Old Post Office (120 Onehunga Mall)

This former post office was built in 1902 on the site of a former police station. The structure was originally erected in Russell in 1852 and was shipped in pieces and re-erected here. It is now serves as a pub. The first licensed hotel near here was located across Onehunga Mall in 1865, although it burned down three years later. A replacement structure was built and the hotel received a new lease of life when the railway arrived in 1873. The licensee at the time, James Sullivan, was known for his mysterious knowledge of Latin and Greek, which some said made him “too academic to mix easily with the hoi polloi of Onehunga”. Sullivan was also involved in politics, sponsoring the campaigns of Maurice O’Rorke for Parliament and Elizabeth Yates for the mayoralty. On one occasion, he was taken to court for keeping his billiards room open after 10pm. His response was that his guests were not there to drink or play but to discuss local body politics. The magistrate knew him well enough to believe him.

Continue north along Onehunga Mall and then turn left on Pearce Street.