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Commonwealth Bank, 219-225 Bourke Street, Melbourne

Butler, Graeme01/01/1985

Scope and contents

The Commonwealth Bank, 219-225 Bourke Street, was designed by the Sydney office of the Commonwealth Department of Works and clearance of the site commenced on the site of the old Bijou Theatre in mid-1939.1 Built by Lewis Construction Co Pty Ltd over the next two years, it rose to the height limit but with an additional 12m [38 feet] of tower to carry lift machinery, air conditioning equipment and gravitation water supply tanks.

Record details

Title:

Commonwealth Bank, 219-225 Bourke Street, Melbourne

Creator:

Butler, Graeme (Name details)

Date of work:

01/01/1985

Reference number:

BIF-CITY 101134

Level of description:

Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)

Type of materials:

Graphic materials

Part of:

Series: Central City (BIF-CITY)

Access restrictions:

UnrestrictedOpen access.

Use restrictions:

UnrestrictedPlease contact City of Melbourne Libraries about obtaining permission to reproduce images.

General notes:

ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER:Period: Inter-War/Post-warConstruction Date: 1941Notable Features: Stone faced podium, monumental massingGraeme Butler 1985 Melbourne Central Activities District Conservation StudyHistoryTo provide for business expansion experienced in the two existing city sites (Head Office, Collins Street and the Victoria Street Branch), this site was acquired in 1938 for a total of 62,400 pounds. Both the Gaiety and Bijou Theatres occupied the site within the ornate carcass of the Victoria Arcade and, a few doors to the west, was the Lyceum and Tivoli Theatres, the Theatrical Centre of Melbourne.Designed and built under the Victorian Works Director, Department of the Interior (MacKennel) the design was reputedly by William Henderson, chief architect. Star Haulage, Pty. Ltd., carried out the contract for the excavation and foundations, Lewis Constructions, Pty. Ltd. were the main Contractors and services installation was given to Oliver J. Neilson, Pty. Ltd. (electrical) and Gardner & Naylor, Ltd. (ventilation , hot water). Excavation work commenced early in 1939 and the main building works in July, continuing through the difficult wartime period to allow occupation by the Bank and other Government Departments in December, 1941.Ground level was devoted to banking (trading, savings accounts) under Manager, R.P. McDonald, while the two floors above held the Department of War Organization of Industry and, above that, all floors by the Department of the Interior. The main contract and fit out sum was 155,795 pounds.Expansion of banking in the Post Depression era yielded a number of new and vast bank buildings or bank renovations, including : the Bank of New South Wales, Bourke Street, 1929; the C.B.C. Bank, Collins Street, 1938; the C.B.A. Bank, Collins Street (renovation) 1939; the Bank of N.S.W., Collins Street, 1935 (demolished); E.S. & A. Bank, Swanston Street, 1928; and the National Bank, William Street, 1939. Most of the later designs adopted a stripped classical formalism, which either retained classical detailing (cornice, pilasters, colonnades) or pursued the now cubist Moderne/Modern outline. The latter group used only the symmetry of the classical forbearers and, with their broken parapet line, resembled the neo-Grec designs of the previous decade.DescriptionSeemingly built up from blocks of stone, the massive upper elevation is relieved only by an implied pilistrade set between lesser-height implied pavilions. A granite-clad podium is similarly monumental, allowing entry to the bank as if to an ancient Egyptian tomb. It invites comparison with the brick Russell Street Police Headquarters (a more articulate design) but among City Banks, only the demolished Bank of N.S.W. resembled its cubist composition, clinging to the traditional cornice most suburban Commonwealth Banks of the 1930-40's are often similarly composed.External IntegrityGenerally original, except for details at the entrance. Streetscape Isolated and hence dominant in scale and form.SignificanceA successful and prominent example in the Central Activities District Conservation Study - Graeme Butler, 1984 of the Moderne style, as applied to a major public building, particularly notable for its departure from the established classical revival bank format.Central City Heritage Study Review 1993: appendix 4:`Statement of SignificanceThe Commonwealth Bank. 219-225 Bourke Street, is of regional significance as a striking, prominent and externally intact example of the inter-war vertical Streamlined Moderne mode Designed by the Commonwealth Department of Works in 1939 and built by Lewis Construction Co Pty Ltd over the next two years, it rose to the height limit but with an additional 12m of tower to carry lift machinery, air conditioning equipment and gravitation water supply tanks. It remains an important landmark building within the Bourke Street commercial streetscape.'History and Description`The Commonwealth Bank, 219-225 Bourke Street, was designed by the Sydney office of the Commonwealth Department of Works and clearance of the site commenced on the site of the old Bijou Theatre in mid-1939.1 Built by Lewis Construction Co Pty Ltd over the next two years,2 it rose to the height limit but with an additional 12m [38 feet] of tower to carry lift machinery, air conditioning equipment and gravitation water supply tanks.3The form of the building which has its frontage to Bourke Street and a façade to the east along its entire length, is that of an austere collection of verticaly accentuated abstract cubic forms reminiscent of New York skyscrapers in its stepped form at the upper levels. A polished stone base and the pale stone upper floors reinforce the building's classical seventy. The exterior remains substantially intact, and the interior retains some of its original features. The banking chamber was one of the largest in Melbourne and was a striking double storey space. It has been altered in detail but retains its original layout. The rest of the interior, which was let as office space, has been substantially altered. The upper floor interiors were refurbished in 1991 and a sky bridge was constructed to connect to Council House at the rear of the site.The Commonwealth Bank in Bourke Street is part of a collection