1959


c2004

2023

1934 Listed in Century of Banking

B&W photo in Current Accounts Jan 1960, colour photo NSW Heritage Office.

This building is significant in the history of the economic development of Lake Cargelligo and in the banking history of New South Wales. It has been continuously used as a banking chamber since its construction in 1920. It is an aesthetically pleasing two storey building with landmark qualities. This building has the potential to reveal further detailed information in respect of its construction and the prior use of the site through detailed archival and archaeological research.
Designer:                E. R. Laver
Builder:                  W. Bland
Construction Years: 1920 - 1923
Physical Condition and/or
Archaeological Potential: Good
Date Condition Updated: 12 Apr 04
This building which is now occupied by the National Bank was initially constructed by the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney. The Lake Cargelligo branch of the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney opened on 7 October 1919 in Charlie Blacker's Saddlery Shop on the opposite corner to the present building (south-eastern corner). This Saddlery Shop no longer exists. The former CBA building now exists on the site of the Saddlery Shop (SHI 1900106). In December 1919 the Commercial Banking Co of Sydney purchased the land and a wooden building on the present site on the south-western corner of Foster and Canada Streets for One thousand one hundred and sixty eight pounds. The Commercial Banking Company of Sydney occupied the wooden building on the site whilst the present building was being constructed. The architect of the present building was E. R. Laver and the Builder W. Bland. The first portion of the building, the ground floor was erected in 1920 at a cost of One thousand six hundred and sixty nine pounds. The second storey of the building was completed in 1922 at a cost of Four thousand and sixty pounds. The first manager was R. E Inglis. The building is now occupied by the National Bank. Prior to the use of this site by the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney the first Post Office for Lake Cargelligo stood on the site followed by the First Departmental School and then the Bank.

2024 March Rick Reeks sent in three photos from September 2023 and advised: Lake Cargelligo celebrated their 150thn anniversary last October long weekend. As I was transferred there as 2^nd Officer in January 1970 I thought it would be great to pop back and have a look at the town some 53 years later. I was joined by my mate, Darryl Kahlefeldt, who arrived later as the junior officer. It was a shame the branch was closed permanently in August along with many other branches at that time. On the bright side, the building has been purchased and is undergoing a major renovation which will bring it back to all its glory. Darryl and I did a fair bit of reminiscing over a couple of cold ones and at the same time caught up with quiet a few locals we hadn’t seen for many years. Unfortunately same old friends from there had passed away which was extremely sad for us.

1858 Yass Branch was opened under the management of R W Pearson who remained in the position for 36 years. Part of Mr Pearson's duties included the buying of gold on the fields of Lambing Flat before the opening of the CBCofS Young branch.
1861 Branches opened at Burrowa and Burrangong (25th Report).
1861 25th March Lambing Flat branch opened.
1861 July name changed to Young.
See Yass & Young for permanent branches in area.  Interesting that the name of the local radio station is 2LF (Lambing Flat).

E.R. Dibbs Manager. Just assumed managerial duties for which he should be fitted.

H.H. McLaughlin, Accountant and Ledger Keeper. Keen and competent. Fair and neat penman. Good manner and presence.

A M. Garling, Jnr. A nice hefty lad. Shaping well. Writing not very good, but will improve as he tries. He is learning to keep the ledgers.

Office Neat and clean. A very good office.

Business Active and adequate for staff, Well distributed. More io do than Branch figures indicate.
Leeton and Griffith Branches incidentally save us consider able exchange, to wit, local Banks are heavy.
Wales closed down, 400 unsatisfactory accounts under pre- sent Manager 2i years. Manager now says they have more than ever.

1934 Listed in Century of Banking

1986 photo by Ken Northam, residence upstairs.

2008 GoogleEarth photo sourced by Geoff Chapman who comments: Unchanged except for the removal of those 1960's tiles.

 

1952 staff photo suvmitted by Richard Nott May 2023, who says "The only people I know are :
Top L to R 3rd across Frank Hardiman, Alan Weigel
Front  men  Alec Mawson  Geoff Cox. One of the girls is my 93 year old sister's cousin".

