16 November 2023
A bit of Lost Melbourne that seems often overlooked – the great grand Bank of Victoria, built in Collins Street in 1861, just to the left of the Centreway Arcade. It was designed by Alfred L Smith (later as part of Smith & Johnson did the GPO), and was based on the mid 17thC Ca’ Pesaro in Venice (2nd pic). It was for a bank established by Henry ‘Money’ Miller. Later it became the Commercial Banking Co of Sydney’s Melbourne HQ, and it survived until at least 1966 (4th pic), then just went without a fuss. Perhaps too ornate for 60s taste ? Unlike the Union Bank a block away demolished about the same time. The replacement bank and office tower built by the CBD bank, opening in 1973, is particularly out of scale.
Storey of Melbourne 