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Western Australia Club
1840-42. This was really just an eating-house or hotel under another name in order to avoid the rules which applied to licensed premises. It was conducted by George Embleton.
The announcement of the formation of this club was in the Perth Gazette, 10 October 1840, as follows:
CLUB HOUSE AND LIBRARY—It is proposed to establish a club house and library in Perth, on the following plan,— The funds are to be raised by shares,— 50 shares of £10 each, to be invested in a good allotment in a central situation, and building thereon, so placed as to form back premises to a more extensive edifice, hereafter to be erected : at present to be a house containing two rooms underground, and two above. These premises not to be alienated to any other purpose, unless by a vote of dissolution or removal carried by nine-tenths of the whole body of shareholders and subscribers. Subscribers of £3 annually, to be elected by ballot (one in seven being sufficient to exclude), to be members of the club ; £2 of such sum to be employed in bearing the expenses of the establishment ; and £1 in the purchase of works of general reference. Members to diet in the club house at the prime cost of the viands, etc., supplied. The moderate scale upon which this proposal is put forward, leaves some probability that it will be carried into effect, and that it will not share the fate of similar propositions, which have been mooted over and over again, but have never come to maturity. It may be a question how far it is prudent to frame such institutions at present, inasmuch as they seriously affect those individuals who have speculated in erecting buildings for public accommodation ; and must put a stop to further enterprise. In order to obviate this difficulty, we would strongly recommend that some arrangement should be made with the existing establishments, in preference to forming a new institution. There are three buildings suitable for the purpose, and could be immediately entered upon ; whereas, the unavoidable delay attending the erection of even so small a building as that proposed, would weary out the most patient subscriber, and the accommodation would not meet the desired object. The purchase money for a portion of an allotment, in a central situation in Perth, would leave but a small moiety of the funds for building purposes. It has been said that His Excellency the Governor will allot a portion of ground, from the Crown reserves, for this purpose; we question the fact, as it would be highly injudicious, and would embarrass the Government when similar applications are made by any persons who may choose, to. start a joint stock eating company. A general complaint is made against the excessive charges, and heavy expense, attendant on a sojourn at the houses of public, entertainment at Perth ; and indeed throughout the Colony ; but it appears to us without reason. These establishments are kept up at considerable expense, and we believe are not very liberally patronised or supported by the country gentlemen ; it becomes, therefore, a matter of necessity that the charges should be made in the ratio of colonial prices generally. The welcome a guest receives at an inn, it is proverbial all the world over, he must pay for ; and considering the many difficulties the conductors of these establishments have to contend with, there is less ground of complaint in this colony, than is usually visited upon the fraternity. Of the charges we say nothing —but if these are accompanied with incivility, and an absence of proper accommodation, the public may justly complain ; and we fear there are instances in which the whole combined have raised a strong prejudice, influencing many to encourage the scheme of erecting a club house, who otherwise would not have aided it with their sanction. We have merely referred to this subject in general terms, and the agitation of the question will, no doubt, be productive of, public benefit, not only as regards ourselves, but for the comfort of strangers, for whom it is our interest, as well as duty, to provide.
The name of the club and date of its first meeting was announced in The Inquirer, 18 November 1840, p. 62:
THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN CLUB.
A general meeting of the Members of this Club will take place at Mr. Embleton's rooms in Perth, on Wednesday the 2d [sic] day of December next, to take into consideration the suggestions of the Committee as to the rules to be adopted, and such other measures as may be necessary.
12 December 1840 the Perth Gazette reported that the the nearby Victoria Hotel had closed:
Sale of the Victoria Hotel.—This old established house and extensive premises, with well stocked garden, &c, was sold by private contract, yesterday for £1,300. The proprietor has made a sacrifice in disposing of this property in consequence of the opposition created by the establishment of a cheap eating house, called a club; on the opposite side of the way. We pointed attention a few weeks back to the probable consequences of supporting such an institution, and here, within a fortnight, we find one of our oldest houses shut up. Others of necessity must follow; where, then, will strangers obtain accommodation for their families ? as we have done before them, in the bush ! Is it not a reflection upon those of our community who, with the niggardly view of saving a few pence on a bottle of ale, or a meal, have produced this state of things ? We may be singular, but we must say we think it is; and the day is not far distant when the promoters of this novelty, a club, will agree with us that the time has not arrived, seeing that our numbers are so few, for such a combination to the prejudice of those who have invested considerable property to afford suitably accommodation for the public generally.
The Perth Gazette reported 24 December 1842 the closure of the Western Australia Club:
The Western Australian Club, established at Perth about two years back, it is generally understood will be broken up at the end of this month. This determination, it is rumoured, was brought about, in consequence of the objects and rules of the institution having been departed from. It is probable this circumstance may have in some measure hastened the dissolution of the club, but we suspect the real cause may be traced to the absence of support, and that it has been found by experience we were not in a condition to maintain such an establishment on a proper footing. At the first formation of the club we entertained this opinion, and gave utterance to it, which brought upon us the displeasure of the members; time has however proved that we were correct in our surmises and predictions. Some other arrangement no doubt will be made to render the house a place of general resort, the members are bound in justice to Mr. Embleton, who has conducted his department with commendable attention, to make him every amends in their power. As a public exchange room alone it would be very serviceable, and would continue one of the principal advantages the club has afforded.
Paul de Serville:
West Australian Club 1840. 'An institution called the West Australian Club was set up in 1840 but it seems to have been more of a reading room. Its membership was made up of small tradesmen, which does not accord with the make-up of a club on London lines.' Paul de Serville, citing Stannage 1979: 76.
References and Links
de Serville, Paul 2003, 3 Barrack Street: The Weld Club 1871-2002, Helicon, Wahroonga.
Graham, Allen 2023, Inns and Outs of Fremantle: a Social History of Fremantle and its Hotels 1829-1856, Xlibris: 91-94.
This page incorporates material from Garry Gillard's Freotopia website, that he started in 2014 and the contents of which he donated to Wikimedia Australia in 2024. The content was originally created on 11 September, 2023 and hosted at freotopia.org/clubs/waclub.html (it was last updated on 29 February, 2024). The donated data is also preserved in the Internet Archive's collection.