An expression of interest for licensees has gone out this week, following a petition and campaign by local community group, the Brown Hill Progress Association.

An Australia Post advert says the successful applicant would be required to operate the post office "in suitable premises, either owner or leased, preferably in conjunction with a suitable business in Brown Hill".

The re-tendering takes place almost four years after the former Brown Hill post office on Humffray street North was shut down.

Secretary of the Brown Hill Progress Association Brendan Stevens said he was delighted with how the campaign had gone. There were around 500 names on the petition, he said.

"We were pushing Australia Post a couple of years ago, but then COVID came along," he said.

"[Ballarat's federal MP] Catherine King was a great help to us, we wrote to as many managers as possible in Australia Post," he said.

"It really hit home In COVID, there were people lined up in East Ballarat and over in Black Hill, all the Brown Hill people waiting to get their mail."

He described the former post office as "a bit of a hub" due to its location in the middle of Brown Hill - particularly for the high proportion of retirees that live in the area.

"It was well-utilised. They used the post office not only for post but for bill-paying, so that was a service that was gone."

That strikes a chord with another member of the progress association, John O'Brien, himself a former Australia Post employee of 33 years.

Describing a post office as something "that's really needed in the area", Mr O'Brien said he was pleased the re-tendering process was underway.

"They are really looking positive about it," he said. "It'd be marvellous [if there were a new post office], and so much more convenient."

The former post office is now being used as a clothing store. Mr Stevens says he thinks there will be several people interested in the licence, with his one concern being finding an appropriate building to run it in.

Ms King welcomed the news that Australia Post is re-tendering, calling it "people power in action" and a "testament to all those in the community who kept up the fight."

Ms King also called for the same process to happen for Sebastopol, where the licensees recently moved their business to Delacombe Town Centre, leaving the area without a post office.

Expressions of interest for the Brown Hill licence are due by July 2.

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