Westpac Bank Building, Cooktown, Heritage bank building in Cooktown, Australia

The Westpac Bank Building is a two-story brick structure located on Charlotte Street with a corrugated iron roof and timber verandahs. Inside, plaster ceilings with cornices, ceiling roses, cedar doors, and carved staircases have been preserved.

The Queensland National Bank began business in Cooktown in 1874 in a small timber building on this site, demolished when this two-storey brick premises, designed by FDG Stanley, was completed in 1891. The Bank of New South Wales bought it in 1934, and restoration followed in 1941. It joined the Queensland Heritage Register on 11 March 1994.

The bank's ground-floor colonnade has round rendered concrete columns with an entablature of rectangular motifs, while the upper level uses cast iron columns with floriated capitals and a wrought iron balustrade. The entrance portico has paired columns flanking an arch with a keystone, topped by an arched pediment and a projecting bay with arched timber work.

The building is located on a central street in Cooktown and is easy to explore from the outside. Visitors can admire the exterior architecture and structure, though access to the interior may be limited.

The original architect Francis Drummond Greville Stanley was a respected designer who left his mark on several important buildings across the region. His choice of classical elements made this bank building a symbol of stability and trustworthiness for gold seekers.