Former Union Bank original 1848 building

The former Union Bank on the corner of Yarra Street and Little Malop Streets was erected of Barrabool Sandstone in 1848 to Colonial Georgian style designs by architect, Charles Laing. This once impressive two-storey structure with distinctive portico, restrained parapet entablature and supporting Colonial Georgian details, has been substantially impaired by construction of a recent shopping arcade around the perimeter walls. Many elements of this early Geelong bank survive intact and the fabric warrants restoration , being a fine example of pre-goldrush architecture in Victoria. Other outstanding works by Laing eclipse the Union Bank as his finest work.

Geelong Regional Commission Register

Geelong Advertiser - 26 January, 1847 - tenders for builders for Union Bank

Geelong Advertiser - 6 July, 1847 - re-calling of tenders for Union Bank.

Geelong Advertiser - 5 February, 1855 - tenders for alterations and addition to Managers premises.

L Huddle - "Architects in Geelong in the 1840s and 1850s" 1979. Humanities Research Report. University of Melbourne pp 10-12. Description of work of early architect, Charles Laing.

L Huddle - Ibid, pp 12-13. Description of Union Bank

Brownhill, W. R. - A History of Geelong and Corio Bay, Wilke & Co., Melbourne, 1955, pp. 348-351, for details of establishment of Union Bank..

Group

Commercial

Category

Bank