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National Bank -- Group Classification

Location 5 Lydiard Street North,, BALLARAT CENTRAL VIC 3350 - Property No B0291 File Number B0291 Level Local

[1/1] B0291 National Bank

Statement of Significance

Bank Classified: 11/12/1958
Group Statement of Significance: All four buildings were erected in the 1860's to designs by Architect Leonard Terry, thus following on from his Melbourne Club design of 1858. As diocesan architect for the Church of England he designed many ecclesiastical buildings, but of his secular works, this group of four banks form a significant sample at a time when Ballarat was one of the largest and most important cities in Australia.
Their construction came at a time when Ballarat was establishing its permanent landmarks; and yet at that time a gold mine was still active on the south west corner of the same intersection, and on outdoor share market was being conducted on the south east corner.
The designs of the four buildings, although all classical revival in concept, are not particularly compatible. Their facades and scales differ and the skyline is disjointed. Nonetheless individually all of them have been considered worthy of Classification.
In keeping with architcural philosophies of the period, the rear and exposed side elevations do not continue the classical details of the street facdes, but, because of the corner situation, the effect of the group is one of three-dimensional cohesion of design. Bank of New South Wales, 13-15 Lydiard Street, is intact externally except for the addition of signs. The interior is not intact.
Group includes B3112 former ES & A Bank, B0286 Bank Of New South Wales & B0293 ANZ Bank.
Group Classified: 'State' 21/10/1976