The 1870s two-storey landmark was bought by the city council in 2011 for $1.3 million and underwent a $500,000 internal refurbishment to convert it to offices for municipal staff.

Part of it was leased back to Australia Post for a business mail and postal boxes department.

City infrastructure director Peter Robertson told councillors on Monday night the painting contract had been awarded to Hammonds for about $60,000.

“We also found out roofing and spouting work was needed as well,” he said.

“That will be undertaken while the scaffolding is up.”

Meanwhile, Australia Post’s decision to change its next-day mail delivery timeframe to two days for regional Victoria from March 3 came under fire from Cr Jacinta Ermacora who described it as   “terrible”.

“This discriminates against rural communities for what is Australia’s most famous universal service,” she said. 

“It dismisses the role that regional communities play in the communications system.”