Historical information

The Bank of Victoria was established in Wodonga during 1873. This two storey bank was constructed on the site in 1876. It later became the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney.

In 1876 the Albury Banner and Wodonga Express reported that Mr. Nation had gained the contract for the erection of a new building for the Bank of Victoria, at Wodonga. The site secured for the bank was at the corner of South and Sydney streets, and immediately opposite the new Post and Telegraph Offices. The original bank was demolished in the 1950s and a new bank was built on the site.

The new building was constructed with innovative foundations designed to prevent damage from vibrations caused by heavy transport vehicles along High Street which was then part of the Hume Highway.
A contemporary newspaper article provides detail of the new bank. The well-lit building with open banking offices was designed by Melbourne architects, Turner and Stephenson, and combined a bright and attractive appearance with a stream-lined working layout. Alderson Swythyn Blackett-Smith, the manager of bank at time of move to new premises stated that the growth of the district and the bank’s business had made the old premises unsatisfactory due to insufficient space.

The Commercial Banking Company of Sydney (CBC) merged with the National Bank of Australasia in 1982 to form the National Australia Bank and the second bank was closed.

The building has since operated as several retail (including video hire and framing shop), commercial and community functions.
It is currently (2025) used by the Wodonga Indie School.

Significance

These images are significant because they document the development of an important financial institution established in Wodonga in the late 19th century.

Physical description

A series of images showing the evolution of the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney building in Wodonga from its construction in 1876 to the development of the site in 2025.