Bank of Australasia (Former)

The former Bank of Australasia at 189 Nelson Place, Williamstown is of local historic and aesthetic significance to the City of Hobsons Bay.

Historically, it was the second major purpose-built bank in Williamstown (after the ES&A Bank, 1873); the eighth such building commissioned by the bank in the colony since incorporation in 1835; and their first suburban branch bank building. It demonstrates the importance of Nelson Place as the main commercial centre in Williamstown during the later part of the nineteenth century. It is also important as the first commission within Melbourne for the Bank of Australasia by the renowned architectural firm of Reed & Barnes. (AHC criteria A4 and H1)

Aesthetically, it is architecturally significant as an important example of the work of the renowned architectural firm of Reed and Barnes. The building is an original and elegant composition in the Italian Renaissance Revival style with rich decoration and detail and makes an important contribution on a prominent corner site to the historic Nelson Place streetscape. (AHC criteria E1 and F1)

Note: Included on the Victorian Heritage Register as VHR 1769.

Group

Finance

Category

Bank