Imagine Victorian-era history, slowly fading away, brick by forgotten brick. But what if someone decided to single-handedly bring it all back to life? That's exactly what Australian artist Mick Slocum is doing, one vibrant post box at a time.
Mick Slocum, a 76-year-old with a twinkle in his eye and a former member of the Bushwackers band, has embarked on an extraordinary mission: to restore nearly 200 colonial-era post boxes, affectionately known as pillar boxes, scattered across Victoria. For two years, this has been his passion project, and he often tackles the job dressed in a classic tartan three-piece suit and straw boater hat – a nod to the era he's reviving.
But here's the amazing part: it all started with a spontaneous act. Mick was on an anti-graffiti crusade when he decided to clean up a defaced pillar box. "I bought some solvent and went and cleaned off the graffiti,” he recalls. “Then I stood back and… I thought goodness me, I think I'll just keep going."
Equipped with scrapers, paint, and an unwavering love for history, Mick's creative whim blossomed into a full-blown personal campaign to revive every pillar box in the state. Australia Post, recognizing his dedication, now compensates him for each completed restoration, and a supplier generously provides the paint.
Forget modern power tools; Mick relies on elbow grease, meticulously scraping, sanding, and painting each pillar to its former glory. Each restoration project can take anywhere from a couple of days to several weeks, depending on the condition of the post box. He braves the elements, working through scorching heat and biting cold, often drawing curious onlookers and offers of assistance.
"The gentleman whose [Albert Park] house I'm working out the front of came out and greeted me like a long-lost brother," Mick shares. "That's actually the best part – meeting the people." It's clear that for Mick, the project is as much about connecting with the community as it is about preserving history.
These pillar boxes, introduced to Australia in the 1850s, were vital communication hubs in a time before telephones and the internet. Imagine horse-mounted postmen making multiple stops a day to empty these boxes, along the very roads where cars and trams now rush by.
"The juxtaposition of what [an area] used to be like and what it is now is just extraordinary," Mick explains. "I'm kind of bringing that back in a way – that's the magic of it." He's not just restoring post boxes; he's restoring a tangible link to the past, a reminder of a slower, more connected time.
When these pillars were decommissioned starting in the 1960s, they were sealed shut and covered with a uniform, rather bland, red paint. This is the layer Mick meticulously removes, revealing the secrets hidden beneath.
And this is the part most people miss: each layer of paint tells a story. As Mick scrapes away the years, he uncovers hidden colours, offering glimpses into the pillar's past.
Some of his discoveries have been nothing short of breathtaking. In Collingwood, he unearthed a delicate golden crown, likely painted in anticipation of Queen Elizabeth's visit in 1954. In Jolimont, he found a notice for collection times, potentially dating back to the 1920s, or perhaps even earlier, to the 1800s! Could you imagine finding something like that?
Sadly, these historic boxes are dwindling in numbers. Of the thousands that once dotted the Victorian landscape, only about 180 remain. The decline mirrors the shift in communication habits, with the rise of the internet and telephones leading to a decrease in letter writing and, consequently, the need for post boxes.
Mick's dedication hasn't gone unnoticed. In May 2025, he received a National Trust conservation award for his work in Ballarat, where he has already refurbished 16 pillar boxes. Sam Westbrook, executive manager of conservation and advocacy at the National Trust, praised Mick for providing "a real highlight of the joy that heritage can spark in people's lives."
With 70 pillar boxes restored and about 100 still to go, Mick is nearly halfway to his goal. But his passion doesn't stop there. He already has his sights set on his next project: restoring the electricity boxes from the 1920s and 1930s that grace many street corners in the CBD. He's already restored two of them and there are another 50 waiting for his attention.
For now, he remains focused on the task at hand, approaching each pillar box one at a time. But here's where it gets controversial... Some might argue that focusing on old post boxes is a nostalgic indulgence when there are more pressing issues in the world. Others might counter that preserving these links to the past is essential for understanding our present and future. What do you think?
"I always hope that one day I'll find a key that opens one of the boxes, and it'll be full of mail from the 1890s," Mick says with a hopeful gleam in his eyes. "You just never know." It's this sense of wonder and possibility that fuels his passion and inspires us all to appreciate the hidden stories that surround us.
What do you think about Mick's project? Is it a worthwhile endeavor to preserve these historical artifacts, or should resources be focused elsewhere? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
