Construction of extension at State Savings Bank, Bourke Street, Melbourne
The Age (Melbourne, Vic.: 1854- )Dec 1933
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Total copies: 1
In 1933, the State Savings Bank of Victoria commissioned architectural firm Stephenson and Meldrum to design an extension to their Elizabeth Street Head Office. The bank acquired and demolished all the buildings up the Bourke Street intersection. The eight storey extension was built with Harcourt granite in the lower sections and Stawell freestone upper facings in a seamless manner to the old building, creating a uniform and visually pleasing facade. They built shops and an arcade at ground level and the flat rooftop was accessible to the staff.
Title:
Construction of extension at State Savings Bank, Bourke Street, Melbourne
Collector:
Date of work:
Dec 1933
Reference number:
MCK152
Level of description:
Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
Type of materials:
Graphic materials
Part of:
Sub-sub-collection: McKenzie Collection of glass plate negatives (SC_MCKENZIE)
Access restrictions:
UnrestrictedOpen access
Use restrictions:
Refer to individual item records for Use Restrictions.Please contact City of Melbourne Libraries about obtaining permission to reproduce images. High resolution files may be available on request. Users must acknowledge City of Melbourne Libraries when reproducing images.
General notes:
Photographer notations on slide: "B20"Published: The Age April 4 1934 page 11.Published title: DEMOLITION AND BUILDING ACTIVITIES IN THE CITY.Published caption: “Interesting studies in the building activities of the city are afforded by the …photograph(s) taken yesterday when work ceased owing to the rain... The steel frame work... is readily identifiable as that erected for the extension of the State Savings Bank at the south-west corner of Bourke and Elizabeth streets.”Trove article identifier: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/203828669.Description:Pedestrians holding umbrellas cross a road amongst stationary cars. On the left, London Stores department store, in the middle, a steel frame built into the side of the State Savings Bank of Victoria, to the right in Bourke Street is Hall’s Book Store, The Metropole Hotel and John Danks & Son. Double headed street lamps can be seen..Research by project volunteer, Fiona Collyer:In 1933, the State Savings Bank of Victoria commissioned architectural firm Stephenson and Meldrum to design an extension to their Elizabeth Street Head Office. The bank acquired and demolished all the buildings up the Bourke Street intersection. The eight storey extension was built with Harcourt granite in the lower sections and Stawell freestone upper facings in a seamless manner to the old building, creating a uniform and visually pleasing facade. They built shops and an arcade at ground level and the flat rooftop was accessible to the staff..The Dandenong Journal of 3 May 1934 noted that “With the G.P.O. on one corner and buildings of high altitudes on the other corners, [London Stores department store, Cromwell Building, built 1886, demolished 1971] this quarter will be one of the most imposing in the city.”.The building works cost £170.000 and provided 700 men with employment for 12 months..In 1912 the six storey State Savings Bank of Victoria Head Office was built at 139-149 Elizabeth Street Melbourne in the Commercial Palazzo style designed by architects Grainger and Little. (John Harry Grainger also designed Princes Bridge and George’s Department store). It had an enormous banking chamber with double floor height ornate ceilings and marble finished pillars. The solid stone exterior symbolised the financial soundness of the bank.A further two storeys were added in 1925 in a sympathetic manner..Affectionately known as “Lizzy” by staff and Melburnians alike, the State Savings Bank of Victoria was demolished in 1975 along with Hall’s Book Store and the Metropole Hotel in Elizabeth Street and replaced with the 41 storey State Bank Tower and Galleria. The bank commissioned a 11 metre long mural by artist Leonard French titled “Journey of the Sun” depicting the four seasons, for the main banking chamber (now in the collection of Bendigo Art Gallery). Up market brands Carla Zampatti, Gucci, Weiss, Peter Sheppard and Thomas Cook Travel were among the stores in the Galleria. On the third floor there was a fitness centre with a 120 metre jogging track!.In 1990 State Savings Bank of Victoria merged with Commonwealth Bank Australia...References:DEMOLITION AND BUILDING ACTIVITIES IN THE CITY. (1934, April 4). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 11. Retrieved February 14, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203828669IMPROVED HEADQUARTERS. (1934, May 3). The Dandenong Journal (Vic. : 1927 - 1954), p. 3. Retrieved March 8, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article213862672'List of demolished buildings and structures in Melbourne', Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_demolished_buildings_and_structures_in_Melbourne'A Visit to Lizzy and Miss Mac: Memories of the State Savings Bank of Victoria Head Office’, Provenance: The Journal of Public Record Office Victoria, issue no. 17, 2019. ISSN 1832-2522. Copyright © Peter Andrew Barrett, https://prov.vic.gov.au/explore-collection/provenance-journal/provenance-2019/visit-lizzy-and-miss-mac'Statesman: State Bank Staff Magazine', February 1984 - No. 117, http://www.statebankvictoria.org/wp-content/uploads/Progress/Statesman_February_1984.pdf
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Form/Genre:
Record types:
Images, maps and artefacts
Record number:
1534282
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copy | MCK152.jpg | 1 JPG | Single Item (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |