  
| | 
Bairnsdale
NAB 145 Main Street | 
2011
 
2019
| 1929 December 6 Listed in The Week, Brisbane advertising page 35.
1934 Listed in Century of Banking;
1975 Listed in Annual Report
2011 photo of NAB Bairnsdale by Frank Maundrell2019 photos of exterior, interior and strongroom by Kevin Greenaway, who says: I note on the website there is a photo of the NAB in Bairnsdale on the South side at 145 Main street. When I relieved in Bairnsdale in 1959 they operated from premises on the North side at 76 Main Street which is now a Beauty Parlour – “Mirror Image”. I took the enclosed photos in May 2019 and the old strong room is being used to store beauty stock and can be seen at the rear of the photo. I have no idea what happened after the merger with the NAB. The location of the CBC was a bit outside the main business area so maybe they just merged with the National Premises? When I relieved there I went with the Manager to the Receiving Office at Bruthen and then on to Lakes Entrance where the Receiving Office(?) was conducted at the bar in one of the Hotels. The Manager sat at the bar drinking endless whisky while having the proverbial Gladstone Bag on the bar containing all the cash takings from Bruthen and the mandatory .38 revolver. Customers did their transactions right there at the bar. The Manager was quite drunk when he drove very fast back to Bairnsdale which was a scary ride. Having being born in Sale, Bairnsdale was quite familiar to me those days, my grandparents lived there. | Ballarat,
43 Lydiard Street North | 
2009 | 1927/8 Relocated from Bank of Victoria building in Sturt Street
1929 December 6 Listed in The Week, Brisbane advertising page 35.
1934 Listed in Century of Banking
1975 Listed in Annual Report
2009 July Geoff Chapman advised that the Site is now occupied by a modern built nab branch. Google photo sourced by John Beer. | Ballarat,
Sturt & Doveton Streets | 
1861 | 1854 October Ballarat Bank of Victoria held up.
1861 Bank of Victoria photo from State Library Victoria.
1863 Branch opened on the site originally occupied by Bank of Victoria and then Ballarat Branch, until it's relocation to Lydiard Street in 1927/8 | Balmoral
13 Glendinning Street | 
1955
2009 | 1927-06-30 CBCofS Report Lists Balmoral G T Fraser (Agent) and later "Sub.
1929 December 6 Listed in The Week, Brisbane advertising page 35 as a branch.
1934-06-30 & later Reports "Sub." removed.
1934 Listed in Century of Banking;
1975 Listed in Annual Report" Balmoral is in Western Vic. I was teller there in 1955. When I last called in a few years it was still operating as a branch." Photo by Kevin Greenaway
2009 July Geoff & Betty Chapman wrote: Google Earth image of 13 Glendinning Street (Natimuk/Hamilton Rd) Balmoral, being remodelled CBC premises shown in photo currnetly on web site. From another angle original building can be seen behind the new facade. | Balmoral Park,
Frankston | | 1977 listed in Annual Report | Bayles
(Receiving Office of Koo-Wee-Rup) | | 1929 December 6 Listed in The Week, Brisbane advertising page 35. | | Bealiba, Receiving office of Maryborough | 
2009 | Established by the Cochran Bros and known as Cochran's Run until 1863. After discovery of gold the town's population peaked at 12,000 but this quickly declined. Population was 2,000 prior to WW1.
1929 December 6 Listed in The Week, Brisbane advertising page 35.
Geoff Chapman contacted Allan Henderson, an aged resident of Bealiba who advises:
The London Chartered Bank was the first to establish a branch in Bealiba. Their branch building was resumed for construction of the railway and new premises constructed on corner of Main & Cochrane Streets. On demise of that Bank, the Bank of Victoria established a branch in that building, and operation of a branch was continued by Bank of Victoria/CBC.
1934 Listed in Century of Banking.
1968 The branch building was demolished and much smaller premises were built.
1975 Listed in Annual Report
1978 The branch closed, by which time it was conducted as a Receiving Office of Maryborough branch
2009 The premises are now a private residence
2009 September correspondence to Geoff Chapman:
First let me introduce myself, my name is Colin Sullivan and I am the president of the Bealiba Historical Society. Your letter to Goldfields Historical & Arts Society was passed on to me to see what I could come up with.
