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Vancouver House (Albany, Western Australia) facts for kids

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Vancouver House
Vancouver House 1.jpg
Vancouver House on Stirling Terrace
General information
Type Heritage listed building
Location Albany, Western Australia
Coordinates 35°01′36″S 117°53′08″E / 35.026724°S 117.88562°E / -35.026724; 117.88562 (Vancouver House)
Official name National Bank
Type State Registered Place
Designated 7 December 2007
Part of Stirling Terrace Precinct, Albany (14922)
Reference no. 64
Vancouver House 2
Vancouver House in 2016

Vancouver House, also known as the National Bank building, is a special old building in Albany, Western Australia. It sits on Stirling Terrace and looks out over Princess Royal Harbour. This building is considered a "heritage listed" place, which means it's important to history and needs to be protected.

Why is it Called Vancouver House?

This building is named after a famous explorer, George Vancouver. He was the one who named King George Sound and Princess Royal Harbour. In 1791, George Vancouver claimed the southern part of Western Australia for the British Crown.

Building History

The construction of Vancouver House began in 1881. A local builder named Charles Keyser built it. He also built another important building nearby called Albany House.

What Was It Used For?

  • Bank: When it first opened, Vancouver House was a branch of the National Bank.
  • Cafe and Store: Later, it changed and became a cafe and a food store.
  • Guest House: In the year 2000, the building was turned into a guest house. This means people could stay there like a hotel.

Building Style

Vancouver House is built in a style called Victorian free classical. It's part of a group of important old buildings along Stirling Terrace.

What Does It Look Like?

  • It has two main floors.
  • There's a smaller, single-story part on the eastern side.
  • The front of the building is very balanced and has horizontal panels. These panels are made of stucco masonry, which is a type of plaster.
  • The main entrance has an arched doorway.
  • The roof is made of corrugated iron and slopes gently.
  • You can also see two chimneys on top of the roof.
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