Queensland National Bank (former)

The Charleville Historic House Museum in Alfred Street is housed in the former Queensland National (QN) Bank. It was designed by Francis DG Stanley, one of the most successful nineteenth century Queensland architects. The bank was built in 1888 by Andrew Anderson for a sum of 1840 pounds, replacing an earlier bank branch established in 1881. Charleville, surveyed as a township on the banks of the Warrego River in 1867, developed as an important western centre supporting the grazing industry. The arrival of the railway in 1888 heralded further prosperity for the town. The low-set timber bank was similar to other regional banks designed by Stanley. The bank, like all rural banks, provided accommodation for the manager. In this case, it was a separate wing at the rear, which included a maid’s quarters. The bank had its public access area from Alfred Street, with a teller’s area, a safe and manager’s office. The bank established a new branch in a renovated building in April 1942 and sold this building. It was initially used as a private residence and later as a boarding house. In 1973, it was transferred to trustees of the Charleville and District Historical Society.