State Savings Bank (fmr)

Parent Place or Precinct

26003 Rokeby Road & Hay St Conservation Area

Statement of Significance

The place represents the historic development of Rokeby Road as a commercial street from the 1890s and early 1900s. It is a visually imposing commercial building in the Federation Free Classical style.

Physical Description

113 Rokeby Road is a two-storey rendered brick building in the Inter-War Chicagoesque Style, which was originally designed and occupied as a bank (now adapted as retail premises).
The ground floor front elevation is divided into three bays articulated with pilasters with stylised capitals supporting a deep entablature. The pilaster capitals feature Ionic volutes and cartouches with the State Savings Bank emblem on them. The original recessed double entrance doors to the central bay are set under a decorative grille with the letters ‘SSB’. Double hung windows with glazing bars to the side bays are set over decorative moulded panels and are shaded by modern fabric canopies.
The upper floor, which was once a manager’s residence, has an elevation that is similarly divided by pilasters, but with recessed panels and no capitals. These, in turn, support an entablature with simple medallions on it. There are two double hung windows to each of the outer bays and a centrally located recessed balcony.
The tall parapet concealing the roof has a centrally located pediment which features a large cartouche of the State Saving’s Bank and this element is flanked by bas-relief torches. It should be noted that this building has never had a verandah or awning.

History

The Subiaco branch of the State Savings Bank was opened at 80 Rokeby Road in 1922. In 1928, tenders were called by the Public Works Department, as architects, for the construction of a new building for the Bank at 113 Rokeby Road:
The erection of a State Savings Bank on the western side of Rokeby Road, near Barker-road, Subiaco, has nearly been completed by the contractor (Mr. W. Fairweather) at a cost of £5,435. The two storey brick building has a frontage of 35ft. by a depth of 99ft. On the ground floor are provided a banking chamber (35ft. 6in. by 27ft. 6in.), strong room, clerk's entrance and retiring rooms, private entrance and stairway, halls, dining-room (15ft. by 13ft.), kitchen, laundry, etc. Three bedrooms, a sitting-room, with the usual offices and sleep-out balcony occupy the first floor.
The elevation of the structure is designed in a phase of the French Renaissance style, and is finished in white cement, stained to resemble freestone. The walls of the banking chambers are finished in "stuc," the ceiling being simply panelled and moulded in plaster. Modern bank fittings of polished jarrah have been manufactured and installed by Zimpel's, Ltd., at a cost of £5,150.
and
The building is of brick, and the front elevation is carried out in a free treatment of French Renaissance style, with white Atlas cement coloured to imitate Donnybrook stone, above a granite base.
In November 1931 the State Savings Bank was amalgamated with the Commonwealth Savings Bank and from that time on the premises were known as the Subiaco branch of the Commonwealth Savings Bank. This became a regular feature of the lives of young Subiaco residents as during the 1930s and ‘40s students from the local primary school would bring in money to class on Monday mornings, which would be taken by a bank officer later in the day. The bank also sold tin moneyboxes to the students for 1s.
The place has been occupied as the Subiaco Bookshop since at least the mid 1990s.

Integrity/Authenticity

Overall, the main façade retains a high level of authenticity. However, the colour scheme has a low level of authenticity, noting that the original façade was very specifically finished in “white Atlas cement coloured to imitate Donnybrook stone”.
The fabric awnings are intrusive.

Condition

The main facade appears to be generally in good condition commensurate with the age of the building (based on streetscape inspection only).

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.