Historical information

This sign was probably attached to a building or placed in a window and was most likely to have been at the Timor Street, Warrnambool State Savings Bank building. The State Savings Bank had its origins in the Port Phillip Savings Bank established in Melbourne in 1841 and in 1853 it became known as the Commissioners’ Savings Banks in the Colony of Victoria. A Warrnambool Savings Bank branch was established in 1859 in temporary premises and in 1860 it moved to a new building in Liebig Street. In 1884 a new sandstone building was erected in Timor Street and the bank operated from there until 1957. In 1912 the Commissioners’ Savings Banks in Victoria became the State Savings Bank. From 1957 to 1990 the Warrnambool State Savings Bank (called the State Bank of Victoria, Warrnambool Branch after 1980) had premises in Liebig Street. In 1990 the State Bank was subsumed into the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

Significance

The Warrnambool State Savings Bank was a leading banking establishment in Warrnambool for 130 years and this sign is an important memento of that institution.

Physical description

This is a rectangular piece of fine brown metal mesh with an ornamental gold trim around the edges and gold lettering. The edges are somewhat ragged and bent and the mesh is a little stained.

Inscriptions & markings

‘State Savings Bank Warrnambool Branch’