7 May 2023
Sunday. Tonight I locked the Lake Street branch for the last time.
For a while I ran two banks: the old one up in Northbridge and the grand new one under Hay Street Mall. Two vaults, two sets of deposit boxes, twice the robbers. A manager cannot be in two basements at once, though heaven knows I tried, and I have the bus tickets to prove it.
So the management has decided that from now on there is one bank, and it is the one under the mall, with Beatrice on the door. If a crew wants my gold, they will have to come into the city for it. I consider this a victory for centralised banking.
People ask whether there is a branch in Sydney or Melbourne. There is not. My bank is in Perth, and Perth only. If you want to rob it, you will have to fly, and I will know you are coming, because you will tell me about the flight.
Clive carried the last box of pens to the van. He got a little emotional. So did I. We did not discuss it.
— The Manager
