The first banks in Gippsland were mainly set up in mining areas to purchase gold from the miners. In selection districts, banks opened only when an area had become commercially viable.

Built for the Colonial Bank of Australasia in 1889 at Meeniyan, this building became a National Bank in 1914. Its first manager was Mr H.D. McKay. The building was donated to Old Gippstown in 1969 by the National Bank. The bank has a mock stone design on the timbers at the front of the building and pressed tin ceilings. It consists of a bank manager’s office, teller’s counter and a side room. The interior features a collection of old National Bank furniture (including three identical National Bank of Australasia chairs c.1925 and a glass fronted storage cabinet), banking items and some of the original window signs.