Joint statement on the closure of the St Kilda South Australia Post site

Published 19 June 2024

The City of Port Phillip, the Acland Street Village Business Association, and the Older Persons Advisory Committee wish to express our collective disappointment regarding the recent announcement of the closure of the Australia Post site at 2-3 Shakespeare Grove, St Kilda.

The vital community asset has long served as a hub for residents, businesses, and particularly our older citizens.

The closure of the St Kilda South Post Office will have detrimental effects on both traders and older members of our community. Traders rely on nearby Australia Post services for smooth business operations, while older residents depend on it for essential postal services, bill repayments, and social interactions - especially those with limited mobility and digital literacy.

Losing this site will significantly disrupt daily lives. The bustling business at this Post Office provides essential services and easy access for older citizens. Going to another post office may not be as simple as Australia Post implies. For example, many older residents rely on their bank book, and with only two banks in Acland Street, the Post Office serves as their banking facility and will not be able to walk or take public transport to the next location. There are also no nearby alternative postal services for the numerous businesses, residents, and tourists in the Acland precinct. Moving customers to another location will overload the alternative post offices.

To date, Australia Post have reiterated their commitment to close the site and will be encouraging customers to use another of the Australia Post locations, moving much-needed foot traffic away from the Precinct.

In response to this announcement, we are actively advocating to the Commonwealth Government and Australia Post to reconsider this decision. We urge them to explore alternative solutions, such as retaining the current site or finding an alternative site within the Acland Court Precinct nearby, maintaining essential pedestrian flow within the trading area.

We encourage impacted individuals to join our efforts by writing to your local Federal Member of Parliament and signing this community petition.

Despite Australia Post’s commitment to closure, we remain hopeful for an alternative outcome that continues to serve the needs of our diverse community, and to see the Precinct flourish.