Commonwealth Trading Bank Building
History
The Commonwealth Bank was created in 1911 under order of Prime Minister Andrew Fisher. Its head office was designed by architect John Kirkpatrick, who was the cousin of the bank's governor. In August 1916, the building opened. The building was expanded with extensions designed by E.H. Henderson and F. Hill between 1929 and 1933 along Pitt Street, and in 1966 construction was begun on an annex facing Martin Place, completed in 1967.
From 2012 the building was extensively refurbished. The 1960s extension was rebuilt, while much of the 1916 building and 1930s extension was stripped out and refurbished. The building now houses retail space in the old banking hall.
Significance
The building was listed on the now defunct Register of the National Estate between 1978 until the register's abolition in 2007, and it is now listed on the City of Sydney local government heritage register. The building is described as a national symbol, "the first and very substantial physical manifestation of the powers that the Commonwealth Government acquired in the area of banking after the federation of the Australian colonies." The building is also regarded as significant for its design, combining Grecian Doric, Art Deco and other influences.
The image of the building itself became familiar to many people across Australia during the 20th century through its use on money boxes issued by the Commonwealth Bank to children starting from 1922. The money boxes were rectangular shape, roughly reflecting the dimensions of the bank building, and printed with the building's exterior. As a result, it is referred to as the "money box building". (The State Savings Bank building at 48 Martin Place was also featured on some later money boxes, and is also sometimes called the "money box building").
Gallery
-
Coat of arms above the entrance
-
One of the part of the building become COS Fashion store
See also
References
- ^ McNeilage, Amy (26 September 2012). "A telling tale of two tin moneyboxes". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
- ^ "Former "Commonwealth Bank of Australia Building" including interiors". New South Wales Heritage Database. Office of Environment & Heritage. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
- ^ Cummins, Carolyn (5 August 2011). "Martin Place 'money box' to be redeveloped". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- ^ TSA Management – 120 Pitt Street
- ^ Beasy – 120 Pitt Street
- ^ "Commonwealth Trading Bank Building, 108-120 Pitt St, Sydney, NSW, Australia (Place ID 1837)". Australian Heritage Database. Australian Government. Retrieved 20 April 2009.