Auckland Savings Bank in Devonport - Edward Bartley

Front Elevation ASB Devonport

I hope readers will enjoy this set of plans for an ASB branch building, now demolished. 

The original site was on Victoria Road, Devonport, Auckland almost opposite the council chambers.

Edward Bartley had to wait until the end of his career to design a bank building for his home suburb of Devonport, on the North Shore of Auckland. 

Local residents were forced to petition and lobby in order to get a branch at all, coming in well behind Onehunga, Newmarket and Surrey Hills. Building began in Devonport in 1901.

At this time it was still traditional for the manager to live on the premises. It may seem strange to us now, but a practical set of apartments was an important aspect of the design of bank buildings.
At Devonport the ground floor of this brick building was divided into banking room, dining room and kitchen, with a connecting hall and side door. On the first floor four bedrooms supplied the sleeping accommodation.

Back Elevation ASB Devonport

First Floor Plan showing Manager's Accommodation

Cross Section ASB Devonport

Cross Section ASB Devonport

Fortunately a good number of the heritage buildings along Victoria Road are still used and maintained today. There is a special ambience to Devonport which greets the ferry traveller from central Auckland. Everything seems to slow down to the more leisurely pace of a gentler time. No bad thing is it?

Street frontages of heritage buildings on Victoria Rd Devonport. Image BFA