Australian Joint Stock Bank Building, Townsville facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Australian Joint Stock Bank Building, Townsville |
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Former Australian Joint Stock Bank, Townsville, 2011
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| Location | 173 Flinders Street, Townsville CBD, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1887 - 1888 |
| Built for | Australian Joint Stock Bank |
| Architect | Francis Drummond Greville Stanley |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Australian Joint Stock Bank (former), Australian Bank of Commerce, The Bank Nite Club | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600895 |
| Significant period | 1880s, 1890s (fabric) 1888-1931 (historical use as bank) |
| Significant components | residential accommodation - manager's house/quarters, loggia/s |
| Builders | MacMahon & Cliffe |
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The Australian Joint Stock Bank Building is a historic building located at 173 Flinders Street in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It was built between 1887 and 1888 to be a bank. A famous architect named Francis Drummond Greville Stanley designed it. Today, it's known for its beautiful old design and is protected as a special heritage site because of its history and architecture.
Contents
A Look Back: History of the Bank
This two-storey brick building was finished in 1888. It was built for the Australian Joint Stock Bank, which was based in Sydney. This bank was actually the first one to open an office in Townsville way back in 1866.
The bank first had a small timber building. Then, in 1875, they built a bigger office. But as Townsville grew, especially with gold mining in places like Ravenswood and Charters Towers, and with sugar and farming industries, the bank needed an even grander building. So, they built this one, which cost about £7,000 at the time!
Who Designed This Building?
The new bank building was designed by Francis Drummond Greville Stanley. He was a very important architect in Queensland. Before designing this bank, he was the "Colonial Architect" for Queensland from 1873 to 1881. This meant he designed many important public buildings in Townsville, like the Magistrates Court and the telegraph office. He also designed many other bank buildings in North Queensland during the 1880s and 1890s.
Cool and Clever Design
Stanley asked for builders to bid on the project in 1886. A local company from Townsville, MacMahon and Cliffe, won the contract. The building's design and how it was built were quite special for the time.
- New Look: The front of the building has a row of columns, which was a new and stylish idea for buildings in Townsville. This design also helped keep the building cool in the tropical climate.
- Strong Materials: Instead of the usual cast-iron beams, they used stronger, rolled wrought-iron beams.
- Lightweight Floors: The balcony floor was made from "cork concrete." This was a lighter material than the usual heavy concrete mix.
Inside the Bank Building
The ground floor of the building was where all the banking business happened.
- Main Entrance: When you walked in, you entered a large hallway.
- Bank Manager's Office: The bank manager's room was on one side, and a stationery room was on the other.
- Banking Chamber: Beyond the entrance hall was the main banking room. It was a huge space, about 12.2 meters by 11.6 meters, with very high walls (6 meters tall!). It even had a special raised window area, called a clerestory, that let in lots of light.
- Work Areas: Wooden screens divided the main room into different sections for the bill department, the accountant's office, and the ledger clerks.
- Strong Room: At the back, there was a strong room to keep money and important documents safe.
The first floor of the building was where the bank manager and his family lived. It had sitting rooms, bedrooms, and a bathroom. You could get to it by a staircase from the ground floor. Some changes were made to the living area in 1898 by another architect, Walter Morris Eyre.
What Happened Next?
The building was used as a bank for over 40 years. In 1910, the Australian Joint Stock Bank was taken over by another bank called the Australian Bank of Commerce. So, the building became a branch of that bank. Then, in 1931, the Australian Bank of Commerce was taken over by the Bank of New South Wales.
After 1931, the building stopped being a bank. It was rented out for offices and, more recently, it became a night club.
What Does It Look Like Today?
The old bank building is on Flinders Street, near Melton Hill. It's a two-storey building made of brick, covered in a smooth finish. It has a hidden roof and a very grand, balanced front design. There's a service lane on one side and a walkway on the other.
The Front of the Building
The front of the building is divided into five sections.
- Ground Floor: The ground floor has fancy columns and flat column-like shapes (called pilasters) that support a decorative ledge.
- First Floor: The first floor has even more decorative columns and arches. Above these, there's another ledge and a decorative railing.
- Center Piece: The middle part of the building sticks out a little on both floors and has a triangular top section (called a pediment).
- Bank Name: You can still see the words "AUSTRALIAN BANK OF COMMERCE LTD" carved into the first floor.
- Doors and Windows: The ground floor has double wooden entrance doors in the middle, with arched windows on either side. The first floor has five sets of French doors with fanlights above them. Both floors have decorative railings.
Inside the Building Today
The first floor, which used to be the manager's home, is now accessed by a staircase on the western side. It has rooms along the front with windows at the back. There's also a small kitchen area.
The ground floor, which is now a nightclub, has a central entrance hall. This leads into the main nightclub space. This room has a very high, decorated ceiling. There's also a raised section in the ceiling that used to be a clerestory, letting in light. A verandah on the side has been closed in to create a seating area. At the back, there are staff rooms.
The inside of the ground floor has been changed a lot for the nightclub. It has a dancefloor in the middle, a DJ booth, and a bar.
Why is it a Heritage Site?
The former Australian Joint Stock Bank Building was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992. This means it's considered very important and is protected. Here's why:
- Shows History: It helps us understand how Townsville grew and changed into a major town and port in North Queensland during the late 1800s. It shows the building boom that happened then.
- Great Example: It's a great example of a large brick bank building from that time in Queensland. It also shows the important work of the architect FDG Stanley.
- Looks Good: People in Townsville value its beautiful design and how it adds to the look of Flinders Street and the whole town. It still has some of its original features inside.
- Clever Design: It shows smart and creative ways of designing buildings. For example, its design helped it adapt to Townsville's tropical climate.
- Important People: It's connected to the Australian Joint Stock Bank, which played a big part in developing Townsville and North Queensland in the late 1800s. It's also linked to the important architect FDG Stanley.
