BALLARAT SAVINGS BANK (FORMER)
48 STURT STREET, BALLARAT CENTRAL - PROPERTY NUMBER 2031244, BALLARAT CITY
Lydiard Street Heritage Precinct
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Statement of Significance
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BALLARAT SAVINGS BANK (FORMER) - Physical Description 1
This building was constructed in 1872 'for the Ballarat Savings Bank on the site 0 their single storey brick bank. The present building cost £3,879 and was designed by Reed and Barnes. Subsequent alteration took place in 1891 costing £680, and again in 1899 when Smith and Molloy Architects undertook work costing £1191. This presumably entailed the two storey wing in Camp Street. The most major alteration occurred in 1977 when John and Keith Reed replaced the 1899 wing with a single storey modern wing and enclosed the open space between the former Chamber of Commerce and Bank with a two storey infill. The remaining building is strongly axial. It is built on a rough dressed bluestone base which forms a third storey as the ground falls away. The principal facade is closely articulated in two storey of arched windows between Corinthian pilasters. There is a projecting vestibule at one end. The new work is intrusive in design and materials although it represents an attempt to regain Reed and Barnes original concept. This building, provides an extremely important streetscape element in an area of great importance, to Ballarat. The building is a particularly elegant Renaissance revival design an, was constructed at 'a high point in the practice of Reed and Barnes. It is unique in terms of massing and its relationship to a difficult site.
BALLARAT SAVINGS BANK (FORMER) - Intactness
INTACTNESS: altered 1977
BALLARAT SAVINGS BANK (FORMER) - Physical Description 2
This building was originally constructed for the Ballarat Savings Bank, which was established in 1856 on the site of their single storey masonry brick building shown in the accompanying photograph.
The present building was constructed in 1872 and was designed by Reed and Barnes, the contract sum being £3879.1 It was built to two storeys in Sturt Street with a small single storey wing in Camp Street. 2 Subsequent alterations were undertaken in 1891 costing 1680, and again in 1899 costing £1191, the latter by architects Smith and Molloy. This presumably involved the construction of the two storey wing in Camp Street. 3 In 1937 work valued at £2640 was undertaken by the State Savings Bank building department. 4 The most major work however occurred in 1977 when John and Keith Reed demolished the rear 1899 section and part of the 1872 section, and built a new single storey section of concrete as well as filling in the space between the Chamber of Commerce and the State Bank with a two storey entry. This was probably an attempt to regain the Reed and Barnes concept of a free standing building.
This is a strongly axial building, emphasised by the demolition at the rear. The wing flank of the building is made more impressive by the rough dressed bluestone base which forms another storey at the lower end of the building. The principal facade is closely articulated in two storeys of arched windows between Corinthian pilasters. The end elevation has a simple Serlian motif window from which the sashes have been removed and the arch opened up. Below this is a projecting vertibule flanked. at each level by double pilasters at the corners, with an attractive sweep down to the balustrade of the flight of entrance steps which serve the sharp change in level.
The new work, although of a relatively clean cut design (of some merit in its own right) and apparently conscious of the front elevation's great architectural value, is still intrusive in design and materials. It has created a rather stage set feeling when viewed from Camp Street, as the rear of the facade is clearly seen from the rear through the new large rear windows. The need for replacing the later two storey wing at the rear must be questioned as this formed an important streetscape element in Camp Street. It also involved demolition of a section of the 1872 building. The infill section in Sturt Street has been built over the return elevation of the bank" and has also almost completely concealed the side elevation of the adjacent historic Chamber of Commerce building.
Although the building is not currently on the Historic Buildings Register, and therefore was not protected in any manner at the time of this work, it apparently took place with the concurrence. of both the National Trust and the Historic Buildings Preservation Council. It would seem that the building's merit with respect to registration should have been considered at this time.
The remaining facade of the building is substantially intact, other than the window on the end elevation.
This building provides an extremely important streetscape element in Sturt .street (but not Camp Street) particularly as it defines the corner of Camp Street in one of the most important sections of the recommended area Al.l.
The building is a particularly elegant Renaissance revival design, and was constructed at what may possibly be regarded as the peak of Reed and Barnes practice in terms of quality of design.
The manner that this difficult site is handled and the simple repetition of elements are of particular note. The building may be compared with Chancery House, also described in the report, but it is substantially different in massing, being a narrow rectangle with a projecting side vestibule.
The bank and Chamber of Commerce would both be greatly enhanced if the infill section was set back at least 5 metres, or alternatively Substituted by a single storey structure of a more suitable design. The Camp Street facade could be treated in a manner that removes the strong emphasis of the recessed windows and softens the building generallyHeritage Study and Grading
Ballarat - Ballarat Conservation Study
Author: Jacobs Lewis Vines Architects
Year: 1978
Grading:
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SYNAGOGUEVictorian Heritage Register H0106
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