The first prospectus of the Commercial Bank of Australia was published on 16 March 1866. The initial capital was £500,000 in fifty thousand shares at £10 each. The first chairman of the bank's board of directors was
Gideon S. Lang. In addition to Gideon Lang, the first directors were John Mackenzie, Thomas Mitchell and L. J. Sherrard. A provisional committee was made up of the four directors plus Mars Buckley, W. A. Broadribb, Thomas Cherry, James Copeland,
Lowe Kong Meng, Matthew McCaw,
Louis Ah Mouy, Sir Francis Murphy, Adam Stacpoole, Sylvester O'Sullivan, T. J. Thomas, David E. Wilkie and Benjamin Williams. Murphy, Wilkie and Williams were members of the Victorian Legislative Council. As banks could issue their own paper currency at the time, the bank printed Chinese text on their pound note to encourage Chinese custom. The Commercial Bank of Australia was headquartered for its entire existence at what is now 327-343
Collins Street, Melbourne. A grand premises was built in 1891–93, including a dramatic domed banking chamber. In 1939 the Collins Street frontage was rebuilt, and the chamber and entrance were heritage listed in the 1970s. ==Acquisition==