Adelaide Club

An earlier club with similar aims and membership was the South Australian Club, founded in 1838, which purchased the Victoria Hotel from William Williams on Hindley Street for their premises.^[2] Members included Sturt, Morphett and Fisher.^[3][4] Membership was by ballot; joining fee 10 gns., membership 2 gns. per annum.^[5] It folded in 1843 after failing financially.^[6]

The club's headquarters are at the club house at 165 North Terrace in the city centre. The club house was built in the same year as the club's establishment in 1864,^[7] after 14 prominent colonists, including John Baker, John Morphett and Arthur Blyth, raised £4000 for the building. The building was designed by one of the founding members, Edward Angus Hamilton, and the club adopted the grass tree as their crest.^[8]

The majority of the founding members were pastoralists, with a large number of businessmen, and there were many lawyers and government officials among them. Most were Anglicans.^[8]

In 1891 extensive additions were made to the rear. In 1980, the club house was listed on the now-defunct Register of the National Estate.^[7] Facilities include a library, mixed accommodation for members and reciprocal club members, dining rooms, billiards room, function rooms and office facilities.^[9]

The equivalent elite club for women, the Queen Adelaide Club, is located a short distance to the east along North Terrace.

Members of the Adelaide Club have included:^[8][10]