page_title: Alexander Kerr (banker)
section_title: Australia
hierarchical_section_title: Alexander Kerr (banker) / Career / Australia
caption_attribution_description: English: Castlemaine, Oriental Bank. The first branch opened at Forest Creek, Chewton, on 21 April 1862. They opened a new building in 1863 in Market Square, next to the Bank of Victoria.
context_page_description: Alexander Kerr F.R.G.S. was a Scottish banker who was the first manager for the Bank of New Zealand.
  He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society in 1872 when in New Zealand, with Lord Dufferin as his sponsor.
context_section_description: After school in Glasgow he worked as a clerk before leaving (1858) at the age of 19 for the goldfields in Australia. There he worked in Castlemaine, Victoria, for the new branch of the Oriental Bank Corporation which opened in 1861. When the Oriental Bank opened a new branch in Chewton (1862) he was appointed the first manager. He joined the local volunteer Rifle Corp No.1 with the rank of private, in 1860. 
  In 1863 he was initiated into the Freemasons and was a member of the  Mount Alexander Lodge, Castlemaine, becoming its master in 1866.
  He returned to the Castlemaine branch as its manager in about 1864. He remained in Castlemaine until 1867; the local paper, The Mount Alexander Mail, reported the presentation made to him on his leaving.
  PRESENTATION TO MR KERR
  
  Mr A. Kerr, who is about to proceed to England, was met by the brethren of the Mount Alexander Lodge of Masons, of which he is the Master, at the Imperial Hotel on Monday evening, and entertained by them. Last evening he was invited by a number of his friends to the Cumberland Hotel, in order that they might give expression to their feelings of friendship and present him with a testimonial, which consisted of a handsome frosted silver centre-piece, which was exhibited in the window of Mr Garot yesterday. The design is a well-modelled fern tree of about 18 inches high, throwing out at the summit graceful drooping foliage. This is surmounted by three green coloured emu eggs mounted with silver, having covers, on each of which stands a silver modelled emu. The pedestal, resting on three gothic feet, represents a rocky Australian scene, the frosted silver being chastely relieved by three green shields of malachite, from the Burra Burra mines. At one corner of the base there is the figure of a native in bronze, in the act of throwing a spear at a kangaroo standing up at the opposite coroner. In front is a snake coiled round the body of a lizard, and darting out its poisonous tongue. Under this falls a scroll of polished silver, having on it the following inscription : —
  
  "Presented to Alexander Kerr, Esq., manager to the Oriental Bank Corporation, Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia, on the eve of his departure from the colony, by his numerous friends, as a token of the esteem and regard in which he is held by ail classes of the community. Castlemaine, 9th April, 1867."
  
  There were about 40 gentlemen sat down to table. Lieut.-Col. Bull presided, and Dr Hutcheson occupied the vice-chair. After the usual loyal toasts had been proposed, the health of The Army and Navy was given, coupled with the name of Capt. Hutcheson, who responded. The next toast was The Guest of the Evening, for the drinking of which flowing bumpers were ordered, and the injunction heartily obeyed. Col. Ball spoke of the residence here of Mr Kerr for seven or eight years, during which time he had always passed about in a most pleasing way, assisting in amusements and enlivening social intercourse, thus endearing him to many friends. In connection with the Hospital and charitable movements his energy was conspicuous, which conjoined with his other merits it had been decided upon to present him with a testimonial, to mark their appreciation of his worth, which testimonial he could carry with him as a testimony of heartfelt friendship, and the esteem in which he was held by those amongst whom he moved."
  The centre-piece was inherited by his grandson, Francis Archibald Kerr (b 1906), but was taken from the family home in Manchester during a burglary. The Emu eggs, probably broken, were removed and replaced by candle sconces. It is now part of the National Gallery of Australia's collection.
caption: The Oriental bank building, Castlemaine (built 1863)
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