Mole Creek: only 114 years behind the times

Wikipedia tell us a post box (or mailbox) is a physical box that collects outgoing mail from the public; and the first mail box began service in Paris in 1653 [1]. Different post box designs have different names, e.g. a wall box is set into a wall [2], a pillar box stands on the ground and has a cylindrical (i.e. pillar) shape [3], and a lamp box (which is the smallest post box used in the UK and the Commonwealth of Nations) was named because it was designed to be affixed to lamp posts though it may sit on its own pole [4]. The first lamp box appeared in London in 1896 on a trial basis as inexpensive alternative to the pillar box [5]. Until last week, the Mole Creek Post Office had a wall box, i.e. essentially a lost set into the post office’s wall. Then last week, out of the blue (or rather, the red) appeared the pictured post box. If you’ve paid attention to the foregoing, you’ll know what type of post box it is. Sorry, no prizes. The postmaster told me the change is because Australia Post considers wall boxes safety risks, i.e. a burning item placed in a wall box will do more damage than one placed in a lamp box. Oops, I’ve let the cat out of the bag – or the box. Anyway Mole Creek’s only 114 years behind the times. That’s one of the things I love about the place.