Milparinka
Milparinka ruins from www.travelwest.biz | 
1880-90
  
1982
 
2005
2007
 
2011
2023 |
1881 Opened Half Yearly Report Jan 1882
The Commercial Bank of Milparinka was built at the height of the gold mining era, in August 1881. A cedar counter and a large safe were installed, and the bank officer carried a revolver. The Royal Standard Hotel, and the Cobb and Co Office were located alongside the bank. From Milparinka Heritage Trail
1882 onwards H W Hogg had the doubtful pleasure of managing Tibbooburra, Milparinka and Silverton branches.
1880-90 photo of bank at left and pharmacy on right courtesy of Milparinka Heritage & Tourism Association.
There were three hotels in Milparinka in 1885, including the Royal Standard Hotel next door to the bank..
By 1886 the bank had closed its doors, and the building was later purchased as a private residence, and the building was later purchased as a private residence.
1886 closed Half Yearly Report Jan 1887
1982 April three photos when the roof was still on.
Photograph of site by Richard Nott. A landed aeroplane can be seen in the distance.
2005 photos of Cobb & Co gold escort re-enactment and interior by Ruth Sandow who advises: The building's time as a bank was actually quite short lived. I understand that it was only commissioned as such for a few years after which it became private accommodation. It lost its roof only in fairly recent times. Ruth said it would require a steel frame around it to pull it together.
It seems:-
1. much mortar work is required
2. it may have been a concrete floor
3. present Administrator whose grandmother was last occupier would like to obtain title so it can be restored. She lives on a property at Mt Arrowsmith I think.
Milparinka is probably the oldest ex-CBCofS property in the most remote location currently on record.
Photo with red roofs: In this image the bank ( rear) appears in the foreground, with the Albert Hotel across the road.
2007 January 1 Sydney Morning Herald photo of town taken through a stained glass window across the road shows old Commercial Bank at left.
For more information on Milparinka go to:
www.communitybuilders.nsw.gov.au/rural_regional/programs/mpka.html-25k
2011 August photos from same source as the April 1982 photos.
2012 October John Beer advised:
Looks like little chance of CBCofS Milparinka being restored with 2 walls falling about 12 months ago. (back wall with chimney & wall on RHS when facing front of building leaving only the front wall and side wall adjacent to the tank). Milparinka Hotel was for lease about 12 months ago I made enquiries resulting in advice that Milparinka town population was then 2.
2023 March Don Gould noted: I took this 'photo of the old CBC Bank building at Milparinka a few years ago and thought it may be of interest. Not much left. I had a look on Google and it seems there may have been a timber extension but this has since disappeared. |
Milton
107 Princes Highway | 
1910
  
