ANZ Bank
This former bank is distinctive for having been built in an American style, now known as the Interwar Chicagoesque. It was erected for the English, Scottish & Australian Bank (ES&A) in 1928. The ES&A had begun trading in Western Australia in 1897, but from 1900 it steadily expanded in a decade of prosperity and growth before World War I.
After WWI, it acquired the London Bank of Australia and the small, but long established, Commercial Bank of Tasmania. In 1928, the demolition of the buildings on the north-east corner of Milligan and Hay streets became necessary as they were wrecked by a runaway tram. A new building for the ES&A was designed by architectural firm Oldham, Boas, and Ednie-Brown.
The floor plan of the bank was very simple and comprised a public space, three teller counters, a ledgers counter, a manager’s room, a small staff office, a strong room, and toilets. The main entrance was on Hay Street. Two timber staircases to the first floor were accessible from both Hay and Milligan streets. n 1930, the ES&A leased the first floor to the radio station 6WF, which was operated by the ABC after it was acquired from Wesfarmers.
In 1996, due to the downsizing of bank branches, the ANZ Bank (as it now was) was sold and converted for use by various businesses. The building is currently being utilised on the ground floor as West Hay News.
This former bank is distinctive for having been built in an American style, now known as the Interwar Chicagoesque. It was erected for the English, Scottish & Australian Bank (ES&A) in 1928. The ES&A had begun trading in Western Australia in 1897, but from 1900 it steadily expanded in a decade of prosperity and growth before World War I.
After WWI, it acquired the London Bank of Australia and the small, but long established, Commercial Bank of Tasmania. In 1928, the demolition of the buildings on the north-east corner of Milligan and Hay streets became necessary as they were wrecked by a runaway tram. A new building for the ES&A was designed by architectural firm Oldham, Boas, and Ednie-Brown.
The floor plan of the bank was very simple and comprised a public space, three teller counters, a ledgers counter, a manager’s room, a small staff office, a strong room, and toilets. The main entrance was on Hay Street. Two timber staircases to the first floor were accessible from both Hay and Milligan streets. The first floor was an empty space partitioned for the use of offices. In 1930, the ES&A leased the first floor to the Commonwealth Government and it was used for seven years as the premises for the studio and offices of the radio station 6WF, which was operated by the ABC after it was acquired from Wesfarmers. The 6WF studio remained on the first floor until 1937, after which was used by a caterer, the Stirling Social Club Rooms, Royce Cox Industries, toy manufacturers, and jewellers.
In 1938, the bank decided to make the branch larger to meet the demands of its customers. They again commissioned Oldham, Boas, and Ednie-Brown to refashion the building. The entire bank was repanelled the brick frontage on Hay Street was remodelled to the present style.
In 1996, due to the downsizing of bank branches, the ANZ Bank (as it now was) was sold and converted for use by various businesses. The building is currently being utilised on the ground floor as West Hay News.