Commercial Banking Company of Australia, 335-339 Collins Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Total copies: 1
Title:
Commercial Banking Company of Australia, 335-339 Collins Street, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 102089
Level of description:
Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
Type of materials:
Graphic materialsTextual material
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Series: Central City (BIF-CITY)
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UnrestrictedOpen access.
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UnrestrictedPlease contact City of Melbourne Libraries about obtaining permission to reproduce images.
General notes:
Period: Inter-WarConstruction date: Façade 1939, Main chamber 1891-1893 (since- facade replaced as designed by Peck, Von Hartel & Trethowan and built by the Becton Corporation in 1990.)Notable features: Stone facing (Note: Entry arch of 1891-1893, rest of façade 1939)Architects: 1891-1893 Lloyd Taylor & Alfred Dunn; 1939 Anketell & K. Henderson.ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER:.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of SignificanceHistoryOn the verge of the 1890s economic depression, the Commercial Banking Co. of Australia (est. 1866) held a competition for their new head office design. An unlikely combination of Lloyd Tayler and Alfred Dunn won the commission, commencing construction in 1891 with the well-known contractor, James Moore of City Road. It was complete by 1893 in time for the bank's closing after an unforeseen run on deposits, a dramatic drop in share prices and the culmination of too deep an involvement with the land speculation boom. Board Chairman, George Meares, announced a reconstruction program which involved calls on shareholders, of which he was the largest.The politician, James Services, succeeded Meares after the crash and another replaced the manager, Arthur Nichols, who was found to have personal debts totalling over 24000 pounds. The CBA struggled on through the 1890s bravely avoiding liquidation at its shareholders' expense.This century Australian banking consolidated particularly after World War One, commencing with the National and Colonial Banks' merger in 1918, followed by E S & A absorption of the London Chartered Bank (1921) and the National Bank takeover of the Bank of Queensland in 1922. New private banks in the CAD included the Bank of New South Wales, Little Collins Street; a National Bank in Swanston Street; the CBC Bank in Collins Street (1938), Western House in William Street (1939) and the Union Bank, Elizabeth Street (1928). The pronounced growth of private banking continued into the 1930s inspiring a Royal Commission in 1936 and tempering legislation in 1945.By the 1970s, the CBA had over 760 offices throughout Australia, New Zealand, London and Tokyo with nominal capital of fifty million dollars and near 7000 employees. It was in this 1920-30s growth period that the present offices and banking chamber were constructed, utilizing the existing dome, to the design of A & K Henderson; Anketell Henderson being a staunch proponent of building and streetscape conservation. A permit application was lodged in October 1939 and work proceeded through 1940, extending the office accommodationthrough to Flinders Lane and an extra two floors upwards. Lift and stair lobbies reinforced concrete were wrapped around the old portico at the Collins Street entrance, and the typical Modern Renaissance manner extended upwards in stone ashlar, comprising the podium base (ground and mezzanine) and seven shallow upper floors, including an attic. Between, a colonnade is implied by four deep piers which risewithin a central recess, flanked by pavilion like bays. What was to have been the bank's seal, carved in bas-relief at the attic centre, was replaced during construction by another attic window. Upper level offices were leased by generally solicitor and accountancy firms, such as Maddock Lonie & Chisholm, Ernest Fookes & Co. and the Old Melburnians Society. A link with the past was the solicitor firm Meares Duigan & Hall, who occupied offices there from the latest, the 1920s.DescriptionIn the manner of other contemporary Banks, (Commonwealth Bank, Bourke Street), a form of classical revival (following an Italian Renaissance model) has been skillfully condensed here into implied classical elements built up in three layers: the basement, piano-nobile and attic levels. Two pavilion-like wings are suggested on either side of an implied colonnade which hovers over the retained arched entrance of the former banking chamber. Truly a facade, the Store facing hides new concrete floors which extend only as far as the banking chamber where they join the original brick carcass of the front wing, modified at the openings in the new