But one of the councillors who fought for its stay of execution three weeks ago wants to know if anyone else was consulted.

Philomena Sawyer, who with Cr Amanda Duncan-Strelec pushed for council approval to delay demolition in light of claims the building carried greater architectural merit than first thought, said she believed there would be other expert opinions.

“It is a question I will put to the council officer concerned,” she said.

“If they have simply gone back to the original reports then little has changed.

“At the very least I’m hoping that they spoke to the person making these claims of Art Deco importance.”

Art Deco and Modernism Society president and author of Melbourne Art Deco, Robin Grow, had lobbied councillors and media to save the 1938 building.

He said the facade was unique.

But the report before Albury Council’s Planning and Development Committee recommends approving the plans that would see the facade replaced with a two-storey glass frontage.

It says the overall streetscape contribution is not significant.

“The building, whilst constructed in the Inter-War Stripped Classical style, is not the only such example, and is probably the least representative and significant of the listed examples given previously in this report,” it said.

“The major significance of the building lies with its role and links with the Masonic Society and this was severed long ago.

“In relation to heritage tourism potential in Albury, the approval of the proposal as sought will not have a significant detrimental effect.

“Any tourism potential in Albury is based on the significant buildings that are highly valued examples of their architectural paradigm as well as the variety of architectural eras and styles that are represented.”

The report says the Westpac Bank at 613 Dean Street and AMP Building at 557 Dean Street, designed by the same architect, are better examples of this architecture.

The National Australia Bank on the corner of Dean Street and Kiewa streets, the Commonwealth Bank at 590 Dean Street and National Australia Bank at 606 Dean Street, that is now Sheppards of Albury, were also said to better typify this architecture.