In the piece reproduced in last week's column, Parry recounted the story of James and Mary Linklater, who emigrated from Scotland in 1857 and eventually settled at Moss Vale where James built numerous residences and public buildings, including the one that became the ES&A Bank's branch. This story provided Parry with a link to his main theme, being a history of Moss Vale's financial institutions, from which extracts continue here.

"In 1881 the Commercial Banking Co of Sydney Ltd opened a Moss Vale Branch, with Mr T Graham as manager, on a site with frontage to Argyle Street and running through to Queen Street. The present [1948] premises were built on this block in 1885, the architects being Mansfield Bros and Gee and Lusted.

The Berrima branch continued to function until sometime after the Moss Vale branch opened, eventually being closed on August 31, 1894. One of the 12 managers during the Berrima branch's 28 years of existence was Mr E Row, who took over in 1887. When he was succeeded by his brother-in-law, Mr E Blomfield, in 1889, Mr Row was transferred to the Moss Vale branch, remaining until 1926, and in the intervening period became prominently identified with the town's activities.

Mr Row married a daughter of John Norton Oxley, she therefore being a grand-daughter of the famous Surveyor General and explorer John Oxley RN and also a grand-daughter of that clergyman of extensive parishes, Rev Thos Hassall MA. Successors to Row were: D Cowper (1926-1939), H Stephenson (1939-1942), J Youll (1942-1946), and the present [1948] manager, Mr J Whittingham, who assumed office in the latter year.

The first bank actually to start business at Moss Vale was the English, Scottish and Australian (ES&A) Bank, which opened in April 1879 with Mr IS Ponder, who officiated until March 1909, when he was succeeded by Mr JS Arnott as manager. Subsequent managers, with dates of appointment, have been: A G Miller (October 1, 1917), AE Brown (April 9, 1923), P Freer (November 26, 1928), AD Yonge (September 30, 1931), and the present [1948] manager, HH Brown (December 1, 1944).

The branch's business is still conducted [1948] in the original building which was erected in the first place for William Walker, a publican, who, I am informed, was unable to secure a hotel license, and thereupon sold it to the Bank on February 15, 1879. In the records so far examined, I find references to two publicans of that name, conceivably father and son. William Walker Jnr was licensee of the Plough Inn, Nattai, in 1865 and 1866, and of the Coach and Horses, Nattai, from 1868 to 1878. William Walker Snr was mine host of the Surveyor General Berrima from 1865 to 1867.

Next to commence was the Government Saving Bank, which opened its doors in leased premises on July 13, 1914, with Mr Berriman as manager, and on January 10, 1923, the Bank's Commissioners acquired from Ernest Rhodes a block of land with 79 feet frontage to Argyle Street, which formed parts of lots 1 and 2 of Throsby's subdivision. On this land then stood a weatherboard cottage, motor garage and engineer's workshop, and a pair of garages.

In 1924, the existing bank premises were built on part of the land, whilst in 1926-27 a residence was added. On December 15, 1931, the Government Savings Bank amalgamated with the Commonwealth Saving Bank of Australia and, in 1935, the surplus land and buildings thereon, with frontage of 30 feet to Argyle St, were sold for approximately £400 to J and E Schaefer. Managers of the Government Savings Bank after Mr Berriman were Messrs Sands, Bradhurst, Chard and Archibald Houston, the latter carrying on after the amalgamation until September 27, 1937.

Latest bank to enter for the community in Moss Vale is the Bank of NSW, which was opened on November 6, 1922, the manager being Mr H Marshall, who was succeeded by the present [1948] manager, Mr F Brown, on June 11, 1944."

In 1948, according to Parry, the Bank of NSW still occupied its original site at the corner of Argyle and White Streets, where the premises erected about 1890 were purchased in 1922. The Bank's name changed to Westpac in 1982.