Melbourne Club
Encyclopedia
The Melbourne Club is a male only club, established in 1839 and located at 36-50 Collins Street, Melbourne
; adjacent to the women-only Lyceum Club. The club is made up of approximately 1500 members; admission being by invitation only. The club is among those that have traditionally been perceived by critics as wielding a disproportionate influence on Melbourne life, with a third of its members being listed in an issue of Who's Who
Australia.
The club was established at a gathering of 23 Victoria
n squatters and businessmen in 1838 and initially used John Pascoe Fawkner
’s public house on the corner of Collins Street and Market Street. The club's early years were marked by drunkenness, duels, fist fights and oafishness.
At the rear of the Club building is a private courtyard garden which is the location of garden parties and private functions. In 2000 there was a dispute over a high-rise re-development of the Naval and Military Club at the rear of the two clubs in Little Collins Street. The development causes overshadowing and overview of the private garden. The Melbourne club building is of architectural significance as a rare intact example of a nineteenth century purpose-built clubhouse in the Victorian Renaissance style.
in 1838. He was a public servant, a police magistrate and later chief commissioner of Crown Lands.
Membership included Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser
, politician Andrew Peacock
, mining magnate Hugh Morgan
, BHP-Billiton businessmen Don Argus
, and former head of Shell Australia and vice president of the International Olympic Committee Kevan Gosper
.
Collins Street, Melbourne
Collins Street is a major street in the Melbourne central business district and runs approximately east to west.It is notable as Melbourne's traditional main street and best known street, is often regarded as Australia's premier street, with some of the country's finest Victorian era buildings.The...
; adjacent to the women-only Lyceum Club. The club is made up of approximately 1500 members; admission being by invitation only. The club is among those that have traditionally been perceived by critics as wielding a disproportionate influence on Melbourne life, with a third of its members being listed in an issue of Who's Who
Who's Who
Who's Who is the title of a number of reference publications, generally containing concise biographical information on a particular group of people...
Australia.
The club was established at a gathering of 23 Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
n squatters and businessmen in 1838 and initially used John Pascoe Fawkner
John Pascoe Fawkner
John Pascoe Fawkner was an early pioneer, businessman and politician of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. In 1835 he financed a party of free settlers from Van Diemen's Land , to sail to the mainland in his ship, Enterprize...
’s public house on the corner of Collins Street and Market Street. The club's early years were marked by drunkenness, duels, fist fights and oafishness.
At the rear of the Club building is a private courtyard garden which is the location of garden parties and private functions. In 2000 there was a dispute over a high-rise re-development of the Naval and Military Club at the rear of the two clubs in Little Collins Street. The development causes overshadowing and overview of the private garden. The Melbourne club building is of architectural significance as a rare intact example of a nineteenth century purpose-built clubhouse in the Victorian Renaissance style.
Notable members
Frederick Powlett (1811-1865) was a founding member in 1838 as well as being a founding member and the first recorded president of the Melbourne Cricket ClubMelbourne Cricket Club
The Melbourne Cricket Club is a sporting club based in Melbourne, Australia. It was founded in 1838 and is regarded as the oldest sporting club in Australia....
in 1838. He was a public servant, a police magistrate and later chief commissioner of Crown Lands.
Membership included Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser
Malcolm Fraser
John Malcolm Fraser AC, CH, GCL, PC is a former Australian Liberal Party politician who was the 22nd Prime Minister of Australia. He came to power in the 1975 election following the dismissal of the Whitlam Labor government, in which he played a key role...
, politician Andrew Peacock
Andrew Peacock
Andrew Sharp Peacock AC, GCL , is a former Australian Liberal politician. He was a minister in the Gorton, McMahon and Fraser governments, and was federal leader of the Liberal Party of Australia 1983–1985 and 1989–1990...
, mining magnate Hugh Morgan
Hugh Morgan (Australian businessman)
Hugh Matheson Morgan AC, , an Australian businessman, is the son of former Western Mining Corporation CEO Bill Morgan, and was himself CEO of WMC from 1990 to 2003. He was also President of the Business Council of Australia from 2003 to 2005. The Howard Government appointed him to the board of the...
, BHP-Billiton businessmen Don Argus
Don Argus
Donald Robert Argus AC is an Australian businessman, and the former chairman of BHP Billiton and Brambles. He stepped down as Chairman in favour of Jacques Nasser in 2010....
, and former head of Shell Australia and vice president of the International Olympic Committee Kevan Gosper
Kevan Gosper
Kevan Gosper is a former Australian athlete who mainly competed in the 400 metres. He was formerly a Vice President of the International Olympic Committee.-1956 Summer Olympics:...
.