The owners, Telstra, have been taking more than a little flak – chiefly from Dubbo Regional Council (DRC) Mayor Ben Shields – over the upkeep of a building viewed by residents as iconic, historic and even “grandiose”.

Mr Shields described the two-storey building in the main thoroughfare of the Central Business District as “starting to literally crumble and wear, has a major pigeon infestation and looks tattered”.

Residents expressed their desire in social media comments to have the building restored to its former glory.

Telstra has responded with a long-term plan for the building’s upkeep.

And the telco giant’s area general manager Mike Marom said the company regretted it had taken longer than expected to get a contractor to maintain the clock tower.

The building was cleaned three weeks ago to temporarily improve the facade while the plan was developed. That maintenance plan will be in place as long as Telstra owns it.

Telstra has been trying to sell the former post office area, which has been vacant since the Telstra shop closed in 2010. It uses a rear building to house equipment.

A contractor has been hired to maintain and clean the building starting from April 2.

The clean-up and undertaking on long-term upkeep of the building are good news. Such vital maintenance should be the rule of thumb for any new owners.

The DRC and residents should not allow any of the city’s historic buildings to be neglected.

They add soul to the city. They are a part of history we can still reach out and touch. They capture resident and visitor interest.

Better to retain them — in tip-top condition and appearance – rather than remembering them from creased and fading old photographs of  town streetscapes.

Comments by Mr Marom indicate that Telstra gets it.

Telstra owned many historical buildings across Australia and took its responsibilities to maintain them very seriously, he said.

He said residents always maintained a strong attraction to buildings with a strong history, especially those in the main street like the Old Dubbo Gaol and the former Dubbo Post Office.

Telstra deserves recognition for its commitment to one of our icons.