1960
1965
1981
NSWH
       
2013
  
2023
| 1871 Opened 21st September (47th Report); the first manager was William Bodenham.
1875 Built;
1893 listed in 89th Report January;
1910 Postcard photo possibly dating back to 1910, from Jennifer Hayne whose father was manager there in 1930. The two windows at left were the residence, those on the right the Manager's office and the next building housed the banking chamber. Mr. Hayne started the Lifesaving club at Milton.
1934 Listed in Century of Banking.
1957 A Junior's Life, short story by Bob Handel submitted October 2009. Click here for document in Word 2007 format.
1960 photos of the branch, banking chamber and the main street by Bob Handel.
1965 slide photo by Bill Morelli.
1981 b&w photo by David Jobson.
Colour photos from NSW Heritage Office show modern building on right changed from CBC to NAB and original building as a Cafe. Heritage Listed: An outstanding Late Victorian building, one of the best in the region. Formerly a bank. Special interest as a private commission by noted architect G A Mansfield. Essentially intact. Character of banking chamber provides important evidence of the development of Milton as an important rural centre in the early to mid 1870's. Regional significance (Illawarra Region) and of specific importance to Milton for its contribution to the streetscape.
The CBC Bank was first established in Milton on 26th September, 1871 in premises leased from Frederick Hall at a weekly rent of 10 shillings. The bank purchased the site for a new building from John Kendall, who had owned the land since 1860. The new building was designed by G A Mansfield, and erected in 1875. It comprised a bank, attached to a weatherboard manager's residence, which overlooked the grounds of the Church of England. Milton became a major branch in 1879. The building was extended in the early 1900's and a new residence was built at the rear of the site in 1973. It was the only bank in the area from 1903 until the late 1940's. Now used as a restaurant.
A single storey late Victorian Italianate commercial building. Construction is of stuccoed brick, with a hipped roof behind decorative parapet. Features symmetrical facade; raised central pediment; elaborate bracketed cornice; urns at each end of the parapet; mouldings to openings; two large windows to either side of entrance door; arched double hung windows; and a fanlight to the door.2012 February David Jobson advised: I checked out Milton where I was Manager 1981 - 1987, and it's now a boutique coffee shop and also sells other clothes and crap. The old Managers would turn in their graves! I had a stroll through the place but everything has been changed, even my old office was not there. Even the back yard is now a "Village Green" whatever that is and full of unoccupied shops.
2013 March photos by John Ness:
two from the street,
interior taken through window gauze,
front door,
two from the back, second photo with Lyn Ness in foreground from a different angle,
well with pump at rear, and
one from the left side with St. Bede's church at left. 2018 June David Jobson sent a copy of a memo from W.G. Carman, Annalist dated 3/12/81 in response to David Jobson's request for information. He replied:
We know very little about your branch and anything you can supply to increase our records will be appreciated.
The following are the known details.
Branch opened 21st September 1871.
It has been on the same site since opening. First in rented premises which were subsequently bought and then a new building was erected in 1876. Additions were carried out in 1920 and renovations effected in 1930.
Managers who have been in charge are:-
1871/74 W.W. Bodenham
1874/79 W.F. Hayley
1879/85 W.S. Burt
1885/91 R.L. McDonald
1891/20 J.E. Pinhey
1920/29 H.S. Burstal
1929/31 H.S. Small
1931/34 L.E.I. Finch
1934/37 L.C.M. Coulter
1937/41 D.V. Life-Smith
1941/42 E. Pitt
1942/53 C.H.S. Thacker
1953/54 W.B. MacKenzie
1954/63 F.P.P. Denshire
1963/73 H.V. Thorne
1873/78 J.E. Campbell
1978/81 P.E. Culham
1981/ D.M.M. Jobson
2023 May photos of Milton strongroom door, Milner's Safe emblem, safe tag and back of strongroom door by Jennifer Freeman frfom the shop in the prremises. |
Mittagong
83 Hume Highway |  
F Chapman
1960
2006
2007
2013
 
2017
2017
2019
2020
| Opened 1883 (71st Report);
1893 January Listed in 89th Report;Built in 1894 - Heritage Listed
Is significant within the local community and region as evidence of an important early period of economic growth and prosperity, this evidence residing in the building's substantial size, elaborate architectural character and original bank functions. The building is also significant within the town as a good representative example of Victorian Italianate Commercial architecture. More generally, ie within the region and state, it is a good typical representative of the Victorian Italianate banks that flourished in prosperous country towns and suburbs in the latter part of the 19th century. This significance is greatly enhanced by the high degree of intactness (externally) of the original building form and fabric. The building also contributes substantially to the streetscape of the main thoroughfare through Mittagong.
A two storey rendered brick building with a hipped roof and Italianate renderwork detailing including pediment-mouldings to chimneys, brackets to eaves and first floor string courses and hood mouldings to windows. The single storey projecting porch in the centre of the front elevation also features rendered "coursed stonework" and ornamental balustrade (at first floor level). A rendered pediment with acroterion (ie the ornament on the apex of the pediment) is located in the centre of the elevation above the first floor windows. The central front door has 2 leaves with 5 fielded panels each. Windows are 2 x 1 pane timber framed sashes. The building is set back from the front boundary which is lined with an iron palisade fence on a rendered brick base. Both ends of the fence terminate at ornamental rendered brick piers.
Old photo courtesy J. Munro.
1934 Listed in Century of Banking.
Colour photo by Frank Chapman
1960 slide photo by Bill Morelli.
2005 operating as "The Old Bank Cafe" - Geoff Chapman.
2006 November John Turner reports it is for sale 4/11/06 for $2.5m (see photo)
2007 May John Ness reports it is for auction by Raine & Horne (see 5 page article as a Word document by clicking on Property Press image at left).
2013 March photo by John Ness
2016 August Old Bank Hotel for sale. Click here for details. 2017 January Old Bank Boutique Hotel - two pictures comprising article in SMH Traveller 22 Jan 2017 2017 June Old Bank Boutique Hotel article in Escape.
2017 July Old Bank stables in Sun-Herald Traveller. 2019 March for auction Second photo is of the converted stables. See "For Sale" or click here for details and more photos in a Word document. 2020 September for sale at 182 times the original cost. |
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