Queensland National Bank, Rockhampton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Queensland National Bank, Rockhampton |
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Former Queensland National Bank, 2009
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| Location | 186 Quay Street, Rockhampton, Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1880 |
| Architect | Francis Drummond Greville Stanley |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: R Rees and Sydney Jones, Queensland National Bank | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600807 |
| Significant period | 1880s (fabric) 1880- 1975 (historical use) |
| Significant components | banking chamber, fireplace, strong room, residential accommodation - manager's house/quarters, loggia/s |
| Builders | Collins & Mclean |
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The Queensland National Bank Building is a special old building in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia. It used to be a bank. It was designed by a famous architect named Francis Drummond Greville Stanley. The building was finished in 1880. Builders Collins & Mclean constructed it. Today, it is protected as a heritage site because of its history and beautiful design.
Contents
A Look Back: The Bank's Story
The Queensland National Bank building is a large, two-story brick building. It stands proudly on the corner of Quay and Denham Streets in Rockhampton. It was built in 1880 for the Queensland National Bank. The design was created by FDG Stanley, who was Queensland's Colonial Architect. He also did private work, like this bank. The building cost £8000 to build.
The Queensland National Bank was very important in Queensland's history. It was the first and most successful bank of its kind in the 1800s. By 1880, it held 40% of all the money in Queensland banks. This was more than any other bank in any Australian colony.
Why Rockhampton Was Important
The Rockhampton branch of the bank was located on Quay Street. This area was full of strong, important buildings. These buildings served the busy trade from the wharves (docks) along the river. This happened from the 1860s to the early 1900s. The bank building showed how successful Quay Street was during this time.
Even though many buildings in the area got rich from the Mount Morgan gold discovery, this bank was built two years before gold was found there in 1882. Building such a grand bank showed that Rockhampton was already a major trade and transport center in Queensland by the early 1880s.
What the Building Was Like
Stanley's design for the bank was clever. The ground floor was the main banking area. The second floor was a home for the bank manager. This building served both purposes for almost 100 years. People at the time called it a "handsome structure." In 1893, a visitor described it as a "stately colonnaded building."
FDG Stanley designed many banks for the Queensland National Bank. His most impressive bank building was their main office in Brisbane. He designed it in 1880, and it was finished in 1885. He also designed Queensland National Banks in places like Maryborough (1881) and Warwick (1881-82).
New Owners and Changes
The Queensland National Bank moved out of the building in 1975. They moved to new offices in East Street. In April 1975, a law firm called Rees R & Sydney Jones bought the old bank building. This firm had been located nearby since 1886.
Rees Rutland Jones started the law firm in 1864. It is still the oldest law firm in Queensland using its original name. Rees R Jones was a very well-known lawyer and public figure in central Queensland. He was involved in local government and was a lawyer for the Mount Morgan Gold Mining Company.
After the law firm bought the building, they made some changes. They repaired the building and changed the inside of the banking area. The original entrance from Denham Street was changed. A new main entrance was made on Quay Street. This helped the law firm, as their old office also faced Quay Street.
In 1987, the building was updated again. This was to make it better for the staff and new technology. The ground floor, which was the old banking hall, was changed. It now held the firm's lawyers and support staff. More staff and new technology meant they needed more space. So, a new floor, called a mezzanine, was built between the ground and first floors.
The first floor, which used to be the bank manager's home, was also changed. It became the law library, meeting rooms, and staff areas. The outside of the building was repainted. The inside was re-carpeted.
The glass and aluminum on the second-story verandah (balcony) facing Quay Street were removed. This opened up the verandah. Some of the old timber supports on the ground floor were replaced. The entrance from Quay Street was closed, and the main entrance from Denham Street was opened again. This brought the building back to its original design. The updates were finished in 1989. More work was also done in 1993–1994.
What the Building Looks Like
The former National Bank building is easy to spot on the corner of Quay and Denham Streets in Rockhampton. It is a two-story brick building covered in a smooth finish. Both sides facing the streets have a classic, detailed look. The main entrance to the old banking area is off Denham Street. The entrance to the stairs and the former manager's home is off Quay Street. The roof is gently sloped and hidden behind a decorative Italian-style railing at the top.
Outside Details
The main parts of the building that face the streets have two levels of arched walkways, called loggias. The arched openings are separated by smooth, double-story pilasters. These are like flat columns with decorative tops (Corinthian capitals). They look like they are holding up the decorative band above them, which has a fancy border and a row of small blocks (dentilled cornice).
The Denham Street side has seven arched sections. The middle section sticks out a little and has a special entrance area called a portico. This portico has a triangular top (a pediment) with the same decorative border. The arched openings on the building have rounded tops. They have decorative frames around them. More fancy designs around the arches highlight the central part that sticks out. The Quay Street side has five arched sections. The middle one was recently filled in to add a lift.
Cast iron railings connect the arched openings on both floors. The ground floor walkway has concrete floors. Its ceiling is covered with small corrugated iron sheets and supported by wooden beams. The upper floor walkway has smaller arched openings. It has a wooden floor and ceiling.
Inside the Bank
The main entrance from Denham Street leads into a small entry area. From there, double wooden doors with glass panels open into the former banking hall. This is a large room in the middle of the ground floor. The room has several brick pillars and pilasters with Corinthian tops. These support large ceiling beams and show where banking desks might have been. There are also several cast iron columns with Corinthian tops. The ceiling in this room is now a modern plasterboard ceiling. It has air conditioning, lights, and fire safety systems. A modern steel frame mezzanine (a partial floor) has been added to the banking hall.
In one corner, there is a very strong brick bank safe with a large iron door. Inside, it has a curved concrete ceiling. Around the edges of the banking hall, good quality wooden doors lead to many offices.
The main staircase is in the hall off the Quay Street entrance. This staircase has a large carved wooden newel post (the main post at the bottom of the stairs) and a cast iron railing. It seems to float out from the walls. The first floor is smaller than the ground floor. It has five main rooms arranged in an L-shape along the two main sides of the building. You can get to these rooms from an L-shaped hallway.
Generally, the inside walls are covered in plaster with wooden baseboards. The ground floor has concrete floors, and the first floor has wooden floors. The ceilings are plaster with deep plaster decorative borders. All the wooden parts, like doors and frames, are made of very good quality cedar wood. Several old fireplaces are still there. On the ground floor, there's a black wooden one with marble panels. On the first floor, there's a green marble one with red marble pieces, and a white marble one. These fireplaces still have their original cast iron grates.
Why It's a Heritage Site
The former Queensland National Bank building was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992. This means it's a very important building that needs to be protected. Here's why:
- It shows Queensland's history: This building, built in 1880, is part of the historic Quay Street area. This area is known for its late 1800s business buildings. Quay Street shows how important the Port of Rockhampton was. The port served a huge area of central Queensland from 1858. The port helped Rockhampton become the main business city of central Queensland. The busy river wharves led to many strong business buildings along Quay Street. The solid buildings showed Rockhampton's wealth and how confident people were about the city's future.
- It's a great example of its type: The old Queensland National Bank is an excellent example of a 19th-century bank building. It shows the main features of a large business building in the Classical Revival style. This style is known for its high-quality details and materials.
- It's beautiful: The former bank building adds a lot to the beauty of Quay Street. It is one of the grandest and most noticeable buildings on the street.
- It's important to the community: The old bank building is special to the people of Rockhampton. Its beauty and history contribute to Quay Street. For many, Quay Street is a symbol of Rockhampton and is closely linked to the city's image.
- It's linked to an important person: The building was designed by FDG Stanley. It is one of his best works. It shows how important Stanley's work was in Queensland's history.
