The Royal Bank of Queensland Limited
established a receiving office on this site in 1906; probably in an existing cottage or shop – as an 1885 penny was found between a joist and stump during restumping in 2003, ( interestingly, the Queen’s head had been ground off the reverse side of the coin); which gives an idea of the age of the back portion of the building.
A mortgage over this site was held by the Royal Bank from the owner, Mary Ellen Barry, in 1911, but they did not acquire the property until 1915.
That was most likely when the banking chamber and vault were added to the existing cottage.
In 1917, the Royal Bank of Queensland merged with the Bank of North Queensland to become the Bank of Queensland Limited.
The National Bank of Australasia absorbed this bank in 1922. Possibly in anticipation of this merger, the Helidon branch was sold in 1921, purchased by the Australian Bank of Commerce, so passing into the hands of it’s original competitor.
In 1932, the Bank of New South Wales acquired the Australian Bank of Commerce. It was as the Bank of New South Wales that this bank traded until it’s closure in 1970.
Quite notorious for the bank robbery in 1967; a colourful description of the event can be heard, along with other memories, on the oral history CD’s recorded by The Helidon & District Progress Association Inc. in co operation with many of the elderly residents in town.