On 16 January 1882 a meeting was held in Launceston, where it was resolved to form “a club for the association of gentlemen residents in Northern Tasmania to be called the Launceston Club, consisting of sixty-four original members and such other members as may be hereafter admitted.”
Early Club records show fifty-seven original members, with a further twenty-two elected on 27 February 1882. The Honourable George Gilmore was elected President, and it was decided from the outset to have both Town and Country members — a distinction that survives in the membership categories today.
An advertisement appeared in The Examiner on 19 January 1882, seeking “six rooms centrally located”. Mr Peter Mills offered his Brisbane Street house, shop and timber yard at 59 Brisbane Street for £8,000, with possession of the Club House to be taken on 1 November 1882. A sub-committee was empowered to raise up to £6,400 on mortgage and £3,000 in debentures to complete the purchase and the alterations — including a billiard room at the rear of the existing premises.
The first House Dinner was held on 13 August 1883, on the occasion of the opening of the Billiard Room. By March of that year the Secretary was temporarily staying in the Club House to enable more active supervision of the servants and household arrangements.
In April 1925 a proposition was put to the Committee to dispose of the Brisbane Street premises and purchase Nyllavert House in Tamar Street from the estate of the late Dr Charles Parker, whose wife was a daughter of an original founder, William Barnes Junior. On 12 May 1925 a Special General Meeting approved the purchase of Nyllavert for £7,000.
In July 1925 the Brisbane Street premises were sold for £10,000, and J & T Gunn were engaged to carry out alterations and additions at a cost of £5,000 — an eastern and southern addition that gave the Club its bar room, dining room, billiard room and kitchen on the ground floor, and three bedrooms, two bathrooms and servants’ quarters above.
The Annual Report for 1926 records that “on 14 January 1926, breakfast was served in the old Club House and lunch in the new”. Two weeks later a successful Club Ball was held in the new rooms. The car park behind the Club House was purchased in July 1963.
1882
The Club is fortunate in retaining every minute book from the first meeting in 1882. The ledgers and account books from those early years remain in good condition; the Honorary Members books contain names of visitors from many countries and from what were referred to then as the “other colonies”.
The first recorded gift of pictures was in 1896. Since then, paintings, fine prints and engravings — together with items of furniture and silverware — have been donated by members. Many have donated their debentures, and some life members the equivalent of their subscription. The most valuable gift, however, is the time, effort and determination of the members — particularly the office bearers — to ensure the on-going success of the Club.
Due to changes in modern society, a decision was taken to admit ladies as members following a number of special general meetings during 2000 and 2001. The first lady members were admitted in August 2001. A proposal made to the Lady Franklin Club in 2002 led to the two clubs amalgamating; on 1 January 2003 the members of the Lady Franklin Club became members of The Launceston Club Inc.
In more recent times, the Club House has been progressively renovated and refurbished to maintain a high standard of facilities for members and their guests — without forfeiting the character of the original “Nyllavert” building.