1960 staff photo submitted by Richard Nott April 2013, who says "This picture never made it to Current Accounts. Great place to work, wonderful people many of whom I have rarely seen since being moved from there to Macksville a week before Christmas !"
Back row : John Robinson, Richard Nott, Maurice Rudgley, Ross Edmonds,
Ray Hicks, Bob Savins, Russ Henville ( absent Vince Dowling Manager)
Front row: Robyn Devlin, Heather Johnston, Norina Russo, Kay McLean,
Elaine Freckfuss, Robyn Stuart ( absent Shirley Locke) .

1893 January Listed in 89th Report;

1934 Listed in Century of Banking

2005 photo by John Ness

2011 Bob Handel contacted the chap at the paper who wrote the article and he told me Mr Earl Sommerlad, from Newcastle, had advised him it was used as temporary premises whilst the main building was under extensive renovations.  He also gave me name of Mrs Jan Hogan, local carriers, who carried out the transfer of office equipment etc. She told me they still had the original partitions in storage that the Bank said they didn’t require any further and said they could keep them. Apparently, Earl Sommerlad was the Accountant at the time. 

20015 April photo by John Ness

1898 First branch Green Street from NLA.
1909 Land purchased
1911 Listed in 125th Report;

The pictures of Lockhart's 4th Branch built in 1911 shows a very impressive building, by E.R. Laver. The Directors must have had a lot of faith in the future of the town.  The land cost $5000 in 1909 and the building $8,000.  The Branch was certainly an improvement on the first temporary premises of 1897 in Green Street Lockhart.
Early photo of the 1911 branch courtesy K. Meyer.
1927 Inspector's Report: Lockhart

C.S. Scully, Accountant and Teller. Refined manner and appearance.

D. Lindsay Ledger Keeper. Slow and dull and of that appearance. He cannot do the work in busy season.
Not yet competent to keep Lockhart ledgers. Incorrect and has trouble in balancing.

L.J.Barber, Junior. A nice lad. Promising

Business active but quiet just now.

Office clean and neat.

Town making slow progress

1934 Listed in Century of Banking
1954 photo by Jim Skinner.
1975 photo of the entry detail and staff and
1976 photo in Current Accounts January issue.
List of Managers:
Opened in September, 1897 by R.A. Warden (Acting)
1897 - E.H.C. Wood
1906 - W.F. Jackson
1917 - J.H. McDonald
1918 - J.F. Liggins
1926 - W.S.R. Lorking
1934 - G.C. Job
1939 - L.A. Alt
1949 - G.A. Longmuir
1952 - S.H. Skinner
1957 - I.K. Middleton
1960 - F. Margerison
1966 - J.N. Done
1969 - R.T. Quinton
1970 - D.A. Carscadden
1972 - D.B. Alexander
1974 - E.I.R. Bezer
1990s: Bill Frost advises: one of the largest premises the Bank had in the southwest of NSW. It even had a maid’s staircase. Last seen in early noughties as an Agency in the office section: the residence being an antique shop and B and B.

2006 John Beer advises: Bank and Stable B & B (colour photo): Large rooms are found within the old CBC Bank with all the luxury of yesteryear, large garden, and quality fittings throughout. All fully restored with fresh paintwork and new carpets. One can stay in the "CBC Room".

2006 photo by John Roberts

2008 photo of Dianne Plunkett (now Dianne Bartsch) who celebrated 35 years in the Bank.  She is now at NAB Albury and she commenced working in the CBC in 1975.  She was presented with a collage including the photos above which appeared in Current Accounts.

2015 October photos from Margaret Powell.
2018 May The Finance Sector Union (FSU) said the National Australia Bank was shutting offices in Grenfell, Lockhart, Culcairn, Ardlethan and Barham.

Site 2004 by Jim Skinner