of austere streamlined Moderne bank designs within the Central Activities District Conservation Study - Graeme Butler, 1984 of the 1930s which include the CBC Bank, 109-113 Collins Street (1938); Royal Banking Chambers, 287-301 Collins Street (1939-41), the façade (now demolished) of the former CBA Bank, 335-339 Collins Street (c.1936). Of all of these examples, the Commonwealth Bank is the largest and most imposing, and remains an important landmark building within the Bourke Street commercial streetscape. Its banking chamber however does not compare with the intactness of Stephenson and Turner's Royal Banking Chambers in Collins Street.'Footnotes:`1 'Bank Premises', Age 16 May 1939. p 8. This article provides a drawn perspective of the proposed bank along with a bnef description.2 'New City Building' Argus, 16 November 1939. p 7.3 Age, loc. cit.'Graeme Butler & Associates 2011, Central City (Hoddle Grid) Heritage Review -Statement of SignificanceWhat is significant?To provide for business expansion experienced in the two existing Commonwealth Bank of Australia city sites (Head Office, Collins Street and the Victoria Street Branch), the Bijou Theatre site was acquired from Fuller Theatres P/L in 1938 for a total of ₤62,400. Both the Gaiety and Bijou Theatres occupied the site within the ornate carcass of the Victoria Arcade and, a few doors to the west, was the Lyceum and Tivoli Theatres, then the theatrical centre of Melbourne. After some delay caused by a site boundary dispute, the branch was constructed and opened at the mid-term of the Second War and in a time when Commonwealth Government control of private Australian banks under Chifley was a major controversy. However the war also meant scarcity of building materials and an increase in the estimated cost from £148,000 to £160,489.Designed and built under the Works Director, Department of the Interior Works & Service Branch Canberra (Mr WJ Cole) the design was by a Mr Howard, carried out under Director of Architecture, HM Rolland, with Melbourne supervising architect, H Anderson. Local works director, MacKennal's office was also in the new building. Star Haulage, Pty. Ltd., carried out the contract for the excavation and foundations, Lewis Constructions, Pty Ltd. were the main Contractors and services installation was given to Oliver J. Neilson, Pty. Ltd. (electrical) and Gardner & Naylor, Ltd. (ventilation , hot water).The bank was built from 1939 over the next two years, to rise to the Melbourne City 132 feet height limit (basement, ground floor, mezzanine and nine upper floors) but with an additional 12m of non-occupied tower to carry lift machinery, air conditioning equipment and gravitation water supply tanks. Occupation by the Bank and other Commonwealth Government Departments followed in December, 1941. Ground level was devoted to banking (trading, savings accounts) under Manager, R.P. McDonald, while the two floors above held the Department of War Organization of Industry and, above that, all floors by the Department of the Interior. The main contract and fit out sum was ₤155,795. Architects Bates, Smart and McCutcheon designed a general refurbishment of the building in the 1980s.Melbourne was then the financial centre of Australia and Victoria. Expansion of Melbourne banking in the 1930s Post Depression era yielded a number of new and vast bank buildings or bank renovations, including : the Bank of New South Wales, Bourke Street, 1929; the C.B.C. Bank, Collins Street, 1938; the C.B.A. Bank, Collins Street (renovation) 1939; the Bank of N.S.W., Collins Street, 1935 (since demolished); E.S. & A. Bank, Swanston Street, 1928; and the National Bank, William Street, 1939. Most of the later designs adopted a stripped classical formalism, which either retained classical detailing (cornice, pilasters, colonnades) or pursued the now cubist Moderne/Modern outline. The latter group used only the symmetry of the classical forbearers and, with their broken parapet line, resembled the neo-Grec designs of the previous decade. The Bourke Street CBA was styled in Classical Moderne.Seemingly built up from blocks of stone, the massive upper elevation is relieved only by an implied pilistrade set between lesser-height implied pavilions. A two tone polished Victorian granite-clad podium is similarly monumental, allowing entry to the bank as if to an ancient Egyptian tomb, with upper level clad with Stawell sandstone. It invites comparison with the now altered brick Russell Street Police Headquarters (a more articulate design) but among City Banks, only the demolished Bank of N.S.W. resembled its cubist composition, clinging to the traditional cornice. Many suburban Commonwealth Banks of the 1930-40s were similarly composed.The exterior is generally original, except for details at the entrance where a public lobby clad with marble holds the commemoration plaque of the building’s opening. The building remains an important landmark building within the Bourke Street commercial streetscape because of its relative isolation and hence is dominant in scale and form.How is it significant?The former Commonwealth Bank of Australia is significant historically and aesthetically to the Melbourne Capital City ZoneWhy is it significant?The former Commonwealth Bank of Australia is a successful and very prominent example in the Capital City Zone of the Moderne style, as applied to a major public building, and is particularly notable for its departure from the established classical revival format typically used for banks. The building is a striking, prominent and externally intact example and remains an important landmark building within the Bourke Street commercial streetscape, made more so by the choice of Victorian stone wall finishes.Historically, the new bank was symbolic of the power of the Commonwealth Bank in Australian banking and a major building project during the cessation of private development during World War Two, as well as the expansion of banking through the inter-war post-depression era. The building is particularly evocative of Melbourne's status as the financial centre of Australia and Victoria.

Names:

City of Melbourne

Topics:

Central Activities District Conservation Study 1985Conservation studiesStone buildingsInterwar periodBanks

Places:

Melbourne (Vic.)

Form/Genre:

Building Identification Forms (BIFs)

Record types:

Research and reports

Record number:

1180295