The History.
1853 - National school No. 207 was situated on the corner of Clarendon and Bank Streets, where this building now stands
1877 - When the school was closed in favour of Eastern Road, primary school, the site was purchased by the English Scottish and Australian Bank (ES & A)
1880 - ES & A were situated in another position in Clarendon Street, but required new premises and commissioned tenders to design & build
1880 - This imposing Gothic bank was soon erected to the design of the leading architectural firm, Terry & Oakden
1970 - The ANZ Bank amalgamated with ES & A Bank and in 1974 added an unsympathetic extension to this building, in the rear, on Bank St.
2019 - As per many banks, The ANZ Bank downsized, moving to alternate premises in Clarendon St, South Melbourne
2020 - sheBuilt commenced development of BVIA on Bank, a vision to bring this building back to life, engaging with the community and activating Clarendon & Bank Streets
Gothic Revival.
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This imposing Gothic bank was designed and erected in 1880 to the design of the leading architectural firm, Terry & Oakden on behalf of English Scottish and Australian Bank (ES & A). The building is a commanding essay in the Gothic revival, being built of Hawthorn bricks into which are set polychrome brick bands, string courses both of render and encaustic tiles and granite colonettes flanking the doorway.
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The ground floor has a series of pointed gothic windows with hood moulds over each terminated with bosses, while the first floor windows are stilted , also with pointed heads. The steeply pitched slate cross-gable roof is broken by a projecting gable unit that breaks the line of the first floor, corbeling out over the first floor.
The Present.
Commercial cachet in the heart of South Melbourne. Proudly positioned on the coveted corner of Clarendon and Bank Streets, providing unrivalled access to the best of South Melbourne and adjacent to the CBD.
Abundant public transport alternatives include, tram, light rail and bus options, the Monash and Westgate freeways are minutes away. The soon to be open Anzac station within a short walk.