Former bank comes with vault
Bank premises built more than a hundred years ago were invariably large, substantial buildings, designed to convey a strong sense of permanence and stability – subtitle: ‘‘Your money is safe with us’’.
But while many such buildings in our cities and regions were built from concrete and stone, the former BNZ bank building in Akaroa, currently for sale, is an impressive, doublestorey wooden structure, with arched sash windows and traditional pediments over doors and windows.
It’s an arresting building, with a Heritage New Zealand Category 2 listing. The listing says the Italianate style of the building, designed by well-known Christchurch firm England Brothers, ‘‘reflects the typical corporate imagery of the Bank of New Zealand in the 19th and early 20th centuries – indeed, its design is very similar to the original single-storeyed bank building on this site’’.
The bank manager and family lived on the top floor. While the bank is no longer here, that topfloor three-bedroom residence remains.
The large, spacious rooms on the ground floor could be used for commercial tenants. A nearoriginal ‘‘office kitchen’’ remains. As does the bank vault with its ornate steel door with embossed gold seal and handles.
Listing agent Chris Mangels of Bayleys Akaroa says the bank is ‘‘the most recognisable building in Akaroa’’. It has two frontages and sits just a block back from the waterfront. He says the current owners bought it off the bank at auction in 2000, and subsequently leased it back to the BNZ, which has now closed the branch.
‘‘It would ideally be bought by someone who would live upstairs and have a commercial proposition for the ground floor – an art gallery would be fantastic. The 509 square-metre site has commercial zoning.’’
The property is now for sale by negotiation ‘‘with motivated vendors’’, Mangels says.