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Gringotts
“- But, Hagrid, how am I to pay for all this? I haven’t any money.
Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and Rubeus Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane)
– Well, there’s your money, Harry. Gringotts, the Wizard Bank. T’aint no place safer, ‘cept perhaps Hogwarts.”
To study at Hogwarts, you need a number of supplies. And to buy them, you need money. Fortunately, Harry Potter’s parents saved him some spare change for his studies at the famous school. Hagrid takes the young boy to the bank where his safe is located.
Gringotts, the bank par excellence
The chief designer Stuart Craig wanted to make Gringotts a bank like any other. Majestic, with that characteristic feeling of security, marble worthy of a royal institution and immense spaces. The film crew finally chose Australia House, which met Stuart Craig’s specifications perfectly. “Everything should conspire to make the goblins look very small and to make the bank look – as banks do – dignified, solid and important” recalls the set designer.
Thus, in Australia House, a diplomatic building, desks were lined up, registers were added as well as gold, silver and bronze pens and coins. Of course, the lower floors containing the chests were made in studios. The London building was built over a 900-year-old sacred well pumping water from the underground river Fleet.
No return to Australia House
Harry Potter returns again to Gringotts in the last opus, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, part 2, accompanied this time by Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint), Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) and Gripsec (Warwick Davis). This scene included a dragon escaping from the cave and smashing the bank lobby and its glass roof. This time, it was impossible to shoot in Australia House. The sets were made in studios, with fake marble in paper.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was nominated for three Academy Awards for Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design and Best Score. However, he did not win any of them.
Australia House
The foundation stone for Australia House was laid in 1913. The First World War delayed the construction plans somewhat.
Finally opened in 1918 by King George V with Australian Prime Minister William Morris Hughes, Australia House cost a modest 1.4 million pounds.
The building typically houses Australia’s polling stations, with more votes cast than at any other polling station in any of the Australian states or territories. Unfortunately, the premises are closed to the public.
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