FORMER BANK OF AUSTRALASIA
57 MOSTYN STREET CASTLEMAINE, MOUNT ALEXANDER SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
The Former Bank of Australasia which was built in 1855 at a cost of £2500 was designed by the architect John Gill and built by James Kibble. It is a two storey building constructed of rendered brick with a hip-and-valley slate roof. As an example of conservative classicism, the bank has smooth rustication and semi-circular arched windows on the lower storey and a smooth face with quoining and rectangular windows on the upper storey. The major facade has a symmetrically placed single-storey portico with a simple Georgian fan-light over the doorway. The lower windows have iron grilles but are not otherwise embellished. The eaves are bracketed. Conservative classicism is not an unusual style in bank architecture and this building is not exceptional in its facade treatment. It does however have one exception and that is that the eaves are exposed rather than hidden behind a parapet. In this respect it shows a closer association to English Renaissance rather than to the Italianate mode of other banks of the era.
This building is also notable as an example of the work of John Gill, one of the earliest and most prolific architects in Victoria. His practice, which began in the mid 1840s and lasted until his death in 1866, included the design of St John's Anglican Church, Heidelberg, Royal Terrace, Collins Street Baptist Church (first stage), Holyman House and the Goldsborough Mort building. The former bank of Australasia is a rare example of his work in bank architecture.
[Source: Historic Buildings Council]
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FORMER BANK OF AUSTRALASIA - History
In 1916, the following internal decorative scheme to the residence was described in the Mount Alexander Mail (16 March 1916):
Mr J.W. Iredale has also just completed the renovation of the whole of the residential portion of the premises, and he has achieved a most admirable artistic effect throughout, his color schemes presenting some striking contrasts. The walls of the entrance hall are covered with a rich ruby wallpaper, which is enriched with a very handsome frieze. introducing brown color tones, which give a key to the scheme employed in the adjoining dining room, the walls of which are treated with a figured brown of chaste design, the otherwise dark effect being relieved with a wide frieze of conventional design, shading into a light biscuit color, which harmonises with the cream ceiling. The first floor rooms consist of large drawing room and four bedrooms. The treatment of the latter has been somewhat uniform, panelled ivory white paper with figured design, and drop ceilings with narrow border, present a most elegant and chaste effect. The drawing room is the culminating feature of the whole design, and is marked by simplicity and reserve. The walls carry a narrow vertical panel design in rich cream, while the ceiling is figured in white, with corner and centrepiece in bi-color to match. The necessary touch of color is little more than suggested in a very dainty frieze, with festooned groups or sweet pea flowers in light pink and blue. The pigment used on the woodwork harmonise exactly with the paper-hangings, and the effect produced is in highest degree artistic and pleasing.FORMER BANK OF AUSTRALASIA - Permit Exemptions
General Exemptions:General exemptions apply to all places and objects included in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR). General exemptions have been designed to allow everyday activities, maintenance and changes to your property, which don’t harm its cultural heritage significance, to proceed without the need to obtain approvals under the Heritage Act 2017.Places of worship: In some circumstances, you can alter a place of worship to accommodate religious practices without a permit, but you must notify the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria before you start the works or activities at least 20 business days before the works or activities are to commence.Subdivision/consolidation: Permit exemptions exist for some subdivisions and consolidations. If the subdivision or consolidation is in accordance with a planning permit granted under Part 4 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the application for the planning permit was referred to the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria as a determining referral authority, a permit is not required.Specific exemptions may also apply to your registered place or object. If applicable, these are listed below. Specific exemptions are tailored to the conservation and management needs of an individual registered place or object and set out works and activities that are exempt from the requirements of a permit. Specific exemptions prevail if they conflict with general exemptions. Find out more about heritage permit exemptions here.
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