Union Bank of Australia (former)

Item details


Name of item:	Union Bank of Australia (former)
Other name/s:	Weymouth House, Hesley Gallery
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Commercial
Category:	Bank
Location:	Lat: -33.2813901361 Long: 149.0969052020
Primary address:	84 Byng Street, Orange, NSW 2800
Parish:	Orange
County:	Wellington
Local govt. area:	Orange
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Orange

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Section Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
LOT	32358		DP

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
84 Byng Street	Orange	Orange	Orange	Wellington	Primary Address
Sale Street	Orange	Orange	Orange	Wellington	Alternate Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
The Trustee for Union Bank Property Trust	Private

Statement of significance:


	Opened in 1858 by the Union Bank of Australia it has historic significance as the first bank of Orange. The former Union Bank building is of simple and austere Victorian styling, its facade enlivened only by decorative lintels, keystones and sills to the window openings. Situated on a corner it makes a positive architectural contribution to the street. (Heritage Office files)
	Date significance updated: 08 Nov 10
	Note: The State Heritage Inventory provides information about heritage items listed by local and State government agencies. The State Heritage Inventory is continually being updated by local and State agencies as new information becomes available. Read the Department of Premier and Cabinet copyright and disclaimer.

Description


Physical description:	The building comprises a two-storey rendered brick and iron-roofed main building with a later single-storey brick classroom or hall at the rear, added during the period of school occupancy of the building and perhaps contemporary with the Federation style porch of timber construction added to shelter the principal entry to the main building. Outbuildings at the rear include a separate kitchen-house and a stables block with later garage addition, the latter original internal details such as the horse ‘boxes’ and wooden cobble floors. The bank building proper is of simple and austere Victorian styling, its facade enlivened only by decorative lintels, keystones and sills to the window openings. Internally the building is also very simply and economically fitted with none of the elaboration usually found in major commercial premises of the period. Original doors, architraves and skirtings, fireplace surrounds and main staircase survive but are simple and basic in design (Branch Managers Report to the Heritage Council 21.3.1980)
Modifications and dates:	1858 - main two-storey building constructed. 1880s- single storey building at rear constructed. 1981 - Heritage Council approval given for conversion and restoration of buildings 1983 - Heritage Council approval given for use of ground floor for restaurant purposes 1985 - Heritage Council approval given for the stratification into 3 titles ad change of use of the property. 1988 - Heritage Council approval given for new fire escape, firehose reel, exit lights and emergency lighting. 1992 - Heritage Council approval given for replacement of portico, and interio alterations
Further information:	LEP - state significant


Current use:	restaurant, offices
Former use:	Bank, School

History

Historical notes:

The Union Bank of Australia was established in Orange in 1857 in temporary premises and in 1858 opened in the present building. It was first bank in Orange. In April 1862 the business of the Union Bank was taken over by the Commerical Bank of Sydney. It would be after this year that the building was acquired and used as a Police Station. In 1874/75 buildings for the Police Department were under construction in Byng Street not far from the Court House.

It was after this date that Mr T H Richards conducted a school in this building called Weymouth House. In 1893 Mr Richards transferred his school and the building became a Girls School called Dombrane College. After closing as Queen's College in about 1911/12 the building then became a boarding house conducted by Miss Hawke and her mother. After the boarding school it was used as residential flats. (Letter to Heritage Council 25.3.1980)

In February 1980 the Heritage Council was advised by the National Trust of Australia (NSW) that the Former Union Bank was under threat of demolition. A Section 130 Order was placed over the building on 29 February 1980. A formal notice under Section 132 was subsequently made by the owners of the building with the intention to demolish the building. After taking into consideration the views of Orange Council and the owners of the building an Interim Conservation Order was placed over the building on 18 April 1980 in an effort to find a suitable use for the building.

In August 1980 the Department of Public Works inspected the property and advised the building was significant for its historic and streetscape value and was suitable for re-use as professional offices or residential/commercial use.

In 1981 the property was sold and a loan and grant was made available to the owners for the restoration of the building.

On 11 February 1983 a Permanent Conservation Order was placed over the property.

It was transferred to the State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

The site now hosts the Art House Bar & Courtyard and the adjoining Schoolhouse Restaurant. Together these two venues celebrate the site's past as an art school and original site of Kinross Wolaroi School (Eveson, 2020).

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Commerce-Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services	Banking-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Commerce-Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services	Developing Commercial Enterprise-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings	Developing local, regional and national economies-National Theme 3
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Accommodation-Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities.	Building settlements, towns and cities-National Theme 4
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Creating landmark structures and places in regional settings-
5. Working-Working	Labour-Activities associated with work practises and organised and unorganised labour	Working in offices-
5. Working-Working	Labour-Activities associated with work practises and organised and unorganised labour	Working in hospitality industry-
6. Educating-Educating	Education-Activities associated with teaching and learning by children and adults, formally and informally.	Private (independent) schooling-
6. Educating-Educating	Education-Activities associated with teaching and learning by children and adults, formally and informally.	College boarding house-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Designing in an exemplary architectural style-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Gathering at landmark places to socialise-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Going to a restaurant-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Activities associated with relaxation and recreation-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Going drinking in bars or clubs-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	Opened in 1858 by the Union Bank of Australia it has historic significance as the first bank of Orange. (Heritage Office files)
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	The former Union Bank building is of simple and austere Victorian styling, its facade enlivened only by decorative lintels, keystones and sills to the window openings. Situated on a corner it makes a positive architectural contribution to the street. (Heritage Office files)
Assessment criteria:	Items are assessed against the State Heritage Register (SHR) Criteria to determine the level of significance. Refer to the Listings below for the level of statutory protection.

Procedures /Exemptions

Section of act	Description	Title	Comments	Action date
57(2)	Exemption to allow work	Standard Exemptions	HERITAGE ACT 1977 ORDER UNDER SECTION 57(2) TO GRANT STANDARD EXEMPTIONS FROM APPROVAL I, Penny Sharpe, the Minister for Heritage, on the recommendation of the Heritage Council of New South Wales and under section 57(2) of the Heritage Act 1977: revoke the order made on 2 June 2022 and published in the Government Gazette Number 262 of 17 June 2022; and grant an exemption from section 57(1) of the Act in respect of the engaging in or carrying out the class of activities described in clause 2 Schedule A in such circumstances specified by the relevant standards in clause 2 Schedule A and General Conditions in clause 3 Schedule A. This Order takes effect on the date it is published in the NSW Government Gazette. Dated this 29th day of October 2025 The Hon Penny Sharpe MLC Minister for Heritage For more information on standard exemptions click on the link below.	Nov 7 2025

Standard exemptions for engaging in or carrying out activities / works otherwise prohibited by section 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Heritage Act - State Heritage Register		00230	02 Apr 99	27	1546
Heritage Act - Permanent Conservation Order - former		00230	11 Feb 83	28	0662
Local Environmental Plan
Potential Heritage Item	A		17 May 02

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written		1980	Branch Managers Report to the Heritage Council 21.3.1980
Tourism	Attraction Homepage	2007	Belgravia @ Union Bank	View detail
Written	Everson, Imogen	2020	The definitive guie to eating and drinking in Orange, NSW	View detail
Tourism	Tourism NSW	2007	Belgravia @ Union Bank	View detail

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.

(Click on thumbnail for full size image and image details)

Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Heritage NSW
Database number:	5045014
File number:	S90/05892 & HC 32423

Every effort has been made to ensure that information contained in the State Heritage Inventory is correct. If you find any errors or omissions please send your comments to the Database Manager.

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