Talk:Melbourne Club

Exclusion

I think it should be mentioned that it is known that people of Jewish descent are not allowed in the club, although the Melbourne Club denies this, there have been many reports of people not being accepted because of their Jewish nature and so on and so forth ...

As an actual member of this establishment, I can confirm that the club does have a number of Jewish members, more than the two Gentlemen mentioned. Readers should understand that membership is not simply for celebrities or the very rich. Wealth and position are not the criterion. The simple criterion is that each new member must be acceptable to every other member.

The club is a home away from home where anyone can and does talk to everyone else about all sorts of subjects as complete equals. Wealth and position mean nothing in the club. That's what it's about.

What has happened in the past, despite our efforts to avoid embarasing anyone, is that one or two high profile candidates who believed they were entitled for one reason or another to become members,were silly enough to make their candidacy known to the press in the first place and have then used religion or racial background as an excuse to salve their injured dignity when declined.

As a general rule, a member would have to feel very strongly that a candidate was going to compromise this unique atmosphere to take any action. That action in the first part would be to raise the matter with the candidate's proposer, seconder and referees or "supporters".

The matter would be resolved by either the quiet withdrawl of the nomination or by assuaging the concerns of the member who raised the matter. All of this happens confidentially so as not to embarrass anyone.

In the matter of the last three "public" failed candidates, I can assure readers that it had nothing to do with their religion. They were also warned that persisting with their candidacy to the point where a vote would be taken, in the face of a lukewarm, if not hostile reception from the membership, might result in public embarrassment

In response to this long and rickety explanation, to be fair, it looks like the club was more embarrassed than they were. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 92.90.21.183 (talk) 12:37, 24 December 2014 (UTC)

It is doubtful that the recurrent and obsessive deleting of the following passage is done in the name of accuracy. "The club is a symbol of Australia's British heritage and was established at a gathering of 23 Victorian squatters and businessmen in 1838 and initially used John Pascoe Fawkner’s public house on the corner of Collins Street and Market Street. It has become progressively marginalized since the beginning of the 21st century. As a men-only club, it has been increasingly ridiculed for its admission policies. The former Prime minister, Julia Gilliard, singled it out and said: "I can be a bit naughty from time to time, and there are days when I've been in Melbourne as Acting Prime Minister and I've thought, "You know what I should do today? I should ring up the Governor General and I should say to her, 'Why don't we go down and jointly apply for membership and see what happens next?'" Maybe one of these days we will!""

The previous writer may wish to provide references to the comments “It has become progressively marginalized since the beginning of the 21st century” Marginalized by who; evidence please? “As a men-only club, it has been increasingly ridiculed for its admission policies.” Ridiculed by who and when? Is this “sour grapes” on the part of a person whose application failed or has not been invited to join the Melbourne Club?

The previous writer also conveniently ignores the comments of ABC Reporter Rachel Brown, “And it cuts both ways. Melbourne's women's clubs, the Alexandra and Lyceum, are happy they'll remain men-free zones.” And the Lyceum's past president, Annie James. “I think there are a lot of entrenched views about these clubs that aren't really appropriate. They're not for business, whatever. Most of them now welcome people of either sex into their club a lot of times. They are just places where people can meet socially; really they are like second homes.” Maybe Julia Gillard and Quentin Bryce could approach the Lyceum Club for membership?

The fact that an Australian PM would comment on a club's admission policy so harshly is a pretty solid proof that the club's admission policy is indeed being put into question. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 92.128.14.31 (talk) 18:05, 12 January 2015 (UTC)

A member of the Athenaeum Club once asked; "Why can't a group of people come together to pursue lawful activities on private property and exercise the unfettered right to choose their company?" Melbourne Club like the other private clubs in Melbourne and elsewhere is a private club on private land, and membership is by invitation. Simple.

References

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Year of the club's founding?

I have found conflicting reports on the year of the Melbourne Club's founding.

This article says it was founded in 1838, while the article links a book (which I have not had a chance to get access to) that says the club was founded in 1878.

Does anyone have some clarity on its establishment date? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 203.176.111.34 (talk) 02:13, 26 January 2017 (UTC)

Why aren't the controversies on gender mentioned?

I came here specifically to see what the current status of this club is, regarding their acceptance of females, and it seems like this isn't mentioned at all in the article, despite the fact that this has been covered prominently in the media. Unless there are any meaningful objections, I'll be updating the article substantially.--Senor Freebie (talk) 13:47, 9 October 2017 (UTC)