[1] During the British colonisation of Tasmania, a charter was granted by Sir Thomas Brisbane, with capital divided into shares worth 200 dollars each.

Merchant George Frederick Read served as the Bank of Van Diemen's Land's managing director from 1827 to 1849 and was one of the institution's founding shareholders.

[3] Other founding shareholders included former convict and brewer George Gatehouse, John Beamont, a free settler and public servant, and Thomas Lempriere [4][5] Throughout Read's tenure, the Bank of Van Diemen's Land was well-managed and conservative in its lending practices.

[10] The sandstone lions sculpted by artist W. Paterson which stood over the original doorway were relocated to the entranceway of St David's Park.

The bank was headed by a president with six directors, two of which would rotate out each year, a cashier, a principle, and an assistant accountant overseeing company operations.