Melbourne Savage Club is a private Australian gentlemen's club founded in 1894 and named after the poet, Richard Savage. Bohemian in spirit, the club was to bring together literary men, and those immediately connected or sympathising with literature, the arts, sport or science. Its membership is particularly secretive with a strong code of silence; members are traditionally the elite or 'savages' in the arts, business and politics. Travelling savages enjoy good fellowship through reciprocal arrangements with other private clubs throughout the world.
History The Melbourne Savage Club, a gentlemen's club, was founded in 1894.Melbourne Savage Club: Welcome to the Melbourne Savage Club Lawrence Money, The ace of clubs, Sydney Morning Herald, 18 April 2012 Like the London-based Savage Club, established in 1857, it was named after Richard Savage (1697-1743), an English poet. Dr. Harvey E. Astles was the first President of the Melbourne Savage Club. In 1915, Hans Heysen donated a painting to the club.Peter Monteath (ed.), Germans, Wakefield Press, p. 406 Sir Robert Menzies, longtime Prime Minister of Australia, served as its President from 1947 to 1962.Allan William Martin, Patsy Hardy, Robert Mezies: A Life, Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1993, p. 84 The club incorporated the Yorick Club (with which it had a long and cordial rivalry, including regular cricket matches) in 1966."Inter-club Cricket" The Argus 13 December 1924 p.25 Hubert T. Frederico, QC, was President from 1974 to 1977. In 2012, the President was Robert Heathcote. The President as of 2016 is Ian Baillieu.
Although an organisation with the primary aim of members providing their own entertainment, it regularly participates in philanthropic activities. A pair of oil paintings "The Crucifixion" and "The Annunciation" by Club member Napier Waller were presented to All Saints Church in Geelong in 1929."Paintings for Geelong Church" The Argus 28 February 1929 p.5 Social events were organised with charitable and patriotic causes as beneficiaries."For the Wounded" The Argus 16 Dec 1915 p.15
Building The Club organised purchase of its building in Bank Place, Melbourne in 1923. Rent was paid to Melbourne Savages Ltd; all profits were distributed to shareholders annually."Company News in Brief" The Argus 21 June 1941 p.2 The building was originally designed by A. L. Smith and A. E. Johnson, with alterations conducted by Kingsley Henderson, who also designed two buildings on Collins Street – the Bank of Australasia building on the corner of Queen and Collins Streets and the Alcaston House (1929) at the corner of Spring Street. The building is of the few remaining townhouses in this area, and is a notable example of the transition Classical style between conservatism and boom and contributes to the character and townscape of Bank Place. Unusual external features include the portico with rusticated columns and first floor windows. The punkahs which ventilate the dining room are powered by electricity. The staircase and some fireplaces are also notable.
Notable members Ted Baillieu, politicianTed Baillieu - Member for Hawthorn, Premier of Victoria, Parliament of Victoria Senator George Brandis QC, Attorney-General of AustraliaEmma Griffiths, George Brandis defends membership of men-only Savage Club, debate sparks chest-beating in Senate,ABC, 26 September 2014AAP, Brandis defends joining men-only Melbourne Savage Club, The Australian, 25 September 2014 Sir William Dargie, portraitist Sir Owen Dixon, judge Richard Morrow, stockbroker and Melbourne Mining Club Chairman John Elliott, businessman W. R. Guilfoyle, founder and curator of Melbourne's Botanic Gardens Lord Frances Ebury, 8th Earl of Wilton Alex Gurney, cartoonist Lindsay Bernard Hall, Director of the National Gallery of Victoria (1892-1935)Gwen Rankin, L. Bernard Hall: The man the art world forgot, NewSouth, 2013, p. 82 Kingsley Anketell Henderson was president for seven years. several errors in this article King Hedley, actor"Personal" The Argus 12 June 1922 p.6 Roy Cecil Hodgkinson, artist Barry Humphries, comedian J. C. F. Johnson, writerWilde, W. H. The Oxford Companion to Australian Literature 2nd ed. Sir John Longstaff, painter David Low, cartoonist Norman Macgeorge, artist and art critic Frederick McCubbin, painter W. B. McInnes, painter Dr Henry O'Hara, Collins Street doctor John Reed, art patron Sir Tom Roberts, painter Charles Victor Robertson, businessman Michael Salmon, artist and author William John "Billy" Schutt (died 30 November 1933), Supreme Court judge Sir Arthur Streeton, painter William Tainsh, poet and broadcaster; secretary in 1916 Alfred Vincent, cartoonist and designer of the Club emblemAlfred James Vincent :: biography at :: at Design and Art Australia Online Alberto Zelman, musician"Zelman Memorial" The Argus 13 March 1930 p.8
Other cities Savage Clubs were formed in other Australian cities: The Adelaide club, one of several, was founded in 1883."South Australia" The Queenslander 27 October 1883 p.691 Members in 1885 included Harry Congreve Evans, Alfred T. Chandler, and J. C. F. Johnson. The Perth club was founded in 1896. Dr Harvey E. Astles (past president of the Melbourne club) was its first president.The West Australian 15 August 1896 The Sydney Savage Club was founded in 1934.Sydney Morning Herald 19 June 1934 Albert Collins was its president in 1936, Lindley Evans in 1954.
Bibliography Johnson, Joseph Laughter and the Love of Friends: A Centenary History of the Melbourne Savage Club, 1894-1994 A History of the Yorick Club 1868-1966, Melbourne Savage Club, Melbourne 1994
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