Bank of New South Wales building, Gympie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bank of New South Wales Building, Gympie |
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Bank of New South Wales Building, 2011
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| Location | 242 Mary Street, Gympie, Gympie Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1890-1891 |
| Architect | Richard Gailey |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Bank of New South Wales (former) | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 15 April 2011 |
| Reference no. | 602775 |
| Significant period | 1890-1940 |
| Significant components | bank |
| Builders | T. Kelly |
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The Bank of New South Wales building in Gympie is a very old and important building. It's located at 242 Mary Street in Gympie, Queensland, Australia. This building was designed by a famous architect named Richard Gailey. It was built between 1890 and 1891.
This building was first used as a bank. It had banking offices on the ground floor. The bank manager and their family lived upstairs. There was also a basement for storage. Today, it is used by the Gympie Regional Council. It is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because of its historical importance.
Contents
A Look Back at Gympie's Gold Rush History
Gympie started as a gold mining town. Gold was found near the Mary River in October 1867. This discovery brought many people to Queensland. It also helped the young colony financially. Thousands of people arrived in Gympie very quickly.
At first, people found gold easily on the surface. This is called alluvial gold. Soon, this gold ran out. Miners then started digging deeper for gold in rocks. This was called reef mining. As mining grew, Gympie changed. Simple wooden buildings were replaced by stronger ones.
How Gold Mining Changed Gympie
By 1875, deep reef mining became popular. This needed a lot of money to set up. Companies were formed to invest in mines. In the 1880s, mines produced a lot of gold. This made Gympie very rich. Many new buildings were built in Mary Street. These included banks and offices for mining companies. The Bank of New South Wales building was one of these new buildings. It opened in 1891.
The Bank of New South Wales in Australia
The Bank of New South Wales (BNSW) was Australia's first bank. It started in Sydney in 1817. In 1850, it opened its first branch outside Sydney, in Brisbane. The bank grew quickly as gold was found in other parts of Australia. Bank staff were encouraged to open offices wherever new gold was found. By 1861, the BNSW had many branches across Australia and New Zealand.
When gold was found in Gympie, the BNSW quickly opened an office there. This was in March 1868. An old photo from 1868 shows the bank in a simple wooden building.
Over time, it became clear that Gympie's goldfield would last a long time. So, the bank made its presence more permanent. In 1872, the Gympie office became a full branch. This meant it offered more banking services.
In 1879, the bank bought the land where the current building stands. They used a timber building on this site for a while. By the late 1880s, gold production in Gympie was very high. The bank decided to build a strong brick building. This showed how important and long-lasting the goldfield was.
Building the New Bank
In February 1890, architect Richard Gailey asked for builders. He wanted to build a new brick bank in Gympie. The old bank building was sold in March. Construction of the new building began.
The new bank opened for business on March 31, 1891. It cost about £4000. The building had two floors. It was made of brick with an iron roof. The manager's family lived on the second floor.
Richard Gailey (1834-1924) was a well-known architect. He designed many important buildings in Queensland. These included churches, banks, and hotels. Many of his buildings had a classical style.
What Happened After the Gold Rush?
After 1900, gold mining in Queensland began to slow down. Gold production in Gympie peaked in 1903. After that, it decreased a lot. By 1927, the last gold mine in Gympie closed.
As gold mining ended, Gympie changed. It became a town that supported farming and dairy industries. The main shopping area of the town also moved. It shifted closer to the railway station.
The Bank of New South Wales stayed in its Mary Street location until 1940. Then, the bank bought new land closer to the town center. A new bank building was built there. The old bank building at 242 Mary Street was sold.
New Uses for the Building
In 1940, the Widgee Shire Council bought the building. They used it as their council offices. Some changes were made to the building for this new use. More offices were added in 1981.
Later, in 1993, the Widgee Shire was combined with the City of Gympie. This created the Shire of Cooloola. The building then became the Cooloola Shire Council Chambers. In 2008, more shires joined together. This formed the Gympie Region. The building is still used as the Gympie Regional Council Chambers today.
What the Building Looks Like
The former Bank of New South Wales building is a grand, three-story brick building. It has a classical style. It stands out on upper Mary Street in Gympie.
The building is on a sloping block of land. It faces both Mary Street and Reef Street. The front of the building on Mary Street has three main sections. It has decorative columns called pilasters. These make the building look strong and important. There are also decorative ledges and railings.
The main entrance is in the middle of the Mary Street side. It has a grand doorway. The windows on the upper floor have triangular tops. The ground floor has large windows and a timber door.
The side of the building facing Reef Street also has windows. The building has hipped roofs. These are covered with corrugated metal. Three brick chimneys stick up from the roof.
Inside the Bank Building
The building has three levels. The main banking area was on the Mary Street level. The basement held bank vaults and storage rooms. The bank manager's family lived on the top floor.
The ground floor still has the main banking hall. It also has the manager's office and a strong room. The banking hall has a beautiful pressed metal ceiling. The manager's office has a fireplace and a very strong vault. This vault has a heavy metal door. It was made to be "Thief-Resisting."
The basement level is at the same height as Reef Street. It has concrete floors and walls. It holds several vaults and storage rooms.
A beautiful wooden staircase leads from the ground floor to the upper level. It has finely carved railings. The upper floor has a central hallway. There are rooms on both the Mary Street and Reef Street sides. The rooms on the Reef Street side used to open onto a verandah. This verandah is now enclosed. This level also has decorative pressed metal ceilings. Many original wooden features are still there.
Why This Building is Important
The former Bank of New South Wales building is very important to Queensland's history. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on April 15, 2011.
Showing History's Story
This building helps us understand Gympie's gold mining history. Gold mining was very important to Queensland's wealth for about 60 years. As mining changed from easy surface gold to deep rock mining, Gympie grew. The town built more permanent and grand buildings.
This bank building was built when Gympie's gold mining was at its peak. It showed how rich and stable the town had become. For almost 50 years, it was a Bank of New South Wales branch. It also served as the manager's home.
Its location near other important gold-related buildings shows its historical importance. When gold mining ended, the town's center moved. The bank building was then sold. This also shows how Gympie developed over time.
A Great Example of a Bank Building
This building is a great example of a regional bank from its time. It was designed by Richard Gailey. It still has its original banking hall, offices, strong room, and manager's home. Its location, high above the old gold diggings, shows how important banks were in a gold mining town like Gympie.
The building is still very much as it was built. You can see this in its layout, room sizes, and wooden details. The strong room and pressed metal ceilings are also original. The manager's home upstairs still has its original layout and decorative features.
Beautiful and Important Design
The former bank building is also important for its beauty. Its design shows great craftsmanship. Its size and style add to the look of Mary Street. It fits well with other old buildings from the 1800s. These include the nearby former Australian Joint Stock Bank.
Its balanced classical design was often used for banks. This style made banks look stable and trustworthy. This was important for financial institutions back then.
Images for kids
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Bank of New South Wales Building, 2011
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Lower Mary Street, Gympie in 1868. The bank is the third building from the left.
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The Bank of New South Wales building in Gympie around 1872.
