The Mauritius Post Ltd

25 January 2006

Opening of Waterfront Post Office

Official Special Cover

To mark the re-opening of counter services at the ex- General Post Office with effect from 25 January 2006 under the new name of Waterfront Post Office, the Mauritius Post is issuing an official special cover affixed with two postage stamps of Rs2 and Rs7 denominations of the Postal Services series.

The cover portrays the General Post Office building in a coloured stamp shape. The two postage stamps of Rs2 and Rs7 depict an automated counter service and sorting of mail respectively.

Geographical location, physical description, and architectural aspect
The General Post Office building, located next to Port Louis Harbour and Caudan Waterfront is mostly made of large basalt stone blocks and wooden beams. The front part made up of five arches is a model of traditional architecture of the mid-Victorian era which is also found in British Colonies such as Ceylon and Guyana.

The words ?Post Office? is written in the Oxford style. The exterior designs as well as its clock are important examples of craftsmanship in British colonies like Mauritius.

Official opening date
The GPO was built between 1865 and 1870. Although the inscription on the front side of the building shows the date of 1868 A.D, it was officially inaugurated in December 1870 by Governor Gordon and was functional on 21 December 1870.

Cessation of postal business
The GPO building had to be vacated to allow the start of preliminary works leading to the conversion of the building into the Nelson Mandela Centre for African Culture. Postal activities ceased at the close of business on Saturday 29 May 2004 and were transferred to 3 Dumas Street, Port Louis which is now the General Post Office.

Following cabinet decision taken on 21 July 2005, the GPO building was restituted to the Mauritius Post Ltd.

Philatelic Counter
A philatelic counter was opened at the left wing of the GPO building on the 9th October 2005 to mark simultaneously the World Post Day and the issue of new stamps on ?Stone Buildings?.