The 1996 Cardinia Shire Heritage Study, which was undertaken by Graeme Butler & Associates, describes the building as a two storey clinker brick and stucco building...with Greek/Georgian revival stylistic treatment including the hipped and tiled roof, Doric order colonettes at the main window opening, saltire cross glazing mullions, expressed voussoirs over the two doorways, smooth rustication in the central window, the 8-panel door pair, the bayed symmetrical elevation and the multi pane glazing. (3) [A saltire cross is an x shaped cross and a voussoir is a wedge-shaped or tapered stone used to construct an arch]
Main Street, Garfield. The Bank is on the right.
Weekly Times, June 18, 1952 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/224019418
Banking services began in Garfield in July 1904, when the London Bank of Australia opened an Agency of the Warragul Branch. This London Bank agency was converted to a Branch a year later, on August 10, 1905. (4)
Notification of the Garfield Agency becoming a Branch
Bunyip and Garfield Express, August 10, 1905, p. 2.
A Branch, as opposed to an Agency, had full-time operating hours and its own manager and the first manager at Garfield was Clarence Adeney (5). In 1920, the London Bank amalgamated with the English, Scottish & Australian Bank (E.S. & A Bank) who in turn amalgamated with the ANZ in 1970.
The Garfield Agency becomes a Branch
West Gippsland Gazette, August 15, 1905 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/68715371
So successful was this Garfield Branch that in August 1905 an Agency had been established at Koo Wee Rup and by the next year at Yannathan, Iona and Tynong (6)
Agency of the Garfield Branch established at Yannathan.
South Bourke & Mornington Journal, June 6, 1906 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/66144774
The Bunyip and Garfield Express reported in October 1906 of the desire for a new bank building in Garfield -
General dissatisfaction is expressed here at the action of the directors of the London Bank in delaying the erection of their new premises. Over twelve months ago they promised to go on with the work, and plans were prepared for a building, estimated to cost £1500. Levels were taken, and all thought the building was to be proceeded with straight away, but time has gone and still nothing further has been done. At a meeting of clients held on Monday night, it was decided to write the directors urging them to proceed with the building without further delay, and it is hoped it will have the desired effect. (7)
It wasn't until July 1908 that the construction of a new Bank, the first brick building in the town, commenced. That month, the contractor, Mr Hayes from Northcote, visited the town to view the site, however soon after his foreman sadly died suddenly, so work was put on hold until his replacement could be appointed. (8). In December 1908 the Bunyip and Garfield Express could finally announce that -
Mr Hattersley, manager of the London Bank, moved into the new and more commodious premises on Friday last and in future business will be transacted therefrom. (9) This building is now a private house on the corner of Railway Avenue and Garfield Road.
Mr Adeney did not get to enjoy the new building as he had taken charge of the Koo Wee Rup Branch in September 1906. (10) It was, as we have just seen, Edward Hattersley, who was the manager at the time. He was in charge until February 1912 when The Argus reported -
Garfield - Mr E.H. Hattersley who has been in charge of the London Bank here for six years has been transferred to Melbourne. Mr Hattersley, who was president of the cricket club for the past two years was presented by that body with a souvenir. (11)
Edward Hattersley was replaced by Ernest Kerr Clarke. Two years later, in February 1914, Ernest was transferred to Taree, in New South Wales. His farewell function was reported on in the Bunyip and Garfield Express -
On Tuesday evening last a number of members of the Bunyip Caledonian Society assembled at Bunyip in order to make a presentation to Mr. E. K. Clarke, manager of the London Bank it Garfield, prior to his departure for Taree (N.S.W.) Chief J. A. Shandley presented the guest with a suitably inscribed gold medal, and expressed the regret felt at his departure. The chief's remarks were endorsed by Messrs P. Mclvor, H. Rodger, T. D. McGregor and H. Bell. Mr. Clarke responded in a feeling manner, and expressed regret at departing from the district and the members of the Caledonian Society. (12)
