Bank of New South Wales / Westpac (1925-1987)

This impressive bank building once stood on the corner of Devon Street East and Currie Street. It was designed in 1925 by well-known New Plymouth architect, Thomas H. Bates, for the Bank of New South Wales. Tender advertisements appeared in local newspapers in August 1925 along with a detailed description of the bank building which was expected to take a year to finish.  

The Bank of New South Wales (later Westpac) building was demolished in April 1987 and replaced a year later with the building we see today. In April 2017 it was announced that Westpac's central city branch would close, ending the bank's 134 years history on the corner site.

Bates designed a number of banks throughout the province including BNZ's at Inglewood (1914), Hāwera (1926) and Opunake (1927).

Plans held by Puke Ariki - ARC2014-012.