Inside The Bank Space in Port Kembla. Photos: Supplied.
In the heart of Port Kembla, a once-abandoned mid-century bank has found new life as a haven for artists and creatives, and become a beacon of inspiration for the suburb’s artistic identity.
Run by entrepreneurs Tanya Van Der Water and Cesar Bassi, The Bank Space offers free artist residencies and versatile event spaces within the meticulously and beautifully restored building that was originally the home of the English Scottish and Australia Bank (ES&A) from 1958.
“The original idea for the building was to just restore it and protect its heritage as a mid-century beautiful piece of local architecture,” Tanya said.
“We are really quite closely connected to understanding the needs of creatives and there being such a lack of space to create, think, plan and just feel like you’ve got somewhere to go to where you can wholly focus on your creative pursuits.
“That’s where the idea for turning the space into primarily an artist residence came from.”
She said in the spirit of generosity and relationship building, they decided to offer the artist residency free, with everything from a full kitchen to bedrooms and art spaces refurbished for comfort.
“We are in a position where we’re helping people with their careers in the arts,” she said.
“We’re giving people, especially families, the opportunity to really benefit from having a space where they can stay, work and explore the creative side of what they do in comfort.”
She said the refurbishment took a year to complete due to the age and state of the building, and desire to repurpose specific elements with the needs of artists in mind.
“For example, we’ve turned the original vault into a recording studio,” she said.
“We have a shed at the back, which is for wet and mess use.
“There’s an outdoor carpark for anyone that might need to spread their work out, and then the internal space can also be manipulated for gallery events or dinners.”
While the property can also be rented for private use through Airbnb and commercial use, artists interested in taking up the free residency first need a recommendation.
“With the creative community locally and nationally being so tight, that’s really appreciated by us, because then there’s another level of accountability separate to us, because they’ve been recommended by a trusted person,” she said.
“Almost everyone who’s come and stayed as part of the residency has left the place better or more improved than when they found it. That’s the benefit of how this kind of ecosystem of support can work.”
The exterior of the building (left) and the bank vault that’s been made into a recording studio.
However, the high demand for bookings since November, including corporate functions, private parties, photo and video shoots and even TV commercials, has led to a waitlist for artists seeking residency.
Tanya said notable users so far included Wollongong band Hockey Dad filming a music video clip, comedian Tim Ross performing a live show, singer-songwriter and author Holly Throsby penning stories, and the University of Wollongong recording stories of Port Kembla, with each paid booking helping sustain the free artist residency program.
“There’s a lot of different uses for the space, because it is so unique, and you feel a little bit transported back in time,” she said.
“But primarily it is about having it be the example of what can be achieved if we try to protect the integrity of these beautiful historic buildings in our area, instead of thinking that the only solution is to modernise and whitewash them.”
By tapping into the suburb’s growing reputation as a creative hub, the owners hope to inspire others to breathe new life into Port Kembla’s underutilised spaces for supporting artists and fostering creativity.
She said within Australia there were seven “magnificent” ES&A Banks built, with each designed by the same architectural firm and still standing today.
“When the bank closed in the 80s, it was just abandoned and then revived as a purely commercial premises,” she said.
“So it was a dog grooming parlour when we purchased and so, just from that fact alone, the restoration process was pretty tricky, because it was treated as an open plan commercial space.”
She said that was further complicated by the desire to source and reintroduce elements sensitive to the building’s origins, such as teak paneling and mosaic tiles.
However, she said it was worth it, with Port Kembla the perfect location for fostering the arts community, from the murals on the main street buildings, to its industrial heart, and beautiful expansive beach.
“The grit and the dynamic in Port Kembla is very rare to find in this country,” she said.
“I think there’s a reason why there’s an attraction at the moment for Port Kembla to be a creative hub, because it’s got all the elements there.
“You really get a sense with a lot of the creatives that are moving into the suburb of its true potential for it to be a creative go-to for the country, and that will be really special when that happens.”
Along with owning Buckaroo Leatherworks in Bellambi, Tanya said they were now looking to take on a new, yet-to-be-disclosed project and are seeking someone to take on a 12-month lease of The Bank Space to allow them to focus on that.
She said once the new project was completed, it would be returned to being primarily an artist residence.
Tanya said The Bank Space was still a work in progress, but sees its evolving nature as part of its charm.
The Bank Space is located on Wentworth Street, Port Kembla.
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