A.N.Z. Bank

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

The former Mercantile Bank at the intersection of Moorabool and Ryrie Streets, Geelong, was erected in 1888 for the recently formed Mercantile Bank headed by the later notorious land boomer, Sit Matthew Davies. William Salway, a young Melbourne architect, designed this Boom Classicism style two-storey brick bank using exaggerated mannerist and classical architectural motifs. The Short lived Mercantile Bank was closed in the depression of the late 1890's and the premises were later occupied by auctioneers and land agents. The Banks Building is one of the most distinctive late 19th Century structure in Geelong.

REFERENCES

Geelong Advertiser - 20 October, 1876 - Sale of Land C. A. 1 18 Section 3.

A Sutherland (ed) Victoria and its Metropolis Past and Present Vol. IIB The Colony and Its People in 1888.

1888 McCarron Bird & Co, pp 350-51.

Biographical notice for William Salway, architect for the Mercantile Bank of Australia Ltd.

A.B. & C.N. - 14th April, 1888 - Tender Notice.

A. B. & C. N. - 19th May, 1888

B Trethowan - "A Study of Banks in Victoria 1851-1939" prepared for the Historic Buildings Preservation Council, 1976 - for details of the former Mercantile Bank and discussion of Architect William Salway.

Davidson, Graeme - The Rise and Fall of Marvelous Melbourne - M.U.P., Melbourne, 1982, for details of the history of the Mercantile Bank and the career of Sir Matthew Davies.

Group

Commercial

Category

Bank