Back to search results

STATE SAVINGS BANK OF VICTORIA (FORMER)
59 Whyte Street, COLERAINE VIC 3315 - Property No 102

All information on this page is maintained by Southern Grampians Shire. Click below for their website and contact details.

Southern Grampians Shire

23091 State Savings Bank of Victoria Coleraine 0484

23091 State Savings Bank of Victoria Coleraine 0424

23091 State Savings Bank fomer Coleraine 0493

On this page:

Statement of Significance
Timeline browser

Statement of Significance

What is significant?

The former State Savings Bank of Victoria, 59 Whyte Street, Coleraine is a two storey brick building incorporating a banking chamber with other offices on the ground floor and a manager's residence on the upper floor. It is located at the south-east corner of Whyte and Henty Streets in the centre of Coleraine. It was built in 1920 to the design of the Melbourne architects, Sydney Smith and Ogg who were responsible for many of the rural branches of the newly formed State Savings Bank. The State Savings Bank was a government response to the dramatic failure of private banks in the 1890s and other perceived failings. While still the conventional combination of banking facilities and manager's residence, the more domestic and less formal architecture of the building reflects this shift in banking style. In the 1990s, the State Savings Bank was bought out by the Commonwealth Bank, which was founded on similar principles. Now vacant as a result of branch closure policies, the building is in good condition and retains a high degree of integrity.

How is it significant?

The former State Savings Bank of Victoria is of architectural and historical significance to the community of Coleraine and to the Shire of Southern Grampians

Why is it significant?

The former State Savings Bank of Victoria at Coleraine is of architectural significance as an example of the work of leading Melbourne architects, Sydney Smith and Ogg, who designed many branches for the State Savings Bank Of Victoria, and as a comparison with the other banks in Coleraine and the Shire.

The former State Savings Bank of Victoria is of historic significance for demonstrating at the local level the government-guaranteed alternative to the private banking corporations and for its role in lending for housing and closer land settlement in the Coleraine region at a time when the town's importance as a regional centre was expanding.

Show less

- Physical Conditions
  
  STATE SAVINGS BANK OF VICTORIA (FORMER) - Physical Conditions
  
  The building is in excellent condition.
  
  Physical Description 1
  
  STATE SAVINGS BANK OF VICTORIA (FORMER) - Physical Description 1
  
  The former State Savings Bank of Victoria is a two storey brick building incorporating a banking chamber with other offices on the ground floor and a manager's residence on the first floor. Its form is generally rectangular but there is a single storey service wing at the rear and a recent extension to the east. The corrugated iron roof is a simple hip and has distinctively broad eaves. The style of the building, a transitional mixture of Queen Anne and Arts and Crafts influences, is conservative. It uses face red brick, contrasting smooth render and, on the walls of the upper floor, rough cast. The whole is on a dressed blustone plinth. The architectural style of the State Savings Bank at Coleraine contrasts with the stricter classical styles of the 19th century banks in Whyte Street. The conscious use of a more domestic style reflects the Bank's desire to project an image compatible with the prevailing market trends. The extension to the east is relatively sympathetic matching the bricks and fenestration.
  
  Historical Australian Themes
  
  STATE SAVINGS BANK OF VICTORIA (FORMER) - Historical Australian Themes
  
  Theme 3 Developing local, regional and national economies
  
  3.18 Financing Australia
  
  3.18.2 Banking and lending
  
  Theme 8 Developing Australia's cultural life
  
  8.12 Living in and around australian homes
  
  8.14 Living in the country and rural communities
  
  Usage/Former Usage
  
  STATE SAVINGS BANK OF VICTORIA (FORMER) - Usage/Former Usage
  
  Vacant
  
  Integrity
  
  STATE SAVINGS BANK OF VICTORIA (FORMER) - Integrity
  
  High degree of integrity
  
  Physical Description 2
  
  STATE SAVINGS BANK OF VICTORIA (FORMER) - Physical Description 2
  
  Part of Crown Allotment 9, Section 7
  
  Part of Crown Allotment 9, Section 7
  
  Heritage Study and Grading
  
  Heritage Study and Grading
  
  Southern Grampians - Southern Grampians Shire Heritage Study
  
  Author: Timothy Hubbard P/L, Annabel Neylon
  Year: 2002
  Grading:
- Show:
- HOLY TRINITY ANGLICAN CHURCH COMPLEX
  
  Victorian Heritage Register H0246
- MECHANICS INSTITUTE
  
  Southern Grampians Shire
- COLERAINE COURTHOUSE (FORMER)
  
  Southern Grampians Shire
- 'GUNYAH', FIRST CANTERBURY TROOP SCOUT HALL & CAMBERWELL NORTH GUIDE HALL
  
  Boroondara City
- 1) ELTHAM COMMUNITY CENTRE, 2) PEPPERCORN TREE, 3) MATURE EXOTIC PLANTING AND 4) WHEEL RIM (TYRING) TOOL IN THE GROUNDS
  
  Nillumbik Shire
- 10 Down Street
  
  Yarra City