Letterboxes are more than what they seem in rural Australia – they’re a mode of communication, a signpost and, sometimes, an expression of individuality
Weird and wonderful letterboxes can relieve the boredom on long country drives and may reveal something about the people who own them.
As we travel around this big country, at almost every turn there is something new to see. From flat desert landscapes to high country mountains, villages, towns, cities, and always something new, different, and even quirky can be found along the way.
One of the most creative sights that seem to pop up almost everywhere around the country are letterboxes. And I don’t mean your ordinary everyday letterboxes – we’re talking about the weird, wonderful, creative, over-the-top, bizarre letterboxes that appear along the road without warning.
We’ve all seen them, haven’t we? Perhaps had a laugh or giggle and continued to drive on. They may have helped relieve the boredom while driving along some of our outback roads.
Well, this all got me thinking and here are a few thoughts that came to mind:
MORE THAN JUST A BOX
The first question that occurred to me was: do our letterboxes really need to be just a slit in a brick pillar, or an unimaginative oblong wooden or metal box perched on top of a short pole?
Or can a letterbox make some sort of statement to those going past, or perhaps symbolise how those living in the house communicate with the world outside?
We’ve all heard the phrase, ‘you are what you eat’ and some people say that ‘clothes maketh the person’. If there is any truth in these statements, then what about letterboxes? Can a letterbox reveal anything about the sort of person who lives inside its house? Does it indicate a personality type: conservative, creative, outlandish, cheeky, fanciful, dull and boring, way out, or even over the top.
Or perhaps it reflects its owners’ dreams, their work, hobbies or maybe just their eccentricities.
NOT DEAD YET
Following our recent trip around Australia, where we checked out hundreds, if not thousands of letterboxes, we have come to some letterbox conclusions. The first was that, despite the march of new technology with mobile and satellite phones, email, iPads, tablets, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and the like, the humble letterbox is still alive and well.
Letterboxes continue to go on serving a number of useful purposes — other than providing a cosy home for spiders, snails and other critters.
It also seems that these integral and trusted appendages to our homes really don’t need to be dull and boring. In fact, Aussies have set out on their own crusade to stamp out tired, uninteresting letterboxes and, if those we found on our travels are any guide, they have achieved their goal.
Indeed, it is clear that a letterbox can be more than just a box for letters. It is, in some households, a unique part of people’s lives.
Through them we receive good news, bad news and heaps of information – some useful and some simply a waste of paper. We also receive greetings, love letters, the dreaded bills, perhaps a cheque or two, our local newspaper and a continual stream of junk mail.
Through thick and thin, the trusty letterbox seems to cope with the lot. Like a loyal friend, it’s there when you need it through rain, hail or shine; all year round, dutifully collecting the good, the bad and the ugly without prejudice.
Many Aussies have set out on a crusade to stamp out boring letterboxes
A WELCOME SIGNPOST
In addition, it stands out there as a signpost, with a road or street number displayed, showing the postie where to deliver mail, which house visitors should call to, and it also helps to ensure your home delivered pizzas arrive at the right place before they get cold. Come to think of it, how could we survive without our trusty letterboxes!
As an added bonus, it seems that when things around the home breakdown, or for some other reason are past their use-by date, you no longer need to throw them away, you can simply turn them into letterboxes.
As an added bonus, it seems that when things around the home breakdown, or for some other reason are past their use-by date, you no longer need to throw them away, you can simply turn them into letterboxes.
Guarding gateways around the country are letterboxes fashioned from old fridges (an icon in rural Australia), jerry cans, buckets, old TVs, fire extinguishers, gas cylinders, drums, bread boxes, dunnies, washing machines, bikes, tyres, milk urns, kettles and many others. All have been given a new lease of life as a letterbox of unique proportions.
Common household items, past their use-by date, have been given new life in the form of unique letterboxes
And, through all this, the modern day posties have never had it so good, thanks to the variety of inspired creations out there to brighten up their day.
Yes, much like the front-line counter staff of any business, your letterbox stands quietly and dutifully by your front gate, giving the right first impression to visitors, standing always at your service, never complaining or answering back. It does all this while also offering an opportunity for each of us to express our individuality.
I almost feel sorry for people who use private Post Office boxes. Apart from missing out on all that junk mail, they also miss the chance to have their own letterbox out front serving all these useful purposes.
Clearly we should never take our letterbox for granted like we have always done.
COUNTRY V CITY
Finally, it’s worth mentioning another important finding in our nation-wide survey, and that was that country people seem to be far more inventive and creative than their city dwelling peers in the letterbox stakes.
Is it, perhaps, that country folk are not caught up in the modern ‘disposable’ culture and continue to make use of anything they’ve got, just as they have always done? Or are country folk really just more creative and inventive. Perhaps it’s something else all together.
Old fridges and jerry cans fashioned into creative letterboxes are an icon of rural Australia
We might just need to head out around the country again one day to seek the answers to these still unanswered letterbox questions.
In any case, as you drive along the highways and byways of Australia, you, too, might like to ponder some of these letterbox questions or at least keep an eye out for quirky letterboxes.
In the meantime, I think I’ll go out and check the mail!
