Back to search results

ANZ BANK
44 PERCY STREET PORTLAND, GLENELG SHIRE

All information on this page is maintained by Heritage Victoria. Click below for their website and contact details.
Victorian Heritage Register
ANZ BANK SOHE 2008
ANZ BANK SOHE 2008
ANZ BANK SOHE 2008
ANZ BANK SOHE 2008
ANZ BANK SOHE 2008
1 anz bank portland front view
On this page:

Statement of Significance

What is significant?
The ANZ Bank at 44 Percy Street, Portland was erected for the Union Bank of Australia in 1856 to replace the first branch established in June 1846. In the same year a bluestone building was erected for the Bank of Australasia in Julia Street, Portland, creating some confusion as to the architect involved in the design of both buildings. In the Argus in April and May 1856, tenders were called by the local architect, John Barrow, for the construction of buildings for the Bank of Australasia and the Union Bank of Australasia respectively. This suggests he may have been responsible for both designs.

Portland developed as a prosperous town as a result of the settlement of the rich hinterland through the 1840s and the increasing importance of wool as an export. In the 1850s the gold rush attracted both people and wealth to the town, and Portland was declared a municipality in 1855. As access to, and communication with, the town was improved; many substantial buildings were constructed in the 1850s.

Like other buildings erected in the 1850s and 1860s in Portland, the former Union Bank was constructed in local basalt. It is a two storey corner building designed in a classical style, with quarry-faced stone walls at ground level and smooth-faced stone walls above. All details, including corner quoining, window architraves, keystones and the parapet cornice, are executed in basalt. This was made possible by the extremely fine grain basalt of the region. The main facade incorporates a central pilastered portico and flanking Venetian windows at ground level, and a central arched window and flanking triple rectangular windows above. Simple rows of single windows line the side street elevation.

The iron palisade fence and bluestone base, rear bluestone walling and stable building have been retained.

How is it significant?
The ANZ Bank, Portland is of architectural and historical significance to the State of Victoria.

Why is it significant?
The ANZ Bank, Portland is of architectural significance as a finely crafted building executed in local bluestone. The retention of the fence, rear walling and stables is of importance.

The ANZ Bank, Portland is of historical significance for its association with the commercial development of this important early settlement in Victoria. Together with a number of other bluestone buildings in Portland built in the 1850s and 1860s, it is illustrative of the period of the town's height of prosperity.

[Online Data Upgrade Project 2008]

Show more
Show less

    • History

      ANZ BANK - History

      The ANZ Bank at 44 Percy Street, Portland was erected for the Union Bank of Australia in 1856 to replace the first branch established in June 1846. In the same year a bluestone building was erected for the Bank of Australasia in Julia Street, Portland, creating some confusion as to the architect involved in the design of both buildings. In the Argus in April and May 1856, tenders were called by the local architect, John Barrow, for the construction of buildings for the Bank of Australasia and the Union Bank of Australasia respectively. This suggests he may have been responsible for both designs.

      Portland developed as a prosperous town as a result of the settlement of the rich hinterland through the 1840s and the increasing importance of wool as an export. In the 1850s the gold rush attracted both people and wealth to the town, and Portland was declared a municipality in 1855. As access to, and communication with, the town was improved; many substantial buildings were constructed in the 1850s.

      The draft statement of significance and the above history were produced as part of an Online Data Upgrade Project 2008. Sources were as follows:
      Argus,16 April 1856
      Argus, 22 May 1856
      B. Trethowan, A Study of Banks in Victoria 1851-1939, Melbourne 1976
      E. W. Harvey and N. Learmonth, Portland 1800 to 1920 (A Synopsis)
      G. Bennett, Portland; Now and Then, 1993

      Permit Exemptions

      ANZ BANK - Permit Exemptions

      General Exemptions:

      General exemptions apply to all places and objects included in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR). General exemptions have been designed to allow everyday activities, maintenance and changes to your property, which don’t harm its cultural heritage significance, to proceed without the need to obtain approvals under the Heritage Act 2017.

