With letterboxes, you can either take a themed approach, choosing a style that blends with your house, or go off on a tangent of your own and make it a whimsical statement. And judging by the variety of quirky and unusual letterboxes sprinkled through the streets of suburban Australia, there’s more than a few would-be artists and sculptors lurking in the shadows.

But if you do want something off the shelf, the good news is there’s plenty to choose from these days. We took a wander through the letterbox aisle of our local hardware store and found enough options to suit anyone, whether you want fence-top, freestanding or wall-mounted models.

The right stuff

• Galvanised-steel letterboxes are heavy duty and rust resistant. The varieties range from standard to heavy – the heavy-plated steel models are strongest.
• Aluminium letterboxes are lighter in weight, and also resistant to rust. They’re popular in coastal areas.
• Letterboxes featuring brass fittings look especially classy, but remember that brass tends to weather over time, and requires re-lacquering.
• Cedar letterboxes have a natural quality to them. They’ll need recoating with a timber sealer periodically.

The ideal letterbox

• Like your mail to arrive safely and in the best possible condition? These letterbox guidelines from Australia Post are a great start.
• Ensure the box does not have any sharp edges.
• The inside of the letterbox needs to be large enough for an A4-size envelope to lay flat.
• The width of the box needs to be at least 230mm.
• The depth of the box (from front to back) needs to be at
• least 330mm.
• The height of the box (from top to bottom) needs to be 160mm (not including the lid or roof).
• The slot should be the full width of the box but not wide enough for someone to get their hand in.
• The box should be between 900 and 1200mm from the ground.
• Position your box on your property boundary where it can be clearly seen and is easy to access.
• Ensure your house or unit number is easy to read.
• Keep your letterbox clear from obstacles such as shrubs, trees,
• rockeries and the like.
• Put a lock on your letterbox.
• For more details, call Australia Post on 13 13 18.

Watch Jason talk you through the A to Z of letterboxes.

For more inspiration ...
If you’re fond of letterboxes that are quirky, intriguing or a touch bizarre, then check out the website www.walksydneystreets.net This site was set up by 93-year-old Sydney resident Alan Waddell who is gradually walking his way through every suburb and street in the city, photographing interesting features as he goes.