work. Internally, the old dome and its supportive columns are miraculously intact, with the lantern overhead still providing natural light. Original counters and partitions remain, with added sympathetic screens. While fittings such as the curved and embossed water radiators add to the remarkable period expression of the space. Beyond, an elegant stair leads to the upper levels of the rear wing, which is surprisingly original, in part. In the front rooms of this wing is the Management Suite.Set as both low and high level partitions (1940) and clad in solid, finely varnished timber, (Greenland Maple), thepartitioned area sits below a lofty ornamental ceiling with exposed columns and beams, painted (in part) in early colours. Each of the main rooms (boardroom, dining room and Manager's Office) has timber paneled walls, lofty ceilings (to the original 19th Century ceiling height) and original fittings (light, cupboards, washbasin alcove), also loose furnishings, evidently from elsewhere in the building, (chairs with Jacobean pattern backs and legs from the banking chamber). Elsewhere in this and other levels of this wing, Victorian period detail is evident. Beyond this section if the more pedestrian Flinders Lane wing. Given the uniting of these three building stages, the dome and drum have remained free-standing on most of the upper levels. The dome has been reclad in part, retaininghowever the hand-operated glazed sashes to the cupola and, given its quaint external form, appears never to have been intended to be visible from Collins Street. Beneath the banking chamber, a central massive round brick column supports radiating riveted wrought-iron beams, which appear to have been originally fire-proofed with the arched Traegerwellbech plates, now cemented over. There are both old and new concrete vaults, communicating with the ground level by a security lift. Another lift, on the east side of the middle wing, is near original to the 1940 period.Externally, the grand (monumental) scale of the elevation is complemented by the giant sliding wrought-iron gates to all main entrances which, although large in scale, maintain a view to the banking chamber beyond and do not overwhelm the surviving arched entrance. The freestone facade also complements theclassical allusions.External IntegrityGenerally original to the 1940 Form.StreetscapeThe facade successfully continues the classical revival seen in various forms and States, further to the west.SignificanceA remarkable conservation achievement, which skillfully combines the sophistication of the Modern Renaissance with the more ornate High Renaissance Revival, which survives from the 19th Century bank : this achievement demonstrates Anketell Henderson's (and the profession generally) enthusiasm for conservation of Melbourne city's character, in deference to the modernistic influences prevailing in Europe. A remarkable amount of the 1003 bank survives and, besides the magnificent banking chamber, its fittings and the dome, the middle wing contains lofty, decorated interiors (first level) and impressive managerial suite joinery from 1940. (compare with Port Authority Building and former A.M.P. Building, now Capel Court)..GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDY BUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORMcites source 80: Keith & John R Reid, 1976, CBD STUDY AREA 7.VICTORIA HERITAGE REGISTER H0035 (Banking Chamber)What is significant?On 1 October 1866 the Commercial Bank of Australia Limited commenced business in the spacious building in Collins Street recently fitted out for their accommodation. Then known as No.30 Collins Street West and renumbered 337 in 1889, this address remained the site of the Bank's principal office in the heart of Melbourne's financial district during its whole 116 year existence, except for the period of rebuilding during the 1890s. The first General Manager of the company was George Vallentine who had been recruited from the Bank of Victoria. The existing Banking Chamber and Entry were part of a new head office which was designed and built in the period 1891-93; a time of great financial crisis for Victoria. The design selected by the Bank was a compromise between independent entries by the two architects Lloyd Tayler and Alfred Dunn. The interior Banking Chamber and facade were derived from Tayler's submission and the office accommodation was mainly due to Dunn who was also responsible for the supervision of the construction. Construction began in 1891 and the building was occupied in July 1893. The building remained substantially unaltered until 1939 when the Collins Street facade was demolished and reconstructed to a new design. In 1990 a 29 storey office building was constructed, incorporating the 1893 Banking Chamber and entrance into the design. The Banking Chamber is octagonal in form, approximately 