Queensland National Bank (former)

The beautiful 1877 masonry Queensland National (QN) Bank building is part of Gympie’s wonderful collection of colonial public buildings which have served the community for over a century. Gympie’s prosperity began with shallow mining after the 1867 discovery of gold. The fact that the bank commissioned an architect to design a new building in 1875, prior to the start of deep reef mining, indicates the bank’s faith in Gympie’s future. This masonry rendered bank was designed by John Richard Hall. It was built on the site of an 1872 timber bank, which was moved to the rear of the block and used as a residence. The QN Bank operated from this building through various waves of Gympie’s prosperity, including the move to deep reef mining from 1875 and the transition to an agricultural economy in the early 20th century. As Mary Street gradually became the main business street, the bank built new premises here in 1937. The building was used by an industrial services company until it was purchased by the Widgee Shire Council in 1990. The council undertook a major refurbishment of the property in 2000. From 2011, it has served as office space for the Gympie Regional Council.