The National Bank is a two-storey reinforced concrete building on a prominent Devon Street West/Brougham Street corner.
It is described in the N.P.D.C. CBD Heritage Inventory (1995) as "a restrained and careful piece of design, a good example of bank architecture of the 1930s."
The architects were Mitchell and Mitchell of Wellington. The firm were also responsible for designing the Bank of Australasia in Manaia.
In 1878 the bank purchased this corner section and in 1884 the bank moved into new premises. More land was acquired in 1901 and in 1938 the old building was demolished, and the present building was erected.
The new bank opened for business on 7 March 1939, and the first customer was Mr McHardy, a former manager of the bank.
Related items:
Town Section (Part) 669, Taranaki Land Deed Index I1 page 432 and I5 page 374. (Archives New Zealand)
New Plymouth's New Bank (Taranaki Herald 18 May 1938)
Another Monument To Progress And Development (Taranaki Herald 9 March 1939)
Half a ton of money (TDN 6 March 1939)
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