Bank Place, Melbourne

Bank Place is a street in Melbourne, Victoria. It is a short, narrow laneway, running south from Little Collins Street between Queen Street and William Street in the central business district of Melbourne.

Located in the heart of the financial sector, Bank Place (which incorporates several smaller lanes, such as Mitre Lane) is an oasis of heritage pre-war buildings dating from the 1860s through to the 1920s. Looking north, a vista is framed by Normanby Chambers.

The precinct is subject to heritage restrictions, and some of the significant buildings include:

* Mitre Tavern, historic pub established in 1868 and remodelled in the Queen Anne style between 1900 and 1910. Mitre Tavern was a popular 'bohemian' hangout for many of Australia's most prominent artists of the early twentieth century, alongside the neighbouring Savage Club. [Taylor, Alex, "Perils of the Studio: Inside the Artistic Affairs of Bohemian Melbourne",Australian Scholarly Publishing & State Library of Victoria: North Melbourne, 2007]
* 12-16 Bank Place was built 1884 - 85 for Australia's first baronet Sir William Clarke. His son, Sir Rupert Clarke's mistress Connie Waugh is said to have lived there.
* The Melbourne Savage Club purchased the building in 1923. The building is classified by the National Trust of Australia (Victoria).
* Stalbridge Chambers (1891) corner of Little Collins
* Charter House
* Normanby Chambers on Little Collins but terminates Bank Place

The lane also includes several ornate heritage lamp posts and bluestone alleys.

It is home to several bars and cafes which serve many of the nearby office workers, and many of the taller old buildings have been converted into loft style apartments.

References