Natal Bank Building, Johannesburg

The Natal Bank Building is located on Market Street, now known as Albertina Sisulu Road, in Johannesburg. It was the second bank to open a branch in the city after Standard Bank.

The original Natal Bank building was constructed on the same spot in 1891 by the architect M. B. Houge. It was a one-story brick building with a projecting pediment and was later demolished to make way for the larger building that stands there today. This location was strategically chosen, being just one block away from the Stock Exchange and the National Bank of the South African Republic. As a result, the bank flourished, and within two years, plans were approved for a new four-story building along with vaults.

In 1889, architects Carter and McIntosh created a new design for the building, but the construction was delayed due to the second Anglo-Boer War. Once peace was restored, McIntosh and Moffat were tasked with redesigning the building, which was finally occupied on August 24, 1903. This is the same building that stands there today.

The architecture of the building follows the Neo-Classical style popular during that period. It is divided both horizontally and vertically into three sections, as is customary in classicist design. The middle section prominently features a wide arched window, reminiscent of those used by the Richardson School in America, and is adorned with Ionic columns. The building is structurally supported by a steel frame, with a plinth made of dressed granite, marble columns, and plastered brickwork. Unlike many later and taller buildings with flat concrete roofs, the Natal Bank Building has a pitched roof, which sets it apart.

The Natal Bank Building was designated a Provincial Heritage Site in 1990 for its historical and cultural significance.