QUERY: AUSTRALASIAN BANK CHEQUE INFORMATION SOUGHT

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V18 2015 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 18, Number 23, June 7, 2015, Article 29

Reader Gerry Peacock's communication comes all the way from Brisbane, Queensland, in Australia. He writes:

I was wondering if you’ve ever done an article / feature on Early Australian & New Zealand Cheques ( or Checks I think you call them in USA ! ) I'm referring to company & personal banking cheques of the earlier period 1850-1910 which, here in Australasia ( that’s what we call Australia & New Zealand together ) is considered early. I have accumulated a small collection of such Bank Cheques over the last few years and would be interested to learn more about them. Do you know of any publications / catalogues that might provide information on such collectables ?

Blame the differing spellings on Noah Webster, who greatly succeeded in his quest to create a unified and distinct version of the English language for America. But I digress... I don't believe we've ever had an article covering these items, so this is a welcome first. Gerry kindly sent me images and descriptions of three great cheques from his collection. Is anyone aware of any books or articles on this topic? -Editor

01 : Bank of New Zealand. Hutt. New Zealand. Chq No. 61402 / 690 dated March 9th 1888.

The BNZ was established in 1861 in Auckland, New Zealand, with a branch estd. in Wellington in 1862. The Hutt Valley is an area just outside the capital city of Wellington. Notes : there is a blind-embossed oval with crown beneath the date showing “New Zealand Stamp Duty One Penny.” Two oval red ink stamp imprints ( a ) Bank of New Zealand Wellington and ( b ) Bank of Australasia Wellington. Cheque written for Four Pounds.

02 : The Bank of Australasia. Wanganui. New Zealand. Chq No. 115 dated Sep 24th 1870.

Wanganui is a city located on the banks of the Wanganui River on the West coast of the North Island of New Zealand, about 200 kms north of Wellington. In 1835 a London based bank called The Bank of Australasia was formed that would eventually become the ANZ Bank. Notes : there is a blind-embossed oval with crown beneath the date showing “New Zealand Stamp Duty One Penny.” Cheque written for Forty Five Pounds.

03 : The Union Bank of Australia Limited. Ballaarat. Victoria. Australia. Chq. No. E34,860 dated June 22nd 1886.

The Union Bank of Australia Limited was established in London in 1837 and officially opened its first branch in Australia in 1838 at Launceston, Tasmania. In 1951 it merged with The Bank of Australasia to form the ANZ Bank. Ballaarat, a city in Victoria, Australia, is famous for the Eureka Rebellion in 1854 by Gold Miners against the Colonial Authority of the United Kingdom. This cheque is quite interesting as it has a stamped name in red ( upper left ) Pharez Phillips Werracknabeal – research online indicates that Pharez Phillips was born 1855 in Victoria, was a Jewish Storekeeper & Farmer. Freemason. Member - Parliament of Victoria ( Minister without Office 1900-1901 )

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