William Rupert Aspinall was the next Manager, from April 1914. The local newspaper in Stawell provided this background to Mr Aspinall -
Mr W. R. Aspinall, who was for six years accountant at the Stawell Branch of the London Bank, but who for the past 18 months has been on the staff of the Melbourne office, has been appointed manager at Garfield, in Gippsland. Mr and Mrs Aspinall's many Stawell friends will learn with pleasure of the promotion and wish Mr Aspinall every success (13)
William Aspinall left in August 1917, having been shifted to Moama. (14) William and his wife had made themselves part of the Garfield community, as this report of their farewell shows -
The members and children of the Church of England Sunday school, Garfield, made a presentation of a very chaste silver rose bowl, suitably inscribed, to Mrs. T. Aspinall, of the London Bank, on Tuesday evening last, the hall being nicely decorated for the occasion. Mrs. Aspinall took a lively interest in church matters, and her removal to Moama is very much regretted by the whole of the residents. The residents of Garfield and district intend to make a presentation to Mr Aspinall, the popular manager of the London Bank, on the eve of his departure to Moama. (15)
Hugh Alexander Gardner was the next Manager and he was in charge in 1920 when the London Bank was taken over by the E.S.& A. Bank. I believe they used the London Bank premises until the Main Street building was erected. (16)
When was this building built? The Cardinia Shire Heritage Study lists the build date of the bank as 1925, but I believe it was more likely around 1931. Firstly, the Shire of Berwick Rate Books had listed the building through the 1920s under the Managers name and then in 1931 it changed to Arthur Nutting (17) who was a local shop keeper and also owned other property in the area, so I believe this was the time they built the new bank premises and sold off their superfluous old premises. Secondly, local historian, Bill Parish in his history of Garfield, published in the 1962 Back To souvenir book says the building was erected in the 1930s. (18)
E.S & A. Bank advertisement from the Back to Garfield booklet, June 1962.
The E.S. & A. Bank from the Back to Garfield booklet, June 1962.
Residents from all the surrounding districts assembled at the Garfield Theatre on Monday night to honour Mr. H. A. Gardner and family. Mr. Gardner has been transferred to the Cheltenham branch of the E., S., and A. Bank. He was presented with a gold sovereign case and a cheque, while Mrs. Gardner and Misses Lila and Nancy Gardner each received a gold wrist watch. (19)
His replacement John Jessup was at only at Garfield for a few years before he was transferred to Dunolly in March 1928. His wife, Winifred, was presented with a handbag as a departure gift from the women of Garfield. (20)
Mr Jessup’s replacement was Stanley Howell, who was at Garfield until 1935 when he was transferred to Burwood. When Stanley and Margret Howell left Garfield they were entertained and presented with a wallet of notes (21) Other known staff in the early days was a Mr L.G Evans, accountant, who transferred to Garfield from Dunolly in 1927. Perhaps Mr Evans extolled the virtues of Dunolly to Mr Jessup and that’s why he moved there. Other accountants at the branch were Mr E. Judge who left Garfield for Warragul in 1924. His successor was Mr Pask. (22)
The ANZ Bank is the two-storey building on the left of the FoodMarket.
View from the Railway Station towards Main Street Garfield - taken in the 1980s.
Image: Shire of Pakenham slide, Casey Cardinia Libraries
The Garfield ANZ Bank closed on March 16, 2012. (23) There was an E.S & A. Agency at Cora Lynn, which was reported to have been opened in January 1911. In the 1960s it was staffed about a morning a week and closed in the early 1960s. (24)
The little building to the right of the bridge is the old E.S & A Bank at Cora Lynn,
taken October 20, 1937
(State Rivers & Water Supply Commission photograph)
Trove list I have created a list of articles on the Garfield Bank, access it here.
Footnotes
(2) Cardinia Shire Heritage Study, v. 3 - Heritage Places by Graeme Butler & Associates (Cardinia Shire, 1996), pp. 300-301.
(3) Ibid
(4) Bunyip and Garfield Express, August 10, 1905, p. 2.
