As the sun rises over the quiet streets of Australian suburbs, some residents wake up to a puzzling and frustrating change: the familiar red Australia Post boxes that once dotted their neighbourhoods have vanished.

This sudden disappearance has left many locals, especially the elderly, in a lurch, as they now have to travel further to mail a letter.

Removing these iconic postboxes from one East Coast suburb has sparked outrage among residents, with some feeling blindsided by Australia Post's lack of communication.


Retiree Rene Poullos from Southport is one such resident who has felt the impact of this change.

She expressed her dismay to A Current Affair, highlighting the plight of those who rely on these services the most.


'I feel sorry for those little old ladies who want to mail their grandkids a present and do it in time, but they don't have a car. How will they get their present in the mail for Christmas?' Poullos lamented.

The decline in physical mail has been a global trend, with Australia experiencing a 65 per cent reduction in letter volumes since 2006.

The digital revolution, further accelerated by the pandemic, has significantly shifted towards online communication.


However, despite this trend, a steadfast segment of the population remains, particularly among the elderly and those in rural areas, who depend on traditional mail services.

Australia Post has defended its decision, stating that it still operates over 14,000 postboxes nationwide, exceeding the regulatory requirement of 10,000.

‘As we continue to see mail decline, we remove some street posting boxes that are not frequently used, subject to vandalism or in areas where we have significant overlap,’ the spokesperson said.

Yet, the heart of the issue for many is not the rationale behind the removals but the need for more transparency and communication from Australia Post.

Residents like Poullos call for at least one postbox to remain in Southport for convenience and ask for clear information on future changes.

'Just tell us what you're doing, don't just take them away,' she urged.


Adding to the concerns is the looming increase in stamp prices.

Australia Post has proposed raising the cost of a basic postage stamp from $1.50 to $1.70 starting 1 July 2025.

This move is intended to offset the financial losses incurred by Australians' declining letter-sending habits.

While concession and seasonal greeting stamp prices are set to remain unchanged, the increase will predominantly affect business and government customers.

Australia Post's Group chief executive officer and managing director, Paul Graham, emphasised the necessity of the price hike to ensure the postal service's financial sustainability, particularly for rural and regional communities.
Have you been affected by the removal of postboxes in your area? How do you feel about the proposed stamp price increase? Join the conversation in the comments below.