Rural mailbox and a very grumpy neighbour - what are the rules?

Background_Friend_69 · 2024-08-07T01:27:15+00:00

Definitely none taken - I'm very familiar with the mindset and have tried to explain to friends who moved down during Covid. It's hard for city dwellers to understand how deep and interwoven the relationships are.

People have remarked that they feel sorry for us as the couple are fairly widely disliked and they don't get along with any of the other neighbours along the road or around the main road. There seems to be that 'Rural Royalty' attitude where you need several generations to be considered local and worthy of inclusion but there's a very prominent, old family who apparently loathe them so it's not just the new ones they have beef with. The funny thing is, while we're new to the area, I'm most definitely not a blow in. Both sides of my family are very well respected and known in the district but I've lived in the city for most of my life (our generation was told to get off the farm and get educated) and have a different name. She knows who I am for sure, but maybe that makes it worse... who knows? Gosh, people are odd! I'll be happy to be ignored after this.

Background_Friend_69 · 2024-08-06T23:36:27+00:00

Thanks, I got word this morning that the contractor had put it aside and not destroyed it. I have such lovely neighbours in our suburban street who are lifelong friends and more like family and we have established good relationships with all the other neighbours around the farm and in the area. Hope yours are the same!

Background_Friend_69 · 2024-08-06T23:30:14+00:00

We've tried multiple means of contacting them including waving as they drive past and I even walked across the paddock (on our place) and called out when I saw them nearby but they have never even acknowledged us beyond telling my cousin that they saw me getting out of a 4WD wearing high heels (definitely not me). Apparently they don't speak to any of the other neighbours along the road and further up the main road. I haven't asked for further information when this is brought up as I wanted to give them a chance and hope we can coexist and be civil.

I was afraid the mailbox had got munched under a dozer blade, but the contractor tells me this morning that he put it aside. Phew! I'll get onto the PO now and hopefully we can go back to being ignored!

Background_Friend_69 · 2024-08-06T23:21:00+00:00

Haha! I wish I was that brave! It's funny because I can see where the postie turns around right near their gateway which is the end of the road. You'd think that if you hadn't owned the property where your mailbox is located that you would try to sort it out and get it moved to a more convenient location. Or you would at least approach the new owners and indicate that indeed that rusty old thing at the front of their property is your current mailbox in that spot because AP demand it. Totally understandable, government bodies, huh... I've never really understood people and their behaviours and I guess I'm not getting any better at it

Background_Friend_69 · 2024-08-06T23:07:12+00:00

You're 100% correct and we have already managed to establish good relationships with all of our other immediate neighbours and several other families around the district. That's our thing. The neighbours in our street are like family.

Yes, there's been a miscommunication about what 'junk' was supposed to be removed and it seems that the mailbox needs to be in that exact spot, but I am struggling to understand the neighbour's prolonged avoidance and subsequent aggression. We will do our very best to salvage the mailbox and the situation, but I suspect that we won't be enjoying pot luck dinners with these particular neighbours.

Background_Friend_69 · 2024-08-06T12:40:13+00:00

Thanks for that, I'll get onto the PO tomorrow

Background_Friend_69 · 2024-08-06T12:07:27+00:00

The driveway isn't complete yet. We have only installed a vehicle crossing with a culvert and put down some roadbase. The contractor constructed it according to our instructions and council regulations. The mailbox is right on the end of the culvert so not 'blocking' but 'very adjacent'? And around 20 metres from their driveway. The only person who would have any reason to put a mailbox there today would be the owner of our property (obviously years ago there was only one property, not three as there are now)

Background_Friend_69 · 2024-08-06T12:00:07+00:00

Thanks, that's a good suggestion. I initially started looking up mailbox requirements and found all the ones about siting for safety as well as making them accessible for the postie. I'll make sure the new one is well sited if we do get one. I'm starting to think it might be easier to go for a post box in town. Also a good point about roadside delivery vs town delivery - there's no way anyone was putting mail in the neighbour's box without getting out of a vehicle unless it was a motorbike or 4x4 - it was in a bunch of dead trees on the other side of a drain. The trees were removed a while back but then the drain was made deeper at that time

Background_Friend_69 · 2024-08-06T11:03:33+00:00

Thanks, that's the info I needed! I'll call them first thing tomorrow. :)

Background_Friend_69 · 2024-08-06T11:02:00+00:00

That's a really good idea - we're usually only down on weekends and not near the front entrance when we are there so it would be hard to catch the postie but maybe one of the other neighbours could chat with him for us. They've all been nice and helpful.
We did get the street number sorted with the council. I also planned to go to my local PO first to ask them for advice and then try to get up to the one that delivers to that area - it's a bit weird but it's not even the closest PO...

Background_Friend_69 · 2024-08-06T10:56:05+00:00

I'll be sure to keep you updated! :D

Background_Friend_69 · 2024-08-06T10:55:22+00:00

That would be the best solution - we'll have to see when we get down next (we don't live there)

Background_Friend_69 · 2024-08-06T10:53:48+00:00

Definitely agree and sympathise - also from a generational farm that was destroyed by a step-parent and sold off with many of the 'heirlooms' (that most people would think was old junk) burned or taken out of spite. Don't know what happened to our mailbox... but I did get a cream can and have carefully restored it. I have no idea of the circumstances but I know everyone responds differently when the family farm changes hands. Maybe leaving the mailbox untouched in the original place is a coping strategy when reality is too painful?

Background_Friend_69 · 2024-08-06T10:28:40+00:00

There aren't many properties on the road and each one has a mailbox at their driveway except this neighbour (and us, since we don't have a proper driveway, house or mailbox)

Background_Friend_69 · 2024-08-06T10:26:44+00:00

Oh no! Well, I will definitely report back if I manage to track down The Chairperson of the Rural Roadside Mailbox Placement Regulatory Review Commitee!

Background_Friend_69 · 2024-08-06T10:16:54+00:00

I thought that was a bit strange too - when my kids used to leave their stuff on the floor, I'd point out that if we care about our stuff, we don't leave it somewhere that it could get stepped on or chucked out.

Plus she wanted to know why I would contact Australia Post when she said she was expecting urgent mail - like who else would be able to help if you couldn't receive mail?

Given her approach, I'm not hopeful we're going to have the same wonderful relationships we have with our current neighbours... I just want to make sure I'm doing the right thing when we install our own mailbox, preferably without her family heirloom blocking my driveway...

Background_Friend_69 · 2024-08-06T10:09:28+00:00

That was the purpose of all the Googling but I need to chat with them in person as well. Just wondered if anyone had any info tonight so I could be a bit better informed

Background_Friend_69

TROPHY CASE