Commonwealth Bank Building, Mount Morgan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Commonwealth Bank Building, Mount Morgan |
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Former Commonwealth Bank, 2001
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| Location | 38 Morgan Street, Mount Morgan, Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1900 - 1914 (early 20th century) |
| Built | c. 1913 |
| Official name: Commonwealth Bank (former), Queensland Savings Bank | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600746 |
| Significant period | 1910s (fabric) 1913- 1998 (historical use) |
| Significant components | strong room |
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The Commonwealth Bank Building in Mount Morgan is an old bank building with a rich history. It's located at 38 Morgan Street. Built around 1913, it first served as the Queensland Government Savings Bank. Later, it became a branch of the Commonwealth Bank. This building is important because it shows how banks developed in Queensland. It also played a big role in the Mount Morgan community for many years. Today, it is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register.
Contents
A Look Back at the Bank's History
How the Bank Started
This building was constructed in 1913. It was originally the Queensland Government Savings Bank. This bank was created in 1861 to help working people save money. It encouraged small deposits. People could easily transfer their savings accounts between towns. This idea was very successful. In 1887, the Savings Bank opened an office in the Mount Morgan Post Office.
Mount Morgan's Growth
The town of Mount Morgan grew quickly. This was because of a very rich gold mine. The mine started in 1882. The Mount Morgan Gold Mining Company Limited was formed in 1886. As the town grew, it needed more services. The Queensland National Bank also opened in Mount Morgan in 1887. This was a trading bank, different from a savings bank.
The Commonwealth Bank Arrives
The Commonwealth Bank was founded in 1911. It was backed by the Australian Government. This meant it could handle both savings and trading business. Its first branch opened in Melbourne in 1912. Soon, it opened offices in post offices everywhere. This was because post offices were now controlled by the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth Bank later joined with state banks. It merged with Queensland's state bank in 1920.
The Bank Building's Story
In 1913, the Queensland Government Savings Bank opened its own branch. It was a simple timber building. It stood on the corner of Morgan and Central Streets. This spot was next to the Mount Morgan Central State School. The school buildings eventually surrounded the bank.
In 1920, the Queensland Government Savings Bank became part of the Commonwealth Bank. The Commonwealth Bank started operating from this building in 1921. In the 1920s, Mount Morgan had three banks. These were the Queensland National Bank, the Bank of New South Wales, and the Commonwealth Bank. By 1929, the Commonwealth Bank was the only one left. It remained the only bank until 1950. During the World War II, the bank helped the government. After the war, it started offering home loans.
Later, in the 1970s, the bank's verandahs were enclosed. This made the inside space bigger. Concrete steps were added around 1980. The Mount Morgan mine closed in 1990. This led to fewer people and businesses in town. The Commonwealth Bank stopped using this building in 1998. Today, the building is used as offices.
What the Building Looks Like
The old Commonwealth Bank building is on the corner of Morgan and Central Streets. It's a single-story building made of timber. It has horizontal timber boards on its outside walls. The building has a rectangular shape. The corner facing the street intersection is cut off. This creates a main entrance there. This entrance has concrete steps and a small roof over it.
The main roof is made of corrugated iron. It extends over where the verandahs used to be. On the south side, there's an extension. This part holds the strong room and offices. The strong room has a heavy metal door. There's also a small extension for toilets. The sides of the building facing the streets have many glass louvres (slanted slats). The eastern side has two sash windows.
Inside, the building is mostly open. You can still see where the old verandahs were by looking at the ceiling height. The walls and ceiling are covered with timber boards.
Why This Building is Important
The former Commonwealth Bank building was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992. This means it's a special place that needs to be protected.
A Part of Queensland's Story
This building shows how Queensland developed over time. As a branch of the Queensland Government Savings Bank, it highlights the growth of regional towns. Its presence in Mount Morgan suggests there were many workers because of the gold mine.
A Typical Bank Building
The building is a good example of a small timber bank. It's modest in size and design. But it stands out on a busy corner. This was a common way for banks to be built in regional towns.
Its Look and Feel
The old bank building adds to the look of the Central State School site. The school has many timber buildings. The bank building fits in well with them. It's a central part of the area at the street intersection.
Important to the Community
This building was Mount Morgan's only bank for 21 years. It served the community for most of the 20th century. It also helped the government during the war. Because of this, the building has a strong connection to the people of Mount Morgan.
Images for kids
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Commonwealth Bank building, Mount Morgan, 1922