The good news is I have found a couple of photos of the original building which I am sending you as an attachment to this email, the bad news is that this building has been demolished and a newer one built in its place. this building is now a private residence and is surrounded by a corrugated iron fence (very ugly) and cannot be seen very well.
The bank was located at the corner of Cochrane St. & Main St. but this appears as The Dunolly - St Arnaud Rd. on Google Earth. I am also sending a short hand written history of the bank written by Allan Henderson who is a member of our Society and has lived in Bealiba for a large part of his 80 years of age. included with this letter will be a photo of the scales used to weigh the "Welcome Stranger" gold nugget. this photocopy was donated from the Goldfields Historical & Arts Society which runs the Dunolly Museum (of which I am Assistant Secretary/Treasurer). In this museum are a couple of items from the C.B.C. Bank Bealiba. If these are of interest let me know and I will photograph them and send them on.
yours, Colin Sullivan.
Google Earth image of the now closed Bealiba branch, being that which replaced the original Bank of Victoria building, from Geoff Chapman. | | Beaufort Neill Street | 
 
2009
2020 | Photo of Bank of Victoria Neill Street from Museum Victoria.
1929 December 6 Listed in The Week, Brisbane advertising page 35.
1934 Listed in Century of Banking with Buangor Receiving Office.January 2024 Kevin Greenaway states: I worked there for a short time 1958 and I recall that the building the bank occupied was this one in Neill Street.
2009 real estate agent photos from Kevin Greenaway: I just checked the internet and came up with this old site which reinforces my story. The building was sold in 2009. It even shows images from the old banking chamber. photos are of fron from Neill Street, banking chamber front and back, strongroompremises from the side. More photos in For Sale. I took this photo four years ago. | Beaufort
16 Havelock Street |
2009
2011
| 158Km N/W of Melbourne, between Ballarat and Ararat. Gold was discovered in 1852. Town surveyed in 1857. There were 10,000 prospectors in the area at the peak of the gold rush, but alluvial gold was gone by the mid 1960's, but reef mining continued until 1914. It is alleged that VEGEMITE was invented at Beaufort in 1923 by Dr C P Callister.
1975 Listed in Annual Report
2009 July Google Earth image of ex Beaufort branch, became local Masonic Hall, which now appears to be unused. Parapet added to building to incorporate masonic emblem. Sourced by Geoff Chapman.
2011 June: Unit 1/ 16 Havelock Street, Beaufort, Vic 3373 $199,000 including GST
FROM THE OLD COMES THE NEW!
From this fabulous one bedroom solid brick unit in the central business area you can walk to everything in Beaufort.
Formerly the Masonic Lodge, the property has been fully developed and is absolutely brand new inside including plastering, appliances, carpets, tiling and painting. Comprising 10.22 squares of open plan living, the unit includes one spacious bedroom with large robes, ensuite bathroom, separate laundry and a beautiful galley kitchen which boasts a large electric cooker, rangehood, double sink and a dishwasher.
With a great finish all over the home is serviced by a Daikin evaporative heating & cooling system.
With no garden to look after, access is directly onto Havelock Street at the front and there is no need to drive from this super central location! See also For Sale
Geoff Chapman advises that Ex-Beaufort branch site has been redeveloped as a 3 strata titled unit site, the branch being Unit 1 in that development | Beechworth
29 Camp Street,
cnr Ford Street | 
(4)
2008
2009
2010
2014
| 1856 May 22 Bank of Victoria Beechworth opened.
1867 large stone building erected for Bank of Victoria by Smith & Watts. Victorian Period (1851-1901) Renaissance Revival building.
Bank of Victoria opened 22/5/1856
List of BofV Managers sujpplied by David Jobson:
1856 - 1856 James Mason
1856 - 1859 Thomas Young
1859 - 1868 A.K.Sheppard
1868 - 1874 H.G.Soilleux
1874 - 1877 J.D.Law
1877 - 1881 J.F.Daniell
1881 -1882 J.D.Law
1882 - 1886 J.S.Campbell
1886 - 1898 T.A.Graham
1898 - 1910 F.W.Odgers
1910 - 1914 M.S.Calder
1914 - 1923 W.F.Ryan
1923 - 1927 R.J.Tymms
BoV Agencies conducted:
Rutherglen Vic - 1861 - 1864
Wahgunyah Vic 1861 - 1865
Yackandandah Vic - 1861 - 1865
Christmastown Vic - 1861 - 1862
Eldorado Vic - 1868 - 1879.
