CommBank Townsville the first country branch in Australia, current manager speaks on history and today’s cost of living challenges

Do you remember the CommBank tower on Flinders Street? After 111 years, the current branch manager of Commonwealth Bank Townsville looks back at what’s changed - and what’s ahead.

Townsville branch, 1991.

The Commonwealth Bank branch on Sturt Street has a long history - a very, very long history.

Townsville branch manager David Richards has been working at the bank for 37 years, and said the most substantial change over time has been technology.

“I’ve have had the privilege of serving our customers since 1987,” Mr Richards said.

“The way customers choose to bank has certainly changed. I think the biggest difference is the new and innovative technology available.

“For example, our customers can bank via our branches, ATMs, mobile bankers, phone banking, messaging, online or via the CommBank app as well Bank@Post.”
With the closure of regional banks a concern for locals, Mr Richards said his 111-year-old location wasn’t going anywhere.

Townsville branch, 2017.

“Although we are seeing more customers turn to digital services, we know that face-to-face options and access to cash continues to be important,” he said.

“It’s why we (CommBank) are committed to maintaining the largest branch and ATM network in the country and why we also made a commitment to our regional branches, that ensures they will stay open until at least the end of 2026.”

Looking back on the branch’s 111-year history reminds us of the old saying: ‘change is the only constant’.

Townsville branch with staff standing out the front c.1914

The early years

The branch started life over 100 years ago on Flinders Street in 1913, the first ever ‘country’ location for the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

The inaugural manager, Mr Charles Russell Wood, was assisted by six workers.

On the first day of trading, four general banking accounts were opened with balances totalling £134 - not bad considering Mr Wood’s annual salary was £550.

A few months later in October, a ‘savings bank only’ branch also opened in Flinders Street and took control of 52 post office agencies previously attached to the Brisbane branch.

The bank was open Monday to Sunday for normal banking hours and was required to open from 7pm to 9pm on Friday evenings for receipt of deposits.

In 1924 the business dusted off its volts and moved shop to another Flinders St location, closer to Denham St.

During WWII, the Townsville branch became heavily involved with Commonwealth Bonds, and other forms of government fundraising activities, as well as acting as the local agent for the meat and clothing rationing authorities.

Due to wartime rationing, the Department of War Organisation of Industry would not approve purchase of a refrigerator for branch use despite the unavailability of ice in Townsville.

Townsville branch staff in 1921

Townsville branch interior, 1924

After the world wars

By the mid-1950s, staff numbers had grown to 47.

A letter published in the Townsville Daily Bulletin dated December 6 1955, described the branch as having “lighting for the greater part emanating from bare bulbs, some pulled across to advantageous positions with pieces of string. The walls of the public space are filthy…. the flooring is of a black substance (malthoid) which is distasteful, unclean… the teller’s boxes and counter old fashioned.”

In 1957, plans were drawn up for extensive alterations including a new telling line, installation of fluorescent lighting, painting, linoleum tiles to walls and floors, new staff amenities, storage area, a new entrance and front facade.

Townsville branch interior, 1959.

Commonwealth Bank stall at the Townsville Show, circa 1959.

Townsville branch interior, 1959.

Personal Loans made their appearance in 1967, and improved career opportunities for women also became available that year.
In November 1967, a new branch at 471-473 Flinders Street, Townsville opened.

That same year, the Townsville City Council announced proposals to sell the property, which included the branch, for redevelopment into a multimillion-dollar retail and commercial complex.

The CommBank tower

Plans for a multistorey building consisting of a podium of four floors and a tower block of a further four floors, were drawn by local architects and construction began in June 1975.

The branch's strongroom, voucher room and car park were in the basement area.

The banking chamber occupied the ground floor, while the manager, loans department, CDB Rural Office and the Bank’s Queensland Northern Region administration staff occupied the first floor.

Townsville branch, 1977.

Townsville branch, 1977.

The remaining six floors were made available for rental purposes.

On the wall of the banking chamber were four ceramic murals and the walls were finished ‘in true banking tradition’ with dark timber panelling, granite and marble lending a ‘modern touch’.

Townsville branch staff numbers had reached 111, making it, at that time, ‘the largest branch, apart from capital offices, trading during normal banking hours, in Australia.’

Operations transferred to the new premises on October 10, 1977.

Townsville branch, 1978.

During the 1970s, the Townsville branch underwent an extensive computerisation program. This took over machine recording of ledgers which, in turn, had replaced the original hand-posting methods of bookkeeping.

Nearly all of Townsville’s office systems were computer processed, many by the Bank’s online network which had extended to cover every branch in Australia.

Townsville branch, 1991.

In 2004 staff numbers at the branch totalled twelve and there were three ATMs located at the premises.

The branch was relocated to tenancy 102, 151-73 Sturt Street on 31 May 2010 and in November 2017 the branch relocated again to 9/101 Sturt Street where it stands today.

Originally published as CommBank Townsville the first country branch in Australia, current manager speaks on history and today’s cost of living challenges