(5) The Age, July 15, 1904, see here; Bunyip & Garfield Express, August 10, 1905, p. 2; West Gippsland Gazette, August 15, 1905, see here.
(6) Koo Wee Rup - South Bourke and Mornington Journal, August 16, 1905 see here; Yannathan - South Bourke & Mornington Journal, April 4 1906, see here; Iona - South Bourke & Mornington Journal, June 6, 1906, see here; Tynong - South Bourke & Mornington Journal, July 25, 1906, see here.
(7) Bunyip and Garfield Express, October 18, 1906, p. 2.
(8) South Bourke & Mornington Journal, July 8, 1908, see here; Bunyip and Garfield Express, July 9, 1908, p. 2 ; Bunyip and Garfield Express, July 23, 1908, p. 2; South Bourke & Mornington Journal, July 15, 1908, see here
(9) Bunyip and Garfield Express, December 24, 1908, p. 2.
(11) The Argus, February 20, 1912, see here; Bunyip and Garfield Express, February 20, 1912, p. 3.
(12) Bunyip and Garfield Express, February 19, 1914, see here; Quote from Bunyip and Garfield Express, February 26, 1914, see here;
(13) Stawell News, April 14, 1914, see here.
(14) Newspaper articles in my Trove list, Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com
(15) Dandenong Advertiser, August 9, 1917, see here
(16) Newspaper articles in my Trove list, Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com
(18) Shire of Berwick Rate Books; https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/09/bill-parishs-history-of-garfield-1931.html
(19) The Argus, July 23, 1926, see here.
(20) Newspaper articles in my Trove list, The Argus, May 4, 1928, see here.
(21) The Herald, March 29, 1935, see here.
(22) Newspaper articles in my Trove list.
(23) From the Pakenham Gazette of 15/2/2012 - By Melissa Meehan
Big banks have turned their backs on small communities according to the people of Garfield.
As news of the ANZ branch closure filtered through the town, residents and shopkeepers have come together to attempt to save it. The ANZ Garfield branch will close at 3pm on 16 March before merging with the ANZ Drouin branch. More than 50 concerned townsfolk came together on Friday to show their support of the Garfield branch, all of them customers.
Dairy farmer John Reid and spokesman for the group said it was important to the town that the bank stayed put. “We don’t all use internet banking, some of us don’t know how to use the internet,” Mr Reid said. “We want to keep being able to go into the branch. “And a hole in the wall isn’t the same.”
Some in the group said they held an account with the bank for 69 years. “It’s not just the ANZ that’s turning their back on Garfield, but it’s all the other towns around us, too,” Mr Reid said. “It makes it very easy for us to bank with the Bendigo Bank.”
Mr Reid and the group said they thought the ANZ had an obligation to the district to stay open.
“We want to encourage people to come to the town, when people do their banking it’s more likely they’ll pop into the pharmacy or grab a coffee,” he said. “Garfield is not a dying town, its worth keeping open and we think the bank should see the bigger picture.”
Cardinia Shire councillor Graeme Moore also attended the meeting, and said he too was a customer.
“Without having a branch in the town means the older citizens of Garfield who were able to walk or get in the car and drive a short distance to do their banking will now be stuck,” he said. “It’s not progressive, they haven’t looked at the growth of the area and how it will grow in the future.
“Without a bank, it turns away businesses that might look at moving here – then once again we become isolated again, like a desolate island.”
Spokeswoman for ANZ Ingrid Nugent said the bank was currently looking for a new ATM location in Garfield that will be available to customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. “We had a detailed look at our operation in the area and the number of customers using the branch has, unfortunately, fallen quite dramatically over the years,” Ms Nugent said. “As a result, we have decided to centralise all our banking for the community to a larger branch that offers a range of services including investments, transaction accounts, financial planning, insurances, as well as home and investment loans.” In the meantime, the ANZ will continue to provide an ATM service in Garfield at the current location inside the Garfield Newsagency.
(24) Cora Lynn Bank - opening - The Argus, January 31, 1911, see here; Closure date - from my parents.
