Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2021C01223:front:0:p29
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2021C01223
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 77833–80748

2 and 3 were formed by painted rendered walls subdivided with stud wall and office partitions.  Sections of original timber parquet floor finishes have been retained and are, in part, concealed by an accessible computer floor.  Vinyl floor tiles and ceramic floor tiles are evident in other areas.  Utilitarian areas, such as the loading bay and parking areas are concrete.  Ceilings, where installed, are generally formed by suspended acoustic panels with integral acrylic fluorescent light diffusers.

4.3.6            Ground Floor Level
The ground floor of the Head Office is directly accessible from Martin Place, and is symmetrical around the central main vestibule.  The vestibule is a two-storey, with a general banking chamber on the western side and a public display area on the eastern side.  The museum and interpretative display area are currently located in the area originally occupied by Bonds & Stock Banking Chamber.

The main vestibule area remains largely intact and contains most of its original fabric and finishes, including important artworks commissioned specifically for the building and integral with the building fabric.  There have been some minor changes relating to the public reception area to control circulation and increase security.  Other areas in the southern section of the ground floor, which are screened from public view, have been adapted and upgraded to meet the changing requirements of Bank staff.  Two platform chair lifts were installed in c2000 to provide access to the museum and bank chamber spaces from the entrance foyer.

Figure 28 - View of the ground floor vestibule and museum entrance area c2002 showing the surviving original finishes and the wall mural by Mr Bim Hilder.
Source: Australian Heritage Photographic Library

Despite a number of previous modifications the architectural character of the ground floor area is still apparent on entering the building, including the gold anodised aluminium ceiling, the south wall and artwork, glazed mezzanine walls and stone floor.  The roughcast grey 'Softlite'[30] glass has been retained as the wall of the mezzanine level.  The reception desk has been relocated several times resulting in repairs to the Riverina Grey granite floor.  The current configuration of the ground floor entrance foyer dates from 2015 when the reception desk was relocated and security gates were installed.

4.3.7            Mezzanine Level, Levels 1, 2 and 3
The Mezzanine, First and Second floor levels form a podium under the main office tower of the Head Office.  All three levels have been refurbished.

The Mezzanine floor is set back from the Martin Place frontage creating a two-storey volume over the ground floor entrance lobby.  It was originally linked to the ground floor banking chamber by a dedicated stairwell, which was removed in c2000.  The Mezzanine currently accommodates staff training facilities, open plan