Custom built for the Bank of New South Wales in 1894, this well proportioned and skilfully detailed Federation Romanesque style building was designed by Varney Parkes, a prominent and skilled architect and son of the Premier, Sir Henry Parkes.
The building, featuring rendered brickwork, sandstone, timber framed windows and glass and brass entry rendered brickwork, was built at a cost of 17,400 pounds. It was associated with a gold refinery and smelter making the bank important in the gold bullion trade. A trough from gold smeltering activities remains extant in the basement.
The building demonstrates an unusual use of the Federation Romanesque style in a city commercial building, creating a refined image for, what was at the time, the major Bank in Australia.
Text sourced from City of Sydney Archives.
