The Post Office had a small number of Mobile Post Office Savings Banks and Mobile Post Offices that serviced new subdivisions and special events in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.
As new residential areas developed, post offices were established but the growth of the suburbs outstripped the post office facilities that could be provided.
In 1956 the Post Office decided to establish mobile post offices in new suburban areas to relieve the demand for postal and banking facilities. The opportunity was taken to make this a mainly savings bank service to encourage the public to place their savings in the Post office Savings Bank (POSB). The first mobile post office, a bright red trailer-van towed by a post office car, was placed in trial operation in Wellington suburban areas in 1956.
The operation commenced on 6 November 1956 and operated in Upper Hutt on Mondays & Fridays; Newlands, Titahi Bay, Porirua East and Stokes Valley on Tuesdays & Thursdays and at Upper Hutt & Stokes Valley on Wednesdays. On Friday evenings the office supplemented postal facilities at Upper Hutt post office. The service ceased on 9 October 1964.
The above photograph was taken in Dowling Grove, Silverstream in November 1961
The second photograph was taken in Stokes Valley in November 1956
The third photograph was taken in Stokes Valley on 7 November 1956 and shows the interior of Mobile Post Office Savings Bank with banking transactions being undertaken – not postal.
I wonder who the children are?
Further information is shown in the publication “From the Summit to the Gorge”* by Geo Robertson Pages 137-140
* – https://uhcl.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/33796
A “thank you” to Andrew for sending this article to The Upper Hutt Connection.
15/09/25
The Upper Hutt Connection 