The postal services in Tasmania date from 1809 but were formalised in 1813 with the appointment of the first Postmaster, James Mitchell. Initially, Mitchell operated from his home on the corner of Macquarie and Argyle Streets and later moved to premises on the corner of Collins and Murray Street. By then the first overland transport of mail in the Australian colonies had begun between Hobart and Launceston. In 1828 the Post Office Act transferred postal services to government control and regular sea mail operated between Sydney and Hobart. In 1835 a Royal Mail coach between Hobart and Launceston was introduced but was later replaced by the first Hobart to Launceston mail train in 1877. Expanded postal services were relocated to the rebuilt former Supreme Court building in 1862, on the corner of Murray and Macquarie Streets. A telephone exchange was combined with the post office and telephone exchange in the new post office building in 1905.

The Hobart General Post Office (GPO) was constructed between 1901 and 1905 on the site known as ‘Lords Corner’ at the Elizabeth and Macquarie Street corner. In 1892 the government acquired the site which is positioned diagonally opposite Franklin Square, a civic and administrative area laid out by the NSW Governor in 1811.

An architectural competition for the design of a new GPO was announced on 20 June 1899 and attracted nine entries. The competition brief specified post, telegraph and banking space allocations for the basement, ground and first floors and a caretaker’s quarters on the second floor. By December 1899, the design submitted by a local architect, Alan Walker, was finally selected from a shortlist of two, the other being submitted by Messrs. Robertson and Marks of Sydney. On 6 July 1901 the Duke and Duchess of York (later King George V and Queen Mary) laid the foundation stone. At an earlier local ceremony the young daughter of the architect had laid the first stone to start the construction. On the Royal occasion of the laying of the foundation stone, the girl also presented a bouquet to the Duchess and received in return a small gold mallet with the date inscribed on it.

The Hobart GPO was one of the first public buildings in Tasmania to be completed after Federation although the Commonwealth refused to fund its clock tower. The building was officially opened at 10pm on 2 September 1905. When the Inspector of Public Buildings ordered the removal of the barriers a frenzied rush ensued to post the first letter. The clock and chimes were installed in the course of the following year and was started at 2.15pm on 22 June 1906 by Lady Edeline Strickland, wife of the Governor. ₤1,465 (pounds sterling) was raised by public subscription to cover the clock fixtures and fittings. The building’s opening provided Tasmania with a centre to direct its rapid expansion and has remained with minimal alterations to the exterior.