Office of the Department of Agriculture

Statement of Significance

The place is a simple elegant building designed in the Inter-War Free Classical Style. The balanced proportions of the front façade sit well with the tiled hipped roof which is presented to Queen Street. The building has an air of solidity and permanence which was, no doubt, the impression that the Agricultural Bank wished to convey to its customers.
Agriculture Bank (fmr) is located on the north west corner of Queen Street and Marine Terrace and together with the Old Goal and Court House, plays a major role in visually terminating the commercial precinct of Busselton from the marine recreational environment. Due to its size and elevation, the building sits prominently on its corner
location and compliments the earlier judicial complex on the eastern corner.
The building is associated with the development of the Agricultural Bank of Western Australia, particularly during the period when the Bank commenced its programme of decentralisation. The Agricultural Bank was extremely important to the agricultural development of Western Australia as it was responsible for expanding the State's
agricultural base.
The establishment of a branch office in Busselton of the Agricultural Bank emphasises the role that Busselton played during the 1930s as a service centre for the Group Settlement Scheme.
Agriculture Bank (fmr) operated as the Busselton Branch of the Agricultural Bank and provided, through its field officers, assistance to many farmers new to the district, as well as established farmers. This assistance helped establish the farming community of Busselton and in its turn the commercial arm of the community.
Agriculture Bank (fmr) has significance for the people of Busselton as it contributes to their sense of place and is a reminder of the importance of the town as a service centre for the surrounding district.
Since the conversion of the building to a gallery space the building is valued for its association with the support of the arts in the region and for the many events held in the space.

Physical Description

The former Agricultural Bank building is a single storey brick and tile building, with rendered details, designed in the Inter-War Free Classical Style.
The front of the building features a porch that displays a formal arcade of three arches either side of rectangular openings. Four broad pilasters, two each side of the rectangular openings, carry the frieze. The frieze, a rendered band above the arches, contains the words: 'Agriculture WESTERN AUSTRALIA' in black letters.
The front facade is symmetrical with two large twelve paned, double-hung windows on either side of the front door. The double leaf front door is timber with four moulded sections to each leaf. A large, eight paned fanlight is located above these doors.
The sides of the building display stretcher bond brickwork with a rendered band below the eaves line that is the same as that found at the front. Six, double hung sash windows (similar in detail to the front windows) are evenly spaced down both sides of the building.
The roof covering the main section of the building is hipped and clad with clay tiles and the boxed eaves have decorative modillions. A rendered chimney-stack, with moulded details, is located on the southern side of the building towards the rear of the building

History

This building was constructed in 1931 to accommodate the Busselton Branch of the Agricultural Bank. This was a state government authority therefore the building was designed by the Public Works Department of WA. Tenders for the construction of the building were called in June 1931 and Busselton contractors, Falkingham and Newman were the successful tenderers with a tender of £1880. The building was opened on 4 December 1931 by Premier Sir James Mitchell and lead by the Mayor of Busselton Robert Falkingham, also the builder. The first manager was Mr W.W. Vickery.
The Agricultural Bank assisted farmers in regional Western Australia secure loans for development of their properties, and was significant in the administration of the Group Settlement scheme.
The Agricultural Bank was restructured in the 1940s and became the Rural and Industries Bank in 1944. In the 1950s, the bank also began to offer Savings Bank facilities. In 1956, the building was sold to the Public Works Department and was used to accommodate the Department of Agriculture and Forestry. This change of use lead to modifications to the building in the 1960s. In 2005, the building was purchased by the City of Busselton who adapted the building for a community use. Since that time the building has undergone minimal alterations to enable its use as a gallery space for the wider ArtGeo complex.
n 2021, the City of Busselton approved the construction of a new performing arts and convention centre on the adjoining land to the south. These works began in 2022 and during the construction phase, the former bank building has been used as a site office. On completion of the project it is proposed that the former Agricultural Bank building
will be used as a commercial bar facility

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity Notes: The place is no longer used for banking and retains a moderate degree of integrity
Authenticity Notes: Though fittings have been removed and the spaces re-partitioned, the underlying fabric is authentic. The place retains a high degree of authenticity.

Moderate Degree/High Degree

Condition

Good

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.