Old National Australia Bank Building

Take a step back in time and admire the architecture from a different time at the former Commercial bank of Sydney building. This majestic building was completed in 1891 and is important in demonstrating the evolution of Bundaberg as a regional centre, as well as the evolution of the early competitive banking facilities in rural Queensland. Prior to 1872 there were no banking facilities in Bundaberg. There was a Customs House established on the banks of the Burnett River but the duties had to be paid in Maryborough. In April 1872 a rep from the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney arrived in Bundaberg to assess the viability of a bank in the town. He left town a day later promising to establish a branch in Bundaberg in the following months. The day after the CBC rep departed a rep from the Bank of NSW rode into Bundaberg from Maryborough to announce the branch was open for business. The Commercial Banking Company of Sydney opened in June 1872 but was forced to close their doors in October 1873 due to the Bank of NSW securing most of the banking business in town.