Westpac Bank Building, Townsville facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Westpac Bank Building, Townsville |
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Westpac Bank, corner of Flinders and Stokes Streets, Townsville, 2009
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| Location | 337-343 Flinders Street, Townsville CBD, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919 - 1930s (interwar period) |
| Built | 1935 |
| Architect | Hall and Cook |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Westpac Bank | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 13 May 2004 |
| Reference no. | 602157 |
| Significant period | 1930s (fabric) 1935-ongoing (historical use as bank) |
| Significant components | shop/s, banking chamber, residential accommodation - manager's house/quarters |
| Builders | Stuart Brothers (Sydney) |
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The Westpac Bank Building is a special old bank building in Townsville, Australia. It was designed by a company called Hall and Cook and built in 1935. This building is important because it shows how Townsville grew over time. It is now listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it's protected for its history.
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A Brief History of the Westpac Bank Building
The Westpac Bank building is a big, strong building made of stone. It was built in 1935 for the Bank of New South Wales. This was actually the third building the bank had in Townsville.
How the Bank Started in Townsville
The Bank of New South Wales began in 1817. It played a big part in the early days of Townsville. Robert Towns, who helped start Townsville, was also a director of this bank. He encouraged the bank to open a branch in Cleveland Bay, which is where Townsville is now.
The bank opened its first branch in a rented building on March 20, 1866. It was the second bank to open in the area. The Australian Joint Stock Bank had opened just one month earlier.
Moving to New Locations
In 1867, the Bank of New South Wales bought land on the corner of the Strand and Wickham Street. They built a bank and a home for the manager there two years later.
As Townsville grew, the main business area moved. So, in 1875, the bank bought more land on Flinders and Wickham Streets. A new, two-story bank building was built there in 1887.
The Current Building's Story
The business center kept moving west along Flinders Street. So, in 1915, the bank decided to move again. They bought land on the corner of Flinders and Stokes Streets.
They didn't build right away. Instead, they rented out the shops on the land. More than 15 years later, in 1930, a famous architect named Francis Richard Hall was asked to design a new building. This new building would have offices, shops, and space for the bank.
The building cost a lot of money, about £32,345. It was built by Stuart Brothers from Sydney and finished in 1935. The Bank of New South Wales moved in. This bank had joined with the Australian Bank of Commerce (which used to be the Australian Joint Stock Bank) in 1931.
When it was built, people thought it was one of Townsville's most impressive buildings. It was designed to stay cool in the hot climate. It had special air flow and thick walls. The main entrance doors were made of fancy bronze and cost over £1,000! Inside, the banking hall had beautiful wood panels and counters made from north Queensland maple.
Over the years, the building has had some updates. Renovations happened in 1961, 1966, 1968, and 1971. The outside has changed a little, and the inside of the ground floor has been updated.
What Does the Westpac Bank Building Look Like?
The Westpac Bank building is located right in the middle of Townsville. It's on the corner of Flinders Street Mall and Stokes Street. It's a two-story building made of stone, with a smaller attic level on top.
Outside Appearance
The parts of the building facing the streets look very grand, like old Greek or Roman buildings. They have huge Tuscan order colonnades (rows of columns). The corners of the building are solid with a special textured finish.
The columns sit on a raised base, about one meter above the street. Above the columns, there's a simple top section with a fancy wall on top. This wall has a central decoration and panels with classical balusters (small pillars). The bank's name is written on the top part of the building.
Most of the windows are large and made of steel. They have simple classical frames around them.
Inside the Bank
The main banking area is on the ground floor, right on the corner. You can enter it from both Flinders Street and Stokes Street. The Flinders Street entrance has about five steps leading up to it.
The original bronze entrance doors have been replaced with automatic aluminum doors. Even though the banking area has changed a lot, it's still in the same spot. Some of the original walls and columns are still there. The rest of the ground floor is used for bank offices, storage, and staff areas.
Upper Floors and Details
There are also entrances to the upper floors from both Flinders and Stokes Streets. The Flinders Street entrance leads to a fancy staircase with terrazzo (a type of floor made of chips of marble or glass) steps. It has a wooden handrail and a decorative iron railing.
The second floor has a hallway with offices along the street side. Many original details are still there, like old signs, wooden doors, and glass partitions.
The third floor used to be a home, but now it's used for offices and training rooms for the bank. It's set back from the street and isn't very visible from below.
Why is the Westpac Bank Building Important?
The Westpac Bank building was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on May 13, 2004. This means it's recognized as an important historical site for several reasons:
- It shows how Queensland's history unfolded: This building was the third location for the Bank of New South Wales in Townsville. It was one of the biggest bank buildings in North Queensland when it was built. It shows how important trade and business were in helping Townsville grow into a major regional center.
- It's a great example of its type: The building's classical style, central location, and layout (with a large banking hall, shops, offices, and even a home on the roof level) show what a typical bank building looked like between the two World Wars in a regional city.
- It's beautiful to look at: Designed by Francis Richard Hall, the Westpac Bank building is a beautiful example of commercial architecture. Its well-ordered and classical design adds a lot to the look of Flinders Street.
- It's connected to important people and groups: The building has a strong link to the Bank of New South Wales. This bank helped Townsville grow into North Queensland's main business center in the 1800s and early 1900s.
