The Commercial Bank of Australia Limited (CBA) was an Australian and New Zealand

retail bank Retail banking, also known as consumer banking or personal banking, is the provision of services by a bank to the general public, rather than to companies, corporations or other banks, which are often described as wholesale banking. Banking serv ...

which operated from 1866 until being amalgamated with the

Bank of New South Wales The Bank of New South Wales (BNSW), also known commonly as The Wales, was the first bank in Australia, being established in Sydney in 1817 and situated on Broadway. During the 19th century, the bank opened branches throughout Australia and N ...

, that was established in 1817, to form the

Westpac Banking Corporation Westpac Banking Corporation, known simply as Westpac, is an Australian multinational banking and financial services company headquartered at Westpac Place in Sydney, New South Wales. Established in 1817 as the Bank of New South Wales, it ...

in 1982.

History

The Commercial Bank of Australia was established in 1866. Lake and Reynolds write that

Lowe Kong Meng Lowe Kong Meng (born 1830 or 1831; died 22 October 1888) was a Chinese-Australian businessman. Born into a trading family in Penang, Kong Meng learned English and French at an early age and worked as an importing merchant around the Indian Oc ...

and

Louis Ah Mouy Louis Ah Mouy (182628 April 1918; also known as Louey Amoy and Louey Ah Mouy) was a Chinese–Australian community leader and businessman. Early life Louis Ah Mouy was born circa 1826, in Guangzhou, China, and grew up in Singapore. Career Ah ...

were "founding director(s) and major shareholder(s) of the Commercial Bank of Australia." As banks could issue their own paper currency at the time, the bank printed Chinese text on their pound note to encourage Chinese custom. It was headquartered for its entire existence at what is now 327-343 Collins Street,

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/ Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a metro ...

. The Commercial Bank of Australia Building, was rebuilt in 1891-93, at which time a dramatic banking chamber was added, and redeveloped again in 1939, when the Collins Street facade was rebuilt. The building was substantially demolished as part of the construction of the 333 Collins Street tower in 1990; however, the facade, banking chamber and entrance vestibule were preserved, the latter two now being heritage-listed.

Acquisition

It acquired the Australian and European Bank in 1879 and the National Bank of Tasmania in 1918. It commenced operations in

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island coun ...

in 1912.

Amalgamation

It amalgamated with the Bank of New South Wales to form Westpac in 1982.

References

{{Authority control Defunct banks of Australia Defunct banks of New Zealand Australian companies established in 1866 Banks established in 1866 Banks disestablished in 1982 Australian companies disestablished in 1982

History

Acquisition

Amalgamation

Further reading

References