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COMMONWEALTH BANK

Location

374-76 HIGH STREET, PRESTON, DAREBIN CITY

Level

Included in Heritage Overlay

Statement of Significance

What is significant?
The Commonwealth Bank at 374-6 High Street, Preston, constructed by 1940 is significant. It is a two storey rendered brick building in the Moderne style typical of the buildings erected by the Commonwealth Bank in the inter-war and immediate post-war period.

Later alterations and additions, including the awning and the autoteller, are not significant.

How is it significant?
The Commonwealth Bank at 374-6 High Street, Preston is of local historic and architectural significance to Darebin City.

Why is it significant?
Historically, it is significant as evidence of the expansion of the Commonwealth Bank during the late inter-war period, just prior to the cessation in branch building caused by the outbreak of World War Two and is one of an increasingly small number of the branches in Victoria constructed prior to 1950 that are still used by the Bank. It provides evidence of the continuing development of Preston as a city during the inter-war period after the interruption caused by the Great Depression. (AHC criteria A.4, B.2, D.2, H.1)

Architecturally, the Commonwealth Bank at 374-6 High Street, Preston is significant as a good example of a late inter-war bank in the Moderne style. (AHC criteria D.2)

Group

Finance

Category

Bank