<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In just under two months, a small enclave on </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/sydney" rel="" target="_blank" title="Sydney's"><span>Sydney's</span></a><span> lower north shore will no longer have a post office.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Milsons Point Post Office services hundreds of residents in the tiny suburb of just over 2000 people – but it is scheduled to close its doors on November 12 after the long-term lease ended.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>One of these loyal customers is shop owner Venietta Slama-Powell.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-sprays-abc-reporter-over-hurting-australia/c8722ca3-cd47-4fe4-90af-6c791665e334" target="_blank"><strong><span>Trump threatens Aussie reporter for 'hurting Australia'</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>Do you have a story? Contact</span></strong></em><span> </span><strong><em><span>reporter April Glover at</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="mailto:april.glover@nine.com.au" target="" title="april.glover@nine.com.au"><em><strong><span>april.glover@nine.com.au</span></strong></em></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Slama-Powell, the owner of lifestyle shop and florist Bloomingales, told </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/" rel="" target="" title="9news.com.au"><span>9news.com.au</span></a><span> the closure will "cripple" her business.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There are about 600 guaranteed people who absolutely rely on the services of Australia Post in Milsons Point," Slama-Powell said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/milsons-point-post-office-business-owner-fights-for-post-office-to-stay-open/62e31fbd-d824-4553-90cb-9c9f84010456" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"A lot of the people in Greenway [a social housing complex in Milsons Point], for example, are aged over 75.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Most of the residents need to get around assisted due to their health or disabilities. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's already difficult for them to go up 350 metres to access the post office."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Slama-Powell makes hundreds of deliveries per week using the post office.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She and other residents would be forced to walk uphill to the closest post office 1.5 kilometres away in North Sydney, where parking is limited.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"As a small business owner, I work 150 hours a week. I work seven days a week. To suggest that I can go somewhere else to send my postage is just... it will cripple my business," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I actually don't have the capacity.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I work most days on my own in my business. I work from 3am if I've got to go to the flower markets and I close at 5pm which then allows no time to go to the post office."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/robert-redford-dead-actor-director-activist-dies-aged-89/9427ebcd-1d60-46e9-98be-99ae9a1d375a" target="_blank"><strong><span>Hollywood heartthrob Robert Redford dies, aged 89</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There are hundreds of post office boxes which will need to be relocated too, she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Slama-Powell said she fears the local community will suffer under the closure.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"In terms of business, post offices generally play a crucial role in supporting local economies and business," she explained.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They bring people there. There [will be] fewer customers coming to the area. It promotes more business closures.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It just has a general negative ripple effect on local businesses and their operations."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Despite a groundswell of support from residents to keep the Milsons Point post office open, Australia Post has confirmed it will close in November.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A spokesperson told 9news.com.au visitors to the Milsons Point post office had slumped by 20 per cent in recent years.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/charlie-kirk-shooting-tyler-robinson-charged-aggravated-murder-death-penalty-sought/400a4d1f-b702-4572-a3dd-8e202d3a16e2" target="_blank"><strong><span>Suspected Charlie Kirk shooter in line to pay ultimate penalty</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Australia Post understands the community concern, and is holding a Customer Transition Session on Thursday, 18 September 2025," the spokesperson said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"As an entirely self-funded organisation, any decisions about our post office network are made with careful consideration and our future viability front of mind.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Customer visits to this outlet have fallen by 20 per cent over the past four years and are now well below the NSW average.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is an extremely well-serviced area, with seven post offices within three kilometres, including the North Sydney Post Shop and McMahons Point LPO, both located around one kilometre away."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It is understood Australia Post made an offer to the landlord, however a commercial agreement could not be reached.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It is believed Milsons Point's closure is partly due to Australia Post's modernisation initiative, which is in response to declining letter volumes.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Despite a raft of recent closures, Australia Post is required to keep 4000 branches open across Australia, including 2500 in regional areas.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>NSW member for the North Shore Felicity Wilson has also thrown her support behind residents fighting to keep the post office open.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wilson described Milsons Point Post Office as a "crucial asset" for her community.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Milsons Point is uniquely home to Greenway, a social housing complex that has over 300 elderly residents who rely on the post office for taking out cash and paying bills," Wilson said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I've already written directly to both NSW's Minister for Transport and the Federal Minister for Communications asking for them to intervene to save the post office."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Slama-Powell has started a Change.org petition to save the post office.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Hundreds of residents have also marched to Kirribilli House to plead with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to keep it open.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple App Store</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>.</span></em></strong></div></div>