State Library of South Australia

Plan of the G.P.O. clock and bell machinery [C 22/11] • Plan

The image has not been processed.

Something's wrong, a single image should be displayed here...

Info

Share
- facebook
- twitter
- pinterest
- google+
- email
Permanent link
Print

Prev List Next

Summary

Plan of the clock mechanism in the tower of the General Post Office, King William Street, Adelaide.

Restrictions

This image has no known copyright restrictions.

Please refer to the State Library's Conditions of use.

Learn more about copyright and our collection.

Physical description

Engineering plan (ink on linen)
77 cm x 78 cm

Dates / Publication details

1873

Subject

General Post Office (Adelaide, S.A.)
Clock and watch making -- Machinery
Tower clocks -- South Australia -- Adelaide

Catalogue record

Return to catalogue

General notes

The plan was donated to the S.A. Archives in 1920 by Miss L. Todd (possibly Lorna Gillam Todd, Sir Charles Todd's daughter, born 1877).

Historical information

The G.P.O. building in King William Street, Adelaide was opened on 6 May 1872. "The clock in the Victoria Tower was installed in 1876. The big bell weighed about 2½ tons. It was necessary to erect a substantial scaffolding over the footpath at a considerable cost to introduce the bells and clock and bell machinery through the coffer windows of the bellchamber, as there was no other opening large enough in the tower." [from 'Heritage of the City of Adelaide: an illustrated guide', 1990]. The new clock was ordered by Charles Todd, Postmaster General. The clock was made by J.B. Joyce of Whitchurch, England in 1874 at a cost of £410. It is supported on two heavy girders built into the masonry. The bell chime tune is identical to that heard from the Houses of Parliament in London. [details from 'The Local museum : a quarterly magazine produced by the Museums Extension Service of the South Australian Museum', April 1980].