In 1817, the Bank of New South Wales opened as the first financial institution in the Australian colonies. But when the first customers arrived for the grand opening, they found someone had already made a deposit. Where did the money come from? Nicole and our producer Jason follow the record trail and discover the uncertain foundations of Australia’s first bank.

This episode is a special collaboration with History Lab and the Australian Centre for Public History at the University of Technology Sydney.

Further Reading:

The Colonial Massacre Map

Colonial Frontier Massacre Map – (University of Newcastle in consultation with The Wollotuka Institute and AIATSIS)

Image credit: Earle, Augustus & Earle, Augustus & Earle’s Lithography. (1825). View from the Sydney Hotel (National Library of Australia)