Coraki Post Office
81 Richmond Terrace, Coraki

A community cornerstone bouncing forward
For all that has been thrown at the small town of Coraki in recent times, the owners of the town’s post office are rolling with the punches. The duo behind this essential hub of community life are choosing to see the unique challenges and hardships of the past two years – including the floods of 2022 – as an impetus for improvement, for opportunity, for change.
“We have consciously chosen to view this weather event as an opportunity to reset the post office – not to ‘bounce back’, but rather to ‘bounce forward’,” says Steve Taylor, who owns and runs Coraki Post Office in partnership with Paul Kelly. “It is our view that we want to come back stronger and more effective.”
The post office building on Richmond Terrace, which is more than 130 years old and had never previously been affected by flooding, was badly hit in February 2022. However, Steve and Paul were able to reopen after just 16 days thanks, Steve says, to the “assistance and help from our incredibly supportive community volunteering to help us clean up.”
Further complicating life for Steve and Paul was that their home directly adjoins the post office (a ‘post master’s residence’ typical of this vintage of post office building) and was also flooded. “We were left homeless but thanks once again to our amazing community someone put us up and shared their home while we cleaned up,” Steve says. However, the extra space in the residence subsequently proved useful when dealing with the enormous backlog of mail and parcels that accumulated during the post office’s closure.
“We see ourselves as caretakers of this beacon from the past”

“We had to start using rooms in our home, attached to the post office, as storage for the huge volume of parcels,” says Steve. “We were physically running out of space to store the parcels while we waited for customers to collect them.”
Steve and Paul took over Coraki Post Office in 2017 after careers as public servants. Even as their business has been affected by floods, fires and the pandemic, the rewards of helming such an important local institution remain profound for the pair. Steve talks of the “overwhelming friendliness of the community when we first took over.”
“The other ongoing experience I have is how generous and trusting people are,” he adds. “We are asked to be a distribution point, pass on funds to someone who is owed money, convey a message to a friend or family, hold onto important information for an elderly customer to ensure their independence, and more. Each day is a different adventure.
“The role of a postal manager is varied and complex. We balance the needs of each individual customer with the various legislative frameworks we operate within.”
And what are the plans for ‘bouncing forward ’after the flood damage? Well, they have replaced aged timber furniture with more resilient steel and metal options (including all-important shelving); they have torn up the damaged carpet to reveal vinyl flooring, which will eventually give way to the original teak floorboards beneath; they plan to revamp the front counter to display more stock. Many of the upgrades are in an effort to ensure this venerable, durable old building can withstand flood events of the future.
“We see ourselves as caretakers of this beacon from the past. Our plan is to repair our heritage-listed building to maximise the chances it will last another 130 years, and use the flood as a moment-in-time opportunity to review our business model.”
In the meantime, Coraki Post Office will continue to play its vital community role every day – one that increasingly goes above and beyond what might be expected of a post office.
“In the chaos caused by the event and ensuing maelstrom of conflicting emotions, having one of the community cornerstones still in place, an operational post office, provided people with the confidence they were one more step closer to some semblance of whatever normal is now becoming.”
Share this story
Read more stories
Generational innovation
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/ABL-2.jpg 1440 1080 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/ABL-2.jpgAustralian Bay Lobster Producers
Thenus australiensis. Moreton Bay bugs. The Bay Lobster. Whatever nomenclature you want to use, there is no doubt that these crustaceans are a much-loved staple of Australian seafood menus.
Feeding Pets with a Passion for Purpose
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Frontier-Pets_Di-scaled.jpg 1947 2560 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Frontier-Pets_Di-scaled.jpgFrontier Pets
Diana Scott was more than a bit annoyed at being unable to find a premium quality food for her dogs that was also ethically produced, so she did what all great entrepreneurs do – she created it.
when opportunity knocks…
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/horizon-motorhomes-ballina-002.jpeg 1600 1067 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/horizon-motorhomes-ballina-002.jpegHorizon Motorhomes
When a campervan arrived on Clayton Kearney’s used car yard in 1995, and sold in seconds flat, he realised there was a gap in the market…
community keeps on carrying on
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/OConnors-carriers-tweed-001-1.jpg 1920 1288 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/OConnors-carriers-tweed-001-1.jpgO’Connors Carrying Service
Friday 30 March 2017 is a day Paul and Sue O’Connor won’t forget. The owners of O’Connors Carrying Service left their depot in Murwillumbah…
Brothers spirit and legacy lives on
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/JNotaris_Donna-scaled.jpg 1920 2560 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/JNotaris_Donna-scaled.jpgJ. Notaras & Sons
J. Notaras & Sons owes its existence, strong identity and ongoing success to the dreams of two brothers of Greek ancestry.
