Australia Post spokeswoman Mel Ward said given the paint job would cost $250,000, the service wanted to get it right.

"Kiama's pink post office was the first post office to be painted pink almost 30 years ago, and even today people regularly tell us what they think about the colour," she said.

Consultants Truman, Zanoil and Associates, working with Kiama Council, took paint scrapings from the building and advised keeping a similar colour scheme, however the trademark salmon pink would be absent, swapped for a more beige shade of pink.

Jim Stephany from the firm said the scheme corresponded with the last major period of development during the first decade of the 20th century when the eastern verandah was enclosed and the rear skillion roof was added.

The Kiama Post Office started as a light and dark brown building when it was completed in 1878 and has the earliest-surviving example of a corner clock tower in NSW.

After World War II, it was painted an off-white colour, so when the pink paint was revealed in 1984, most thought it was the undercoat - the realisation the colour was final sparked a 600-signature petition.

From February 21, Australia Post will begin a two-week consultation period, giving residents the opportunity to select their preferred colour for the Commonwealth heritage building.

Boards will be on display at the post office, showing comparisons and customers are encouraged to record their colour preference on the 'comments' page.

Repainting is expected to take up to three months, weather permitting.

For our survey on what people on the street thought about the new colours, pick up a copy of this week's Kiama Independent.