Back to Melbourne, after a quick visit to Iceland yesterday, where a kind security guard let me sneak a photograph of the interior of the main banking chamber of Melbourne's 'Gothic Bank'. Built in the Venetian-Gothic style, the vaulted cathedral-like banking chamber is magnificent and the decorative ceiling especially so.
The ES & A Bank (English, Scottish and Australian Bank) bought the block on the corner of Collins and Queen Streets, Melbourne, in 1880. At the time it was described as one of the best corner blocks in the City of Melbourne. The bank building on the site was designed in the Gothic Revival Style by architect William Wardell (1823–1899) and completed in 1887. It is now the ANZ Bank (Australia and New Zealand Bank) and has been amalgamated with other buildings. It is still known as the Gothic Bank and is much loved by Melburnians.
It is a great ceiling and my photo doesn't really convey the full extent of it! Nor the idea of how much money was around in those times with gold rushes and wealth from wool etc. Banks could afford such displays! @cheeryb@blueberry1222@kork@peadar
September 21st, 2021
Leave a Comment
Sign up for a free account or Sign in to post a comment.
