Dulux PowderCoat in Natural Bronze. Tapware, Billi. Vintage chrome bowl, Soft Focus House (Photography: Courtney King | Styling: Bec Patterson)<\/p>\n

The stairwell leading to the entrance was so narrow that the owner decided to purchase the dining table from the vendors to save the complications of getting a new 12-seater in. \u201cIt was hard enough trying to get the marble slab up the stairs for the kitchen bench,\u201d recalls Lee.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was only three centimetres either side of the stairwell, but that\u2019s how badly I didn\u2019t want a join line.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"HeritageAt the entrance to the kitchen, dining and lounge, the door is painted Porter\u2019s Paints Dolce Vita. Artwork by Lauren Jones. (Photography: Courtney King | Styling: Bec Patterson)<\/p>\n

When it came to the piano, numerous movers declined the job given there was no room for error. They eventually found a team of four who needed to dismantle some parts given the treads and weight of the frame. \u00a0 <\/p>\n

\"Library\u2018Clarissa\u2019 armchair by Patricia Urquiola for Moroso, Mobilia. \u2018Tung Side Table JA3\u2019 in steel blue by &Tradition, Cult. Custom joinery by Leftfield Studio in Laminex laminate with Verde Alpi marble shelving, Signorino. Large artwork by Sonia Martin. Antique cigar box. \u2018Night Desk\u2019 clock by Vitra, Living Edge. Vase, Margo\u2019s. (Photography: Courtney King | Styling: Bec Patterson)<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was about filling the space vertically as well as horizontally.\u201d<\/p>\n

TIM MILTON, ARCHITECT<\/p>\n

\"ArtVintage sculpture, Soft Focus House. Artworks (left to right): by John Gollings; anonymous; Adam Krigel; and Lee Miller. (Photography: Courtney King | Styling: Bec Patterson)<\/p>\n

The home runs across four split levels. From the ground floor, stairs lead to a generous self-contained studio complete with a kitchenette, dining area and lounge suite with projector. Sometimes the \u2018party room\u2019 and other times a place for family to stay when they visit, it spans the whole width of the apartment. <\/p>\n

Up another half-flight lands you in the open-plan living-kitchen, followed by steps to the bedrooms and ensuite, an emerald and fern-hued space that fulfilled the owners\u2019 wish for as much green as possible.<\/p>\n

\"GreenWalls painted Dulux Garden Pond Low Sheen Wash&Wear. Curtains in James Dunlop \u2018Kyoto\u2019 in Linen. Artworks by Mirte van Kooten. The bed is dressed in blue linen in Wildflower, Bed Threads. Other bedlinen, Sheet Society. (Photography: Courtney King | Styling: Bec Patterson)<\/p>\n

\"GreenCustom mirror by Leftfield Studio. Gleeze Giada green gloss wall tiles, Academy Tiles. Vanity in Polytec Woodmatt in Florentine Walnut. Verde Alpi marble vanity top, Signorino. Basin, Caroma. Tapware, Astra Walker. Yellow object bought by client in Barcelona. Polarity terrazzo floor tiles, Fibonacci Stone. (Photography: Courtney King | Styling: Bec Patterson)<\/p>\n

The third floor contains the library loft and office with access to the new roof terrace that had to be sufficiently concealed so that it wouldn\u2019t impinge on the heritage facade. Tim explains that it\u2019s simultaneously tucked away from the street but also with incredible views of the Melbourne CBD and local lawn bowls club. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt offers the best of both worlds,\u201d he declares. <\/p>\n

\"GreenIcon vertical towel rail in English Brass, Astra Walker. Turkish cotton towel, Adairs. (Photography: Courtney King | Styling: Bec Patterson)<\/p>\n

THIS IS THE LIFE
\u201cI love that all of the heritage elements were maintained but with functional updates and the addition of loads of green to the interiors,\u201d says the owner. \u201cThe self-contained studio means we can easily have people to stay. The vibrancy of the neighbourhood is a big attraction too, especially with the convenience of a train station across the road.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"RooftopOn the rooftop, two \u2018Summer Swivel\u2019 chairs by Grazia & Co sit each side of a \u2018Sequence Table 01\u2019 in Stainless Steel by Coco Flip. Vase, owner\u2019s existing. \u2018Arizona\u2019 pavers in Charcoal, Academy Tiles. (Photography: Courtney King | Styling: Bec Patterson)<\/p>\n

The Design Team:<\/p>\n

Milton Architecture: miltonarchitecture.com<\/a>
Leftfield Studio: leftfieldstudio.com.au<\/a>
JDC Built: jdcbuilt.com.au<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Carli\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWriter
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tCarli Philips\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

A longtime contributing editor to Belle and Australian House & Garden, Carli cover all things homes and design. Always knee deep in the zeitgeist, she tells stories on the topics of contemporary culture, travel and luxury lifestyle for a range of Australian and international publications. She’s been lucky enough to report on some of the world’s best hotels, interview legends and cover fascinating trends. A voracious reader, Carli loves reading as much as writing and is always armed with a notebook and a pen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"One October evening in the early 1900s, post and telephone employees, councillors and members of the Postmaster General\u2019s…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":61410,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[16005,18427,260,9672,70188],"class_list":["post-61409","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-melbourne","tag-heritage","tag-home-tours","tag-melbourne","tag-post-office","tag-restoration"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61409","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=61409"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61409\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/61410"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61409"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=61409"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=61409"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}