An Australia Post spokesperson has responded to the Wimmera Mail-Times’ request for a comment.

“Mail collection is still available from the existing Post Office boxes at Marnoo, and while we search for new arrangements carded parcels are temporarily relocated to Stawell as a default.

“However, customers can choose to have their parcels sent to another Post Office through our parcel collect service.

“We are pleased to report that a temporary arrangement is being made for parcels to be collected from a local business in Marnoo.

“This service will be in place whilst renovations are made to the old Marnoo Post Office to accommodate free Parcel Lockers so customers can collect their parcels locally.

“We wish to thank the community for their patience as we continue to explore the option of a Community Postal Agent for mail collection, and will provide updates as details are confirmed.

“If customers have any concerns about their mail collection, we encourage them to contact us on 13 POST or at www.auspost.com.au.”

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MARNOO residents have been left without an essential service after the town’s Milk Bar and Post Office closed down last week.

Resident Tracy Krupa said Australia Post didn’t give locals any official notice that the business would close its doors on March 28.

“In late February, the town was given unofficial notice that it was shutting, then on March 7 Australia Post removed the boxes to relocate them somewhere else,” Ms Krupa said.

“We were then informed that we are expected to pick up parcels from Stawell from now on, which is over an hour drive as a round trip.

“They haven’t given us any option of where we can get our parcels from, we’ve just been told it’s Stawell.”

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The closure of Marnoo’s Milk Bar has been imminent since the business was first put up for sale by owners Robyn McLachlan and Norman McLean in 2015.​

The business’ original sale price was at $315,000, but it has decreased to $275,000 when the property failed to gain interest from prospected buyers.

“It was on the market for a very long time and there really wasn’t any consultation by Australia Post of the needs of the community during that time,” she said.

Ms Krupa said the closure of the Post Office would greatly affect the Marnoo and surrounding community.

“My family are the lucky ones because we’re a bit out of town in a postcode with roadside delivery, but everyone else has been told to go to Stawell,” she said.

“Most of the people who live in town are elderly, are on benefits or don’t have the ability to drive all that way just to pick up a parcel. There are also a lot of people from surrounding farm properties who relied on coming into town to receive post.

“At the moment everyone is very frustrated and Australia Post doesn’t want to talk to us. Basically, we’ve been treated like we don’t matter. They really haven’t given any consideration to this.”

Marnoo Milk Bar and Post Office’s closure is the latest in a series of businesses shut downs across the region.

Last year, both Beulah’s Beulah Cafe and Hopetoun's Bon Bon Cafe shut up shop.

In 2013, Brim’s Commercial Hotel closed its doors after serving the Wimmera town for more than 125 years.

Wimmera Development Association have been asked for comment.