Australian Theme - developing local, regional and national economies.
NSW Theme - commerce.
Local Themes - activities related to the buying, selling and exchanging of goods and services.

Bank, shop and market place.

Banking facilities were vital to the development of rural towns and villages.  This was particularly important to Bingara and Warialda because of the distance from the larger rural centres of Tamworth and Inverell.  Similarly towns had to be self-reliant by offering diverse business supplies and services to both townspeople and the wider rural community.  Most of the shops and related businesses are located in Maitland Street, Bingara and in Hope and Stephen Streets, Warialda.  Many of these surviving buildings feature elements from the 1930s and display the year of construction on their front facades.  Major fires in both Bingara and Warialda in the late 1920s and the 1930s led to an increased use of brick in large building projects.  Today it is evident that many of these buildings were not refurbished in the post war period and now offer exciting prospects for the promotion of heritage and cultural tourism.    

Commercial Banking Company of Sydney, Warialda

The Warialda Branch of the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney (C.B.C.) was opened on 28 January 1885 in a rented cottage next door to the present building.  By June 1886, the C.B.C. had established Bingara and Warialda branches. 

The rented cottage in Warialda was purchased from M.J. Meares in 1891 and a private residence for the bank was built in 1900.  A two storeyed building was erected in 1901 and in April 1909 Ranclaud and Thomas, architects of Tamworth called tenders for the erection of a new strong room and general renovations.  In June 1914 P.E. Ranclaud, architect of Tamworth called tenders for alterations and additions to the bank.  Again in August 1915 Ranclaud called tenders for alterations and additions to the premises and the tender for this work was awarded to C. Williams in October. This building was sold to Yallaroi Shire Council in 1925 but two years later was destroyed by fire as were a number of adjoining buildings.  

The present site on the corner of Hope and Stephen Streets was purchased in 1925.  The building was completed and commenced business on Monday 8 March 1926 at a cost of ₤6750.  The building was designed by Kent and Hughes, architects of Sydney and erected by McNaughton of Sydney.  Contractor F. Buderson renovated throughout the bank in January 1942.  The bank celebrated its centenary in Warialda in February 1985.

Today the building is occupied by the New England Credit Union that was first established by the University of New England Staff Credit Union that commenced business in Armidale on 15 January 1970. 

Commercial Banking Company of Sydney, Bingara

The Commercial Banking Company of Sydney opened its Bingara Branch in 1874 and Max Solling served as the first manager, from 1874 to 1877.  The Bingara Commercial Bank was completed in May 1885 at a cost of  ₤2463.  This office survived until the morning of 12 April 1938 when the bank and three other Maitland Street buildings in Bingara were gutted by fire.  The extensive fire destroyed the bank, the Duck Inn, Owl Stores and its dwelling at the rear.  Late in September contractors Davis and Son Pty. Ltd. commenced erection of the new building.  It was completed late in January 1939 and the manager occupied the bank and residence in February.

Photograph 15: Former Commercial Banking Company of Sydney, Bingara Museum Photograph Collection

Bank of New South Wales, Warialda

The first Bank of New South Wales was situated next to the ‘Royal Hotel’ in Hope Street in a building rented from John Crane.  It opened its doors on 21 September 1874.  The building ceased operation as a bank in December 1915 and for the next forty-five years was used as a doctor’s residence and surgery.  For a few years it served as a hairdresser’s salon and was finally demolished in 1974.

Mr Campbell of Moree won the contract for construction of the residence attached to the Bank of New South Wales in October 1903 and the old building was sold at auction on Tuesday 20 October.

In June 1914 the Warialda Standard announced that the Bank of New South Wales had decided to erect a building on the central block of land opposite the courthouse.  Inverell architect W.M. Goodwin was preparing plans for the brick structure to consist of twelve rooms as living quarters and five rooms in the business portion of the premises.   However it was not until February 1915 that Godwin called tender for construction of the bank on the vacant allotment adjoining the ‘Tattersalls Hotel’.  In late March 1915 the tender was awarded to S. Currie and the work was to commence immediately.  Mrs R.H. McGee laid the foundation stone of the bank in May 1915.

The Bank erected new premises in 1915 on the site that it had purchased in 1878 on the corner of Stephen and Hope Streets.  It opened its doors on 1 January 1916 and a detailed description of the bank appeared in the Warialda Standard, 24 January 1916.  The substantial bank building occupied this position until 1959 when it was demolished to make way for the present building, which was opened in 1960.  The Warialda branch of the Bank of New South Wales celebrated its centenary on Saturday 21 September 1974.

Bank of New South Wales, Bingara

In February 1935, plans submitted by Mr Thorpe, architect to the Bank of NSW, was approved by Council.  In June the Bank announced details of the new bank and showed architectural plans to the Bingara Advocate.   The plans showed an entrance in the centre of the building, a manager’s office on the left as you entered the building, a banking chamber to the right, the down stairs portion of the residence included the dining and living room, a kitchen, laundry, and offices.  The upstairs included four bedrooms and a bathroom with two balconies, one overlooking Maitland Street.  The reporter described the building as demonstrating ‘dignified austerity’.   A month later, the Bank announced that the contractor for the new building was W.G. Mason, Beecroft in Sydney.