4 September 2025
I was going to just post this 2015 pic of the ex-State Bank in Swan Street Richmond, built in 1907, and designed by Billings & Peck, with its rather odd assortment of Queen Anne, Romanesque and Art Nouveau features – but that led me to the other similar State Banks I’ve seen around town, and then found a website with loads that are long gone, so here we go !
No 2 is in Camberwell Junction, by Smith Ogg & Serpell, c1906, with its nice arches that meld into the walls and rather florid Art Nouveau ornament, half demolished for ages, and is very similar to 3, Glenhuntly Road Elsternwick, same architects, 1907. Both similar to Yarraville, 1909, same architects, but it’s thought Robert Haddon had a hand, and the tiles on the side are exactly like ones he used in other projects, so it’s a yes from me, and he probably also did the previous two. And also perhaps the next one Northcote, and then Geelong, look at that detail ! (1903, Tombs & Durran).
The next two are Warracknabeal, it went up at some point, colour pic. The next one unknown, then Traralgon, then Shepparton, then Wangaratta, quite wild ! Then Sydney Road Brunswick 1913, getting simpler, like the next in High Street Armadale.
Last is a Bank of NSW in Kyneton, by Godfrey Spowers, but looks an awful lot like a Haddon, and earlier, dating from 1904.
Most photos via an website about the State Bank.
Storey of Melbourne 