File talk:2007 0830klklk0044.JPG

File talk:2007 0830klklk0044.JPG

The historic sandstone building at 1 Queens Place, just a few meters from the main road of Balmain, Darling Street, was, for many years, a store and the Balmain Post Office operated by Alexander Chape, his first wife Elizabeth Younger and, later, his second wife, Elizabeth's sister, Catherine Younger.

Alexander had been in NSW since the 1830s as was his sea-captain brother Ralph Chape. Alexander owned a section of wharf on the Balmain headland and also operated hotels. The Chape brothers and the sisters Elizabeth and Catherine Younger were all from Berwick-upon-Tweed - on the border between England and Scotland.

Alexander bought the land at Queens Place in May 1842 and constructed the sandstone building over the next decade or more. By the mid 1850s Alexander and "Eliza" (as Elizabeth was known) were operating a grocery store. In 1857 he was granted the Post Office agency for Balmain. After Alexander died in 1871, Catherine continued to operate the store and Post Office, even being upgraded it by being granted an agency to operate a government savings bank agency from the premises.

Catherine retired in 1885 and a new goverment Post Office at Balmain was opened two years later.

Bruce McLennan