Commercial Banking Company of Sydney - Newcastle, NSW - 1921
Cnr Hunter St & Bolton St, Newcastle.
As New South Wales' second city, Newcastle was (and remains) a working city built on coal, steel and its port. Illustrating the mercantile links between the cities of the British Empire, it was Newcastle coal which fired the cities of India. Replacing an earlier building and reflecting the confidence of the 1920s, this purpose-built bank and office block was commissioned for the Commercial Bank of Sydney (established in 1848). It was designed by Sydney-based architects Kent & Massie in the style known as Inter-War Commercial Palazzo; the solid rusticated stone ground floor reflected the solidity one would expect of a banking chamber while the sandstone-clad upper storeys gave the building a modern, thrusting appearance in the style of early Chicago-style skyscrapers. The architectural motifs and elements are very similar to the CBC's headquarters in George Street, Sydney (see my photo at ); this is not surprising as both buildings were the products of the same architects.
Commercial Banking Company of Sydney - Newcastle, NSW - 1921
Cnr Hunter St & Bolton St, Newcastle.
As New South Wales' second city, Newcastle was (and remains) a working city built on coal, steel and its port. Illustrating the mercantile links between the cities of the British Empire, it was Newcastle coal which fired the cities of India. Replacing an earlier building and reflecting the confidence of the 1920s, this purpose-built bank and office block was commissioned for the Commercial Bank of Sydney (established in 1848). It was designed by Sydney-based architects Kent & Massie in the style known as Inter-War Commercial Palazzo; the solid rusticated stone ground floor reflected the solidity one would expect of a banking chamber while the sandstone-clad upper storeys gave the building a modern, thrusting appearance in the style of early Chicago-style skyscrapers. The architectural motifs and elements are very similar to the CBC's headquarters in George Street, Sydney (see my photo at ); this is not surprising as both buildings were the products of the same architects.