Old Bank Shopping Arcade, Wellington

Old Bank Shopping Arcade, Wellington

The Old Bank Shopping Arcade is situated within a structure formerly occupied by the Bank of New Zealand. This property encompasses four buildings constructed between 1883 and 1904, with the primary one being the Bank of New Zealand building, positioned at the wedge-shaped intersection of Lambton Quay and Customhouse Quay. Designed by Thomas Turnbull for the Bank of New Zealand, it stands on the former site of Plimmer's Ark. Constructed by T. Carmichael, the building is characterized by its brickwork exterior, timber flooring, pressed metal ceilings, and plaster adornments. The Bank of New Zealand operated a branch on the ground floor of this building from its inauguration in 1901 until 1984.

The banking hall, described as "a handsome, lofty room, said to be one of the largest of its kind in the colonies" by the New Zealand Mail in 1901, holds historical significance. This building has been recognized as a "Category I" historic place by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, denoting its special or outstanding historical or cultural heritage significance.

Established in 1999, the shopping arcade boasts a collection of exclusive boutiques, many of which are owned by local New Zealand designers. Visitors can also admire an animated clock narrating the historical tale of Plimmer's Ark, alongside enjoying various cafes and restaurants within the premises.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Wellington. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Old Bank Shopping Arcade on Map

Sight Name: Old Bank Shopping Arcade
Sight Location: Wellington, New Zealand (See walking tours in Wellington)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Wellington, New Zealand

Create Your Own Walk in Wellington

Create Your Own Walk in Wellington

Creating your own self-guided walk in Wellington is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Historical Buildings Walking Tour

Historical Buildings Walking Tour

The first immigrants to New Zealand brought along their sense of style. Most of the country's first settlers, if not all of them, were Britishers; the capital city was no exception. The latter fact is duly reflected in Wellington's historical architecture. These buildings offer a glimpse into the city's past and add a great deal of charm to the cityscape. Let's take a quick...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Wellington Introduction Walking Tour

Wellington Introduction Walking Tour

Wellington is the capital of New Zealand and the country's second-largest city after Auckland. It also has the distinction of being the world's windiest city by average wind speed.

The city was designed by Captain William Mein Smith in 1840. He was the first Surveyor General for Edward Wakefield's New Zealand Company. The name comes from Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles