"This book does more than trace the history of two banks - the Bank of Australasia and the Union Bank of Australia - which in 1951 merged as Australia and the New Zealand Bank Limited. It tells the story of banking in Australia and New Zealand from the early days of colonial settlements right through to the present time. It sets that story in the general economic development of the two countries which those Banks primarily served. The book has been written for a wider audience than the ordinary history book: the reader will find much of interest and, in particular, considerable care has been spent to ensure that illustrations show the changing life of Australia and New Zealand from the early nineteenth century to the present day." -- Inside front cover.