eclectic food innovator shines
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Peter-at-the-Yamba-bus-stop.-July16.jpg 1030 1030 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Peter-at-the-Yamba-bus-stop.-July16.jpgNicholson Fine Foods
The small coastal town of Yamba is home to the one of the world’s best eating prawns, the Eastern King Prawn. It’s also home to the highest…
Farmers in the fields
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/E0A8334.jpg 2048 1366 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/E0A8334.jpgNorco Primex
Bruce Wright has made his career by bringing together and supporting many of the region’s farmers and primary producers.
The dream team
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Joel-Jensen_team-photo-scaled.jpg 2560 1707 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Joel-Jensen_team-photo-scaled.jpgJoel Jensen Constructions
Despite the pressures of running an award-winning construction company, there’s one thing Joel Jensen strives to do every day.
an epic adventure into healing honey
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Gather-By_Product-shot.jpg 1191 893 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Gather-By_Product-shot.jpgGather By
Gather By is a closed-loop regenerative agribusiness that works with beekeepers and landholders in NSW and Queensland, and investors around Australia to produce and market rare, pure and potent Australian Manuka honey…
Passion, patience and protein
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Hemp-Foods_product.jpg 2400 1350 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Hemp-Foods_product.jpgHemp Foods Australia
When Hemp Foods Australia founder, Paul Benhaim, discovered hemp as a food choice in the early 90s during his global travels, he had his own preconceived ideas.
partners with industry, partners with community
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/SCU-Enterprise-Lab-launch-copy.jpg 2000 1048 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/SCU-Enterprise-Lab-launch-copy.jpgSouthern Cross University
Celebrating a silver anniversary is a significant milestone, 25 years of developing your relationship, exploring and accepting your strengths…
sewing love for a lifetime
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/patches-kyogle-001.jpg 1232 816 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/patches-kyogle-001.jpgPatches of Kyogle
Jeannine Smith grew up under her mother’s sewing machine in Western Samoa. “My mother was a professional dressmaker,” says Jeannine…
revving up the community engine
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/oatten-and-hoffman-kyogle-002.jpg 1000 667 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/oatten-and-hoffman-kyogle-002.jpgOaten and Hoffman
In 2015 Tim Hoffman was riding the high on business success, and had no clue about the blow that was awaiting him….
Community connection runs deep
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Untitled-1.jpg 1644 848 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Untitled-1.jpgConnect Business Solutions
Connect Business Solutions can be thought of as the glue that holds a business community together.
from generation to generation
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/brookfarm-byron-006.jpg 850 565 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/brookfarm-byron-006.jpgBrookfarm
After buying a rundown dairy farm in the Byron hinterland in 1989, it was another ten years before Pam and Martin Brook made their shift to the…
A hive of success and support
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Wild-Honey.jpg 940 627 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Wild-Honey.jpgWild Honey Creative
Wild Honey Creative is living proof that special skills and services we might once have associated with our cities – such as graphic and digital design, innovation in marketing and brand storytelling – are thriving in regional areas.
organic, sustainable and a local legend
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/mara_seeds_northern_rivers_business_feature_image_001.jpg 800 800 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/mara_seeds_northern_rivers_business_feature_image_001.jpgMara Seeds
The farmer and owner of Mara Seeds knows what can happen when you don’t – his 8000-acre station 50km to the west of Casino has seen worse…
all fired up for global attention
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Aurora-Suspended-Fires_Ballina-in-good-company-image-4.jpg 960 600 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Aurora-Suspended-Fires_Ballina-in-good-company-image-4.jpgAurora Suspended Fires
Aurora Suspended Fires arose from the perfect marriage of Chloe Allan’s creative talents with Neil’s engineering background. But building a successful…
A collaborator at heart
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Table-under-a-tree.jpg 940 627 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Table-under-a-tree.jpgTable Under A Tree
Georgina Inwood credits the evolution of her business, Table Under a Tree, to her ability to “take stock while still running at a million miles an hour”.
Spirit of Byron in a bottle
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Cawarra-Cosmetics_Katrina-2-scaled.jpg 2560 1707 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Cawarra-Cosmetics_Katrina-2-scaled.jpgCawarra Cosmetics
Cawarra Cosmetics has been a leading manufacturer of Australian skincare, personal care and cleaning products in the region for more than 40 years.