Immediately to the left, on the wall beside the doorway, is a showcase case housing two items. The first is Australia’s first bank note. The yellowed paper is 13.6cm wide x 9.6cm high with the heading “Bank of New South Wales” printed in black upper case. Below, in cursive print – On demand I promise to repay thee (written) or bearer ten shillings sterling. Sydney (No 55) 8 day of April 1817. It is signed on behalf of the President of the Bank by E J Hale, cashier.
The second item is a gold nugget discovered on 15 June 1887, the Maitland Bar Gold Nugget. Its dimensions are 16cm high x 24cm wide x 9cm deep and it weighs 10.7kg. The nugget is a dull gold colour with the shape and texture similar to a human brain.