      Places of worship: In some circumstances, you can alter a place of worship to accommodate religious practices without a permit, but you must notify the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria before you start the works or activities at least 20 business days before the works or activities are to commence.

      Subdivision/consolidation: Permit exemptions exist for some subdivisions and consolidations. If the subdivision or consolidation is in accordance with a planning permit granted under Part 4 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the application for the planning permit was referred to the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria as a determining referral authority, a permit is not required.

      Specific exemptions may also apply to your registered place or object. If applicable, these are listed below. Specific exemptions are tailored to the conservation and management needs of an individual registered place or object and set out works and activities that are exempt from the requirements of a permit. Specific exemptions prevail if they conflict with general exemptions.

      Find out more about heritage permit exemptions here.

      Specific Exemptions:

      General Conditions: 1. All exempted alterations are to be planned and carried out in a manner which prevents damage to the fabric of the registered place or object. General Conditions: 2. Should it become apparent during further inspection or the carrying out of works that original or previously hidden or inaccessible details of the place or object are revealed which relate to the significance of the place or object, then the exemption covering such works shall cease and Heritage Victoria shall be notified as soon as possible. Note: All archaeological places have the potential to contain significant sub-surface artefacts and other remains. In most cases it will be necessary to obtain approval from the Executive Director, Heritage Victoria before the undertaking any works that have a significant sub-surface component.

      General Conditions: 3. If there is a conservation policy and planall works shall be in accordance with it. Note:A Conservation Management Plan or a Heritage Action Plan provides guidance for the management of the heritage values associated with the site. It may not be necessary to obtain a heritage permit for certain works specified in the management plan.

      General Conditions: 4. Nothing in this determination prevents the Executive Director from amending or rescinding all or any of the permit exemptions. General Conditions: 5. Nothing in this determination exempts owners or their agents from the responsibility to seek relevant planning or building permits from the responsible authorities where applicable. Minor Works : Note: Any Minor Works that in the opinion of the Executive Director will not adversely affect the heritage significance of the place may be exempt from the permit requirements of the Heritage Act. A person proposing to undertake minor works must submit a proposal to the Executive Director. If the Executive Director is satisfied that the proposed works will not adversely affect the heritage values of the site, the applicant may be exempted from the requirement to obtain a heritage permit. If an applicant is uncertain whether a heritage permit is required, it is recommended that the permits co-ordinator be contacted.

  • Notes See all notes

    A Question of Attribution

    12/10/16

    There is strong evidence to indicate that local Portland architect John Barrow was only involved in administrative capacity and did not design the ANZ Bank (originally the Union Bank) or the 1856 Bank of Australasia (demolished) at Portland. The Union Bank was designed by Nathaniel Billing (State Library of Victoria  PCLTEFBOX BILLING ALBUM) and the Bank of Australasia by John Gill (ANZ Archives). Barrow's obituary indicates that Barrow worked principally as an engineer.

Public contributions

Notes See all notes

A Question of Attribution

12/10/16

There is strong evidence to indicate that local Portland architect John Barrow was only involved in administrative capacity and did not design the ANZ Bank (originally the Union Bank) or the 1856 Bank of Australasia (demolished) at Portland. The Union Bank was designed by Nathaniel Billing (State Library of Victoria  PCLTEFBOX BILLING ALBUM) and the Bank of Australasia by John Gill (ANZ Archives). Barrow's obituary indicates that Barrow worked principally as an engineer.

Note: Developments may span multiple time periods
Timeline browser

< to 1849
< - 1849
1850 to 1879
1850 - 1879
1880 to 1909
1880 - 1909
1910 to 1939
1910 - 1939
1940 to 1969
1940 - 1969
1970 to 1999
1970 - 1999
2000 to >
2000 - >