PHOTOGRAPH: COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA, SUBIACO BRANCH, CIRCA 1960

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c. 1960

Overview

Black and white photo of the Subiaco branch of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, on the west side of Rokeby Road, circa 1960. The ornate frontage has pillars at each end of the building and beside the wide front door, and the upper storey has shorter pillars next to casement windows. Next to the bank is another commercial building with a verandahed upper storey. A sign on part of the second building says 'Tobacconist and Hairdresser, and four posts are painted with stripes. A small Volkswagon car is parked outside this building. The photograph was donated together with a book of the history of the Subiaco Branch, 1925-1975 (1995.43) In 1995 the bank building was occupied by Ramsay's Bookshop.

Historical information

The place represents the historic development of Rokeby Road as a commercial street from the 1890s and early 1900s. It is a visually imposing commercial building in the Federation Free Classical style.
Double storey commercial building with rendered brick walls. Lower storey has double hung windows with glazing bars either side of central door. Base course to building and breast panels under windows. Columns with ornate capitals supporting entablature on lower level. Smaller double hung windows in pairs to upper level. Central balcony with rendered brick balustrade. Smaller columns supporting entablature on upper level. Central feature to parapet with ornate mouldings. Corbelling below parapet on side of building. Tall chimney with metal pot.

Built by Fairweather.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-43-1995.76

Item type

Photographs

Material

Chemicals

Photographic Paper

Width

252 mm

Height or length

197 mm

Contextual Information

Originally a carrier (1915), then 111-113 converted to State Savings Bank (1928). Constructed from 1928.
Subiaco began to develop as a residential and commercial area in the 1890s, with the first buildings being established along the railway line. In 1895 Rokeby Road was not yet gazetted and Hay Street was called Broome Road. By the turn of the century most of the main roads in central Subiaco were built, including Rokeby, Heytsebury, Hamersley, Bagot, Townshend, Park and Nicholson Roads. Many businesses had been established in Broome Road. Broome Road was named after Governor Broome, and was renamed Hay Street after Vice-Secretary of Colonies, 1829.
There were many land releases in the late 1890s and early 1900s as Subiaco become a popular place to settle, and businesses were attracted to the opportunity of opening in a new but stable suburb. The Rokeby Road and Hay Street commercial area was firmly established by 1915.
Over the years the nature of businesses have changed. Originally there were estate agents, dressmakers, tailors, confectioners, drapers, grocers, restaurateurs and bakers; in fact most shopping could be done without leaving the suburb.

Keywords

Rokeby Road [113], Subiaco

Rokeby Road [115], Subiaco

Year

c. 1960

Statement of significance

local and business history

Links to additional resources