The Bank of New South Wales

The Bank of New South Wales
 
SECURITY TYPE: Uncut Proof Bill of Exchange Pair
YEAR: 1851
INITIAL PRICE: $0.00
NUMBER OF SHARES: 0
COLOUR: Cream
AGE: 174
SIGNATURE: 
CERTIFICATE OWNER: 
PRINTER: Sydney Registry
CONDITION: Fine
 
HISTORY
The Bank of New South Wales was founded in Sydney in 1817, making it Australia’s first bank and one of its oldest continuously operating companies. It was created with the backing of Governor Lachlan Macquarie to provide more formal banking and currency services to the young colony, then expanded through the 19th century alongside Australian trade, pastoral growth, gold-rush finance, and overseas links including London. In 1850 it was incorporated by Act of the New South Wales Parliament, and in 1982 it merged with the Commercial Bank of Australia and adopted the name Westpac Banking Corporation. This document is therefore not a company share certificate but an early banking form or bill of exchange from one of Australia’s most historically significant financial institutions.