"Miriam was by no means the only Postmistress in New Zealand. The Post Office was a pioneer in women's employment in New Zealand, although women were paid less than their male counterparts," Edwards said.
"They were also required to resign if they got married, which seems incredible by today's expectations. Interestingly, Miriam was one of several women in Kaeo who signed a nationwide petition in 1893 seeking the right for women to vote in parliamentary elections, legislation that was passed later that year."
Besides managing mail, Kaeo's postal services included the collection of government duties, taxes and fees, the payment of pensions and advances, and operating as agents for government bodies like the Public Trust.
"Post Offices were important hubs, and increasingly became symbolic of community progress. A major period of new post office construction in New Zealand took place between 1900 and 1914, and the Kaeo Post Office building was constructed within this 'boom' time," Edwards said.
Originally designed as a single-storey building, plans were finalised in 1911 for a two-storey timber structure designed in the Edwardian Baroque style, which drew on architectural features of classical influences like Rome, although in Kaeo the architecture was executed a little differently from many places in that it was built in wood, a decision influenced by the abundance of timber in Northland.
Timber was supplied locally, and the building was constructed by Kaeo builders Joseph and Wesley Hare.
The result was an amenity that ticked all the boxes, including community pride. One observer wrote that its rimu and totara linings, when polished, 'looked more like a handsome piece of furniture than a public office.' It opened for business in May 1912.
And it wasn't only admired for its looks. The telegraph bureau room, large mail room and small telegraph exchange represented state of the art technology, while the Postmaster's residence upstairs included a sitting room, two bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen and scullery.
"The earliest occupant was Postmistress Emily Adams, at a time when the Post and Telegraph Department was one of the largest employers in the country, with more staff than the rest of the public service combined," Edwards added.
"In 1916, the New Zealand Post and Telegraph Association passed a remit supporting equal pay for female employees, a principle that the Public Services Commissioner agreed with 'where the duties are equal.' At a time when jobs were filled in greater numbers by women due to men enlisting to fight in the First World War, this proposal was supported by many men who believed it would lead them to being preferred over women for the same position.'
Besides social change, the Post Office reflected changes in technology. In 1920 a new telephone exchange opened with 42 subscribers. The manual switchboard was operated predominantly by female employees, some as young as 14, and the exchange became a co-ordination centre in requesting assistance for childbirths, medical emergencies and fires.
Mail volume peaked in the 1970s, and the Savings Bank made for a busy workplace. During the global fuel crisis of 1979-80, Carless Day stickers were issued from as part of government efforts to reduce consumption. Weddings were carried out, and the manual telephone exchange, which included some party lines, remained in use until November 1989, the last of its type to be used on the mainland.
"Changes during the Fourth Labour Government of the 1980s impacted the service, as functions of the Post Office were divided into three state-owned enterprises - New Zealand Post, Telecom Corporation of New Zealand and PostBank. The writing was on the wall for the Kaeo Post Office, as it was for many small Post Offices around the country," Edwards added.
It finally closed in May 1989, but that wasn't the end of the road. In 2012, it was refurbished to commemorate its centenary, and has continued to hold an important community role as a library and community centre, operated by the Far North District Council.
