4017 Bar & Grill is located in Central area of Sandgate and occupies the original Post Office building, which is an architectural feature in Sandgate. We have detailed below a brief history of the building and its development through the years, enjoy the read.
Commenced building in 1886, probably to the design of J.J. Clark, then Government Architect. It was built in a swampy area and considerable work had to be done to raise it above the water level. It was built on a series of brick stumps. The Post Office was opened in May 1887, at a cost of £2,025. The value of the site was £800. The Sandgate Post Office was unusual in that the majority of post offices in the Brisbane region at that time were of timber construction. Masonry buildings were, by and large, reserved for provincial towns or cities. It had a staff of thirteen and Mr Bruce Beale as Postmaster.
It became the telegraph terminal after completion. A telephone line was opened from Brisbane to Sandgate on May 1, 1898. The magneto telephone exchange, which was installed following the direct line to Brisbane, was enlarged some time later with a 600 line central battery switchboard. The telephone exchange was cutover to automatic working on September 7, 1958. There has been a number of extensions using modern equipment since that date.
After W.W.2 the ballustrading was removed from the verandahs, and they were enclosed with fibro sheeting. A fire escape ladder was also installed. In the early 1980's there was a conflict of interests re demolishing of preserving the building. Renovation work began in 1984 and was completed in time for the building's centenary on 7 May, 1987. Australia Post ceased trading in the building on 16 January 2009, moving to smaller premises further down Bowser Parade.
The Post Office building was purchased by P J Kelly Building in January 2009. Renovation began in September 2009 to restore the building for the purpose of a bar and restaurant.
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