Thomas Mitchell was the first European to pass through the area. He reached it in 1836 and,
as rumour has it, named the local river 'Avoca' after a river or vale in County Wicklow, Ireland.
A decade later there were a number of squatters in the area but the real change to the
district's fortunes occurred in 1852 when gold was discovered only 3 km east of the town.
By 1854 the town had a population of 2577 and there were a total of around 6000 diggers
operating in the 6 km of riverbed south of the confluence of Glenlogie Creek and
Avoca River.

It was around this time that Avoca grew dramatically. A police camp of some 50 troopers
was established in 1853 and a lock-up built the following year, an impressive Bank of
Victoria was built in 1854 to capitalise the new-found wealth, a series of businesses
set up shop, the Avoca Hotel opened its doors in 1854. Unfortunately I can't find
any reference to the little Savings Bank building alongside.