Westpac Bank Building, Fremantle

About

The former Westpac Building, also known as the Challenge Bank Building and the Western Australian Bank Building, is a heritage listed building located at 22 High Street on the corner with Mouat Street in the Fremantle West End Heritage area. It was one of many commercial buildings constructed in Fremantle during the gold boom period in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Design of the building commenced in 1891, by prominent architect, Talbot Hobbs.

Construction commenced in 1892 and the building was initially known as the Western Australian Bank, that bank requiring new premises in Fremantle. The building has two storeys with a banking chamber and offices. It was completed in the Federation Academic Classical style of architecture with zero setback from the footpath.

The building frontage has an ashlar effect on the ground floor and limestone foundations. The parapet has a pediment with a central decorative arch with "AD 1891" featured in stucco. The front entrance is covered by a pediment and is flanked by pilasters with brackets above.

There are engaged Corinthian columns on the first floor and engaged low piers below the windows; the first floor has stucco arched sash...