1927 Bank of Victoria amalgamated with CBC.
1929 December 6 Listed in The Week, Brisbane advertising page 35.
1934 Listed in Century of Banking
List of Commercial Banking Company Managers supplied by David Jobson:
1927 - 1932 R.J.Tymms
1932 - 1935 E.R.Dibbs
1935 - 1939 F.R.D.Fretwell
1939 - 1943 J. DeC O'Sullivan
1943 branch closed 22nd February. The business was then transferred to Wangaratta. David Jobson took the photo 4 and obtained this info from NAB Archives (also in Heritage Victoria).
What is significant? The former Commercial Banking Company of Sydney bank in Beechworth, was built for the Bank of Victoria in 1867 on a prominent corner in the centre of the town. It replaced a stone bank building which was constructed on the site in 1857 and was subsequently destroyed, along with a number of buildings, by a fire in March 1867. The new Bank of Victoria, constructed in 1867, became a C.B.C. bank when amalgamation occurred in 1927, and the building was used as a bank until closure in 1943. The building was then sold.
Gold was discovered at Beechworth in 1852 and the following year it was declared a town. In 1853 the initial survey of the town was undertaken and the grid arrangement of streets in the town centre was laid out. The gold rush peaked in Beechworth in 1857 and this resulted in the construction of many administrative and public buildings in the late 1850s, including the original Bank of Victoria on the corner of Ford and Camp Streets. Due to its position on the main overland route between Melbourne and Sydney, Beechworth became an administrative and legal centre for the north-east region of Victoria and it became a municipality in 1863.
Designed by the architects Smith and Watts in a simple, conservative classical style, the 1867 bank is a two storey rendered brick building which adopts a palazzo form. By ignoring its prominent corner site, the building is designed with a dominant five bay facade to Ford Street. Quoining and voussoirs emphasise the central entrance and the window above is highlighted by the incorporation of a balcony and pediment. Heavy banded rustication provides emphasis to the ground floor level of the building and forms voussoirs above arch headed windows. Window openings of the smooth rendered first floor are rectangular with simple architraves and hoods.
Outbuildings, the rear courtyard and rendered walls and gate stanchions remain, possibly from 1867, however they have undergone various alterations.
How is it significant? The former C.B.C. bank, Beechworth is of architectural and historical significance to the State of Victoria.
Why is it significant? The former C.B.C. bank in Beechworth is of architectural significance as an important and fine example of the conservative classical work of architects Smith and Watts. A. L. Smith, in combination with various partners, including Johnson and Watts, was architect for the Bank of Victoria from 1861 to 1876, and the banks designed show great diversity. As a group, the banks designed by Smith and his partners epitomise the best qualities of conservative classicism and as such are regarded as important. The conservative style adopted forms a very precise building type which makes them easily identifiable as nineteenth century banks. The solidity of the composition, together with its prominent siting, is indicative of the importance of the bank in the community and the wealth in Beechworth at this time.
The former C.B.C. bank in Beechworth is of historical significance due to its association with the early development of Beechworth. It is illustrative of the substantial civic development that took place in the town after the peak of the gold rush and after Beechworth had emerged as the administrative centre of the north east of Victoria. Together with other buildings at the intersection of Ford and Camp Streets, including the post office and the former Bank of N.S.W., this building makes a valuable contribution to the surrounding streetscapes due to its prominent location at the principal intersection of this important historic town. Text and photos 1,2 & 5 from Heritage Victoria.
From the post office and former Bank of NSW, cross over Camp St to the imposing Bank of Victoria building, one of several substantial bank buildings - which emerged in the heyday of the gold era.
The building has arched windows on the ground floor and a small cast-iron balcony above the main entrance.
It contains the original gold vault which was used when the building was a gold office, and the 24-light chandelier with over 4000 crystals.
Original toilet blocks, servants' quarters and balcony have been restored and a Victorian-style fountain has been installed in a fine stone pool in the garden area which is secured by wrought-iron gates (photo 2).
2006 it contained jewellery store Beechworth Gold.
2008 former CBC Bank now Accountants office.
