Maria Hancock originally fled communist Romania in the 1980s and later met David, a Kiwi-born photojournalist. Together, they found and fell in love with the heritage‑listed 1905 post office building and bought it in 2019.
Over 2019–2021, they personally restored the building to reopen it in April 2021.
David and Maria, who call themselves custodians rather than owners, breathed new life into Eltham’s Old Post Office, creating The Helena suite a luxurious, romantic escape rooted in heritage and heartfelt hospitality. Guests enjoy a warm, comfortable, beautifully curated accommodation alongside personalized care—from gourmet meals to insider regional tips.
We pride ourselves on cleanliness, integrity and attention to detail in The Old Eltham Post Office to which which we are merely temporary custodians. The Helena Suite was never about 100% occupancy. It's much more about offering the best we possibly can for those who appreciate it.
We apply these same principles to the guests that visit and stay in this beautiful old heritage building.
We don’t do Gourmet but locally sourced old style home cooked meals with nothing fancy apart from Maria’s superb desserts.
It’s taken us a while to find our niche but……
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