20 metres in diameter and covered by a great plaster dome with an iron and glass lantern. The height of the dome above the main floor of the chamber is approximately 30 metres with the lantern an additional 15 metres above it. The dome is derived from the octagonal plan by the intersection of arches, recalling the constructional system of the great mosques. The first storey consists of semi-circular arches in the Roman form surrounded by a storey of applied temple fronts of the richest decoration. The floor of the Chamber is a detailed mosaic. The 1893 entry is constructed of stone with large iron gates and a central barrel vaulted ceiling.How is it significant?The Banking Chamber and Entrance of the former Commercial Bank of Australia are of aesthetic, architectural and historical importance to the State of Victoria.Why is it significant?The CBA Banking Chamber and Entrance are of architectural and aesthetic importance as remants of one of the most notable commercial buildings of Melbourne's financial district. The Banking Chamber, entrance vestibule, archway and gates remain from the building erected in 1891-93. Derived from Italian Renaissance and Baroque design the dramatic top-lit Banking Chamber is one of Melbourne's most impressive interiors. The special qualities of the Chamber are embodied in the dome of intersecting ribs and the play of natural light on flat and plastic surfaces, coupled with the skilful resolution of the original functional requirements. The opulent design has been carried through to the joinery, stone entrance and mosaic floor. The structure and its interior are important as the most distinctive work of the architect Lloyd Tayler, as well as his most prestigious commission.The CBA Banking Chamber and Entrance are of historical importance for their associations with the Commercial Bank of Australia Ltd who had their head office at this site, from 1893 until 1982. The construction of such a grand Banking Chamber represents the early success of the Commercial Bank of Australia due to the Land Boom. By 1888 the peak year of the growth of the metropolitan aspirations of the Marvellous Melbourne, the bank had become the largest in terms of deposits, in the colony of Victoria. Along with other banks in the area the Chamber and Entrance reflects the opulence of Melbourne during the land boom. Its is important as one of the last, and perhaps most exuberant examples of this period which was wiped away in the financial crash of 1893. The Commercial Bank of Australia, for all its affluence during the Boom period, suffered tremendously in the disastrous crash of the 1890s. The inception and construction of the Banking Chamber bridges this period in the Bank and Victoria's history. The location of the building reflects the long-standing tradition of this part of Collins Street as the focus for Australia's great financial institutions..NEWSPAPERS (TROVE).The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Thu 20 Jun 1935 Page 13 COMMERCIAL BANKCOMMERCIAL BANKRenewing Stonework in BuildingThe first overhaul of the stonework of the head office of the Commercial Bank of Australia Limited, in Collins street, since the building was erected in 1891 is being carried out. Some stones which have become affected by weathering are to be replaced, and the pointing of the joints between the stonework is being renewed where necessary. The heavy pediment across the top of the building is being remodelled. This involves the removal of many tons of stone. The architects for the work are Messrs. A. and K. Henderson, of Bank place, and the builders are Clements Langford Pty. Ltd..Construction (Sydney, NSW : 1938 - 1954) Wed 27 Dec 1939 Page 6 MELBOURNE ACTIVE.During the month a contract was let to Swanson Bros. Pty. Ltd, for extensive alterations and additions to the head office building of the Commercial Bank of Australia Ltd., 335 Collins Street, Melbourne. The work includes the demolition of the five upper floors and the roof of the building back 40-ft. from the Collins Street building line, and down to the first floor level.The heavy architectural treatment which now occupies a depth of 8-ft. 6-in. on the front will be removed and a new facade provided.The new front wall will be 2-ft. 3-in. thick. Seven new floors will be built over the whole section demolished. The main central arched entrance,- with its vaulted ceiling and entrance porch will be retained and the new work above this will be faced with buff coloured Hawkesbury sandstone. A new lift service will be installed. The architects for the work are A. and K. Henderson and Partners, Bank Place, Melbourne.
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Research and reports
Record number:
1192861
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 102089 | 1 PDF : 1502 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |