▁term ed ▁the ▁n erve ▁centre ▁of ▁the ▁commercial ▁life ▁of ▁the ▁district ▁- ▁the ▁whole ▁thing ▁is ▁uns ight ly , ▁un he alth y ▁and ▁in ade qu ate ". ▁As ▁a ▁result , ▁an ▁inqu iry ▁and ▁report ▁were ▁undert aken ▁by ▁the ▁Post ▁Master ▁and ▁Ins pect or ▁General ▁of ▁Works ▁who ▁ordered ▁extensive ▁add itions ▁and ▁alter ations . ▁The ▁Federal ▁Public ▁Works ▁Department ▁set ▁aside ▁£ 1 6 0 0 ▁for ▁the ▁transformation ▁of ▁the ▁post ▁office , ▁and ▁these ▁works ▁began ▁in ▁ 1 9 0 8 ▁by ▁builder ▁Alex ▁J ▁Laur ie , ▁expand ing ▁the ▁avail ability ▁of ▁postal ▁and ▁te legraph ▁facilities . ▁The ▁ 1 9 0 9 ▁works ▁included ▁extensive ▁add itions ▁and ▁alter ations ▁generally ▁along ▁the ▁southern ▁and ▁eastern ▁sides ▁of ▁the ▁building , ▁including ▁demol ition ▁of ▁the ▁majority ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 8 8 0 s ▁add itions ▁( with ▁the ▁exception ▁of ▁the ▁project ing ▁bay ▁to ▁Church ▁Street ); ▁construction ▁of ▁a ▁double - height ▁corner ▁bay ▁for ▁the ▁public ▁space ▁and ▁counter ▁area ▁with ▁mail ▁room ▁behind ; ▁arc aded ▁ver and ah ▁to ▁new ▁post ▁office ▁facing ▁Church ▁Street ; ▁addition ▁at ▁south west ▁corner ▁of ▁building ▁to ▁en large ▁private ▁sitting ▁room ; ▁construction ▁of ▁new ▁ver and ah ▁to ▁protect ▁new ▁private ▁entrance ▁from ▁Man if old ▁Street ▁( con version ▁of ▁original ▁window ▁to ▁door ); ▁rear ▁kitchen ▁wing ▁added ▁to ▁provide ▁new ▁p antry ▁and ▁bath room . ▁By