Bank of Australasia, Ipswich

The Bank of Australasia is a heritage-listed former bank at 116A Brisbane Street, Ipswich, City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Reed & Barnes and built in 1878. It is also known as Council Offices, Ipswich Library, and Ipswich Visitors and Tourist Information Centre. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.[1]

Bank of Australasia, Ipswich
Former Bank of Australasia, 2017
Location116A Brisbane Street, Ipswich, City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia
Coordinates27°36′53″S 152°45′32″E / 27.6147°S 152.759°E / -27.6147; 152.759
Design period1870s–1890s (late 19th century)
Built1878
ArchitectReed & Barnes
Architectural style(s)Classicism
Official nameFormer Council Offices, Brisbane Street Ipswich, Bank of Australasia, Ipswich Library, Ipswich Visitors and Tourist Information Centre
Typestate heritage (built)
Designated21 October 1992
Reference no.600568
Significant period1870s (fabric)
1870s–1940s (historical – bank)
1940s–1970s (historical, social – Library)
Significant componentsstrong room, residential accommodation – manager's house/quarters
Bank of Australasia, Ipswich is located in Queensland
Bank of Australasia, Ipswich
Location of Bank of Australasia, Ipswich in Queensland
Bank of Australasia, Ipswich is located in Australia
Bank of Australasia, Ipswich
Bank of Australasia, Ipswich (Australia)

History

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Brisbane Street, Ipswich, circa 1902: Post Office, School of Arts (Old Town Hall), Bank of Australasia

The former Bank of Australasia was constructed in 1878 with an attached manager's residence. The architects were Reed and Barnes of Melbourne. The Bank acquired a lease on the corner of Brisbane and Nicholas Streets, occupied by the original St Paul's Church which was being used as a school. The old building was demolished and a bank was constructed. The bank bought the property in 1925. The bank closed in 1943, and it remained empty until the Ipswich City Council threatened to resume the property, eventually purchasing it. In 1985, the Rates Office moved to the new Council Administration Building in South Street and the former bank was used to accommodate shops after Reids department store burned down. In 1991, the building became the city's tourist information centre and the office of Ipswich Events Corporation.[1]

In 2015, the building was occupied by the Indian Mehfil Restaurant.[2]

Description

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The former Bank of Australasia is single-storey load-bearing brick building. Internally, the remains of the strong room are identifiable and there are modern partitions. Some apparently original sections of cornice remain at the northern end.[1]

Heritage listing

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The former Bank of Australasia was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992 having satisfied the following criteria.[1]

The place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland's history.

Built in 1878, the place is important in demonstrating the evolution of banking services in major towns and demonstrates the principal characteristics of a 19th-century bank with attached residence.[1]

The place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a particular class of cultural places.

Built in 1878, the place is important in demonstrating the evolution of banking services in major towns and demonstrates the principal characteristics of a 19th-century bank with attached residence.[1]

It is associated with the work of Melbourne architects Reed and Barnes as a variant of a standard bank design adapted slightly for the Queensland climate.[1]

The place is important because of its aesthetic significance.

It exhibits aesthetic characteristics valued by the community as a finely-detailed and executed example of a revival classic commercial building. It is an important element in a group of civic buildings and makes an important contribution to the streetscape.[1]

The place has a special association with the life or work of a particular person, group or organisation of importance in Queensland's history.

It is associated with the work of the School of Arts and Ipswich City Council in providing library services.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Former Council Offices, Brisbane Street Ipswich (entry 600568)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  2. ^ "Indian Mehfil". mehfil.com.au. Retrieved 22 May 2015.

Attribution

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  This Wikipedia article was originally based on "The Queensland heritage register" published by the State of Queensland under CC-BY 3.0 AU licence (accessed on 7 July 2014, archived on 8 October 2014). The geo-coordinates were originally computed from the "Queensland heritage register boundaries" published by the State of Queensland under CC-BY 3.0 AU licence (accessed on 5 September 2014, archived on 15 October 2014).

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