2009 GoogleMaps photo of Bank of Victoria at 29 Camp Street, still standing, sourced by Geoff Chapman.
2010 June photo by David Jobson who says "The sun also set on the BOV in 1927 when CBC moved in. Pic taken at Beechy last Saturday afternoon late."2014 photo by Kevin Greenaway.
| | Belmont (receiving office of Geelong) | 
1887 | Belmont is a southern suburb of Geelong. The name means "beautiful hill". Belmont is geographically separated from the Geelong central business district by the Barwon River.
1887 A view down Johnston Street showing the Colonial Bank of Australasia, Moran and Cato's grocery and a chemist shop. Eight cabs are lined up in Johnston Street waiting for passengers, their drivers standing about on the corner. On the north side of Johnston Street can be seen the verandah of 'Belmont' jutting out over the footpath (from PictureVictoria).
1929 December 6 Listed in The Week, Brisbane advertising page 35.
1934 Listed in Century of Banking as Receiving Office of Geelong.
1975 Listed in Annual Report | Bendigo,
12 View Street | 
2014
 
2019
1967
| 1853 - 1854 Bendigo Bank taken over by 1852 - 1927 Bank of Victoria Ltd
1863 Designed by Alexander L Smith, construction commenced in 1863 and completed in 1864.
1891 Sandhurst was renamed Bendigo. See also Sandhurst branch, which is the same building.
1929 December 6 Listed in The Week, Brisbane advertising page 35.
1934 Listed in Century of Banking
1975 Listed in Annual Report
Photo Heritage Victoria.
The Bank of Victoria (now C.B.C. bank) purchased the Bendigo Bank in 1854 and was thus the first large trading bank to open in Bendigo. The present two storey brick structure was erected in 1863-64 (architect: A.L. Smith). The rendered facades face Pall Mall and View Street and intersect at a chamfered corner. The ground floor is arcuated and rusticated. The first floor comprises a series of pedimented windows and a trabeated system of tripled Doric pilasters. This is the longest established bank and oldest bank building in Bendigo. The structure is an important example of bank architecture in the conservative classical style and its richly decorated facade reflects the prosperous gold mining city. It is a fine example of the work of A.L. Smith whose banks exhibit a wide variety of classical designs. The tripled pilasters and the detail at the chamfer corner are unusual and distinctive features. The bank superbly terminates the row of buildings down View Street and is an essential feature of this important historic city. The building is generally intact and in a sound structural condition. [Source: Register of the National Estate]
2009 advice from Geoff Chapman: Gold was discovered at Bendigo's Creek in 1851, and was then known as Casteron and renamed in 1854 when the official designation was Sandhurst until 1891 when a plebiscite in favour of Bendigo settled the matter2014 photo by Kevin Greenaway
2019 photos by Kevin Greenaway. Here are my photos of Bendigo Branch. There wasn’t all that grog there when I visited back in 1959. It is now a Restaurant.
2020 December Ken Clark sent photos of Victorian branches he worked at including View Street in 1967.
| Bendigo
Hargreaves & Mitchell Streets | 
2009 ?
1967 | 1975 Listed in Annual Report
2009 July Google Earth photo sourced by Geoff Chapman who states: "I believed this to be the ex-branch, Hargreaves & Mitchell Streets Bendigo, however it is on the wrong corner, as confirmed by David Jobson, who will forward a correct photo.2019 September Kevin Greenaway advised: Apparently the Mitchell Street, Hargreaves street building is now a Telstra office according to my close friend in Bendigo who is going to photograph it for me. I confirmed this on Google Earth and the photo on the website is a building on another corner of that intersection and is not the old CBC.
2020 December Ken Clark sent photos of Victorian branches he worked at including Hargreaves & Mitchell Sts in 1967, when it was a full time Receiving Office of View Street branch, just prior to it being converted to branch status. | | Berriwillock (Receiving Office of Sea Lake) | | 1929 December 6 Listed in The Week, Brisbane advertising page 35. | Beulah
63 Phillips Street
| 
1958
1958
2009
2011 | 1929 December 6 Listed in The Week, Brisbane advertising page 35.
1934 Listed in Century of Banking;
1958 photo by Kevin Greenaway.
(almost like Current Accounts Jan. 1958/9, below)
1975 Listed in Annual Report
2007 July Beulah branch in nab dress, but the additions to the front of the cottage style of the original branch, would I think, have been made by CBC . The cottage roof can be seen behind the facade. Location verified by unchanged adjoining buildings featured in photo on file. Google photo sourced by Geoff Chapman.
