A branch of the Bank of New South Wales opened in Barcaldine in 1887, in a simple iron structure in Beech Street, on the eventual site of the Radio Theatre. The building was owned by the United Grazier’s Association.
In April 1899, a temporary Bank of New South Wales building replaced the simple iron structure on the other side of Beech Street. The bank moved to the corner of Ash and Beech Streets into what had been the office of Cobb and Co.
Second bank premises 1905-1966
The second bank building was sold to James Stewart of Rockhampton (Draper) when the third bank was built in 1905.
The new bank premises and manager’s residence opened on the corner of Oak and Maple streets in June 1905.
Built by a contractor named Br
emmer for £ 2,000, it was a low set multi-gabled style wooden building, and a paling fence and lattice-enclosed verandahs surrounded the bank section.
It was painted chocolate, white and grey, had a massive iron-sheathed door, a brass and cedar banking room, and private apartments behind (according to the Western Champion). It was an office and residence combined, of varnished pine, white ceilings and cedar fittings.
It was in use until 1966 when bricks from locally by Garden City Enterprises were used to build the last Bank of New South Wales building in Barcaldine. The new bank building opened on the corner of Beech and Ash streets, on the site it had occupied prior to moving to Oak Street in 1905.
The Bank bought back the premises from E & J Bennett in 1965 – it had been Bennett’s shoe store.
A new bank residence was constructed on the corner of Oak and Maple Streets – the site and building are now privately owned.
Closed in January 2000
In October 1982 the Bank of New South Wales changed its name to Westpac Banking Corporation following its acquisition of the Commercial Bank of Australia.
Westpac continued trading until it closed in January 2000. Electronic banking made big buildings with the need to store money unnecessary in small towns. It was announced that Westpac would remain in Barcaldine only as an in-store office, situated in a room on the southern side of Barcaldine News & Travel.
In 2019, the branch closed.
Text sources include: Hoch, Isabel. 2008. Pages 43, 53, 124 Between the Bougainvilleas. 2004. Page 16
