The Bank of New South Wales Building at 33 Queen Street, Brisbane, now commonly known as the former Westpac Bank Building, occupies a site with a long association with banking in Queensland. The Bank of New South Wales—now part of Westpac—opened its first Brisbane branch in 1850, initially operating from the former Convict Barracks before moving to the Queen and George Street site. The bank purchased the property in 1853 and constructed a purpose-built bank and residence there in 1866. This building was demolished in 1928 to make way for the present six-storey structure, which was designed by Brisbane architects Hall and Devereux and constructed by F. J. Corbett & Sons between 1928 and 1930. Designed in the grand Beaux-Arts tradition, its imposing Helidon sandstone façade, giant Ionic columns and monumental proportions were deliberately intended to convey the strength, permanence and financial security associated with a major banking institution. The building remained the Bank of New South Wales’ Brisbane headquarters until 1970 and subsequently operated as a Westpac branch. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992 and remains one of Brisbane’s most prominent surviving examples of interwar bank architecture. (slq.qld.gov.au⁠)