2011 September photos by David Jobson include Main street of Beulah. NAB halfway down on the RH side near the second power pole. Not much goin' on here! Also remains of original residence of CBC/NAB at Beulah, behind the branch.
| Birchip,
Receiving Office of Watchem | 
2009
2009 | 320Km N/W of Melbourne on the road to Mildura. Township established in 1882, being one of the last to be settled in Victoria
1929 December 6 Listed in The Week, Brisbane advertising page 35 as a branch.
1934 Listed in Century of Banking
Closed mid 1930s.
1975 Listed in Annual Report as Receiving Office of Watchem
2009 August Google photo sourced by Geoff Chapman.
2009 photo by David Jobson, who says: I have just confirmed this building as a CBC branch by telephoning the owner, Mrs Bernadette Hogan. She gave me the following information about it:
I didn't get the actual date the building was erected but it was built about 1920 for the Bank of Victoria and taken over by the CBC obviously in 1927 until the mid 1930's when the branch closed.( I will try to confirm that closure date) Later on it became a Bank of New South Wales/Westpac until it too closed in 1993. Mrs Hogan, who is an accountant in Birchip then purchased it and she later on was offered the Westpac "in store bank branch" which she ran for six years actually from the old manager's office in the building.
The owners have restored the building to suit their family needs but not changed it significantly. The strongroom is still intact and has been used for years for document safekeeping for her practice. | Boinka
(receiving office of Underbool) | | On the Mallee Highway, 178Km from Mildura. Population 28
1927-06-30 to 1941-06-30 CBCofS Reports list Receiving Office of Underbool branch
1934 Listed in Century of Banking
1942-06-30 no longer listed in Annual Report, so Boinka was one of 33 locations closed. | | Broadford | 
2014 | 27Km South of Seymour. Town gazetted in 1854. Home town of Sydney Swan AFL star, Barry Hall
1929 December 6 Listed in The Week, Brisbane advertising page 35.
1934 Listed in Century of Banking;
1975 Listed in Annual Report
2014 May Google image sourced by Geoff Chapman who advised: This is the former CBC branch in Broadford. nab now conduct an agency from Kilmore branch a couple of days a week. Advised by local historical group | | Bruthen | 
1937 | In the Omeo region of East Gippsland
1929 December 6 Listed in The Week, Brisbane advertising page 35.
1934 Listed in Century of Banking as a branch.
1937 photo of Main Street Bruthen, with Bank on right of photo, sourced by Geoff Chapman.
1907 a Receiving 0ffice of The Bank of Victoria was established at Buchan, 49Km away.
When Bruthen branch closed, the R/0 was conducted from the more distant Bairnsdale Branch, 69Km away.
1975 Listed in Annual Report as receiving office of Bairnsdale | Buangor
(receiving office of Beaufort) | | A small town 20Km West of Beaufort
1929 December 6 Listed in The Week, Brisbane advertising page 35.
1934 Listed in Century of Banking | Buchan
(receiving office of Bruthen).
(Receiving Office of Bairnsdale) | | On the Princes Highway, 330Km East of Melbourne. Township was proclaimed in 1873
1929 December 6 Listed in The Week, Brisbane advertising page 35.
1934 Listed in Century of Banking as receiving office of Bruthen;
1975 Listed in Annual Report as receiving office of Bairnsdale.
1907 a Receiving 0ffice of The Bank of Victoria was established, run from Bruthen branch, 49Km away. A branch building was erected with attached basic accommodation of a sitting room, kitchen and bedrooms for the use of staff who travelled by horse and sulky and stayed overnight in the bank.
Later, when motor cars became reliable, making the trip to the village much quicker, it was no longer necessary for staff to stay overnight before undertaking the return journey.
When Bruthen branch closed, the R/0 was conducted from the more distant Bairnsdale Branch, 69Km away.
1970s The Receiving Office closed in the late 1970's, the building sold and demolished some time later
Geoff Chapman advises: "This information was provided by Mrs Leona Lavelle whose grandmother was cleaner/caretaker of the premises for many years. Mrs Lavelle spent the first 4 years of her married life, from 1957, living in the accommodation attached to the branch as it was not used by bank staff. She advises that the stable building was used by the local football team as their dressing shed, as the only change facilities on the recreation ground had to be given to the visiting team. She is hopeful of being able to locate a photo of the BoV/CBC bank Receiving Office building to forward to me." |
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