Union Club Perth 1834

The Union Club was proposed in 1834 by one [[../people/embletongeorge.html|George Embleton]] who was already running something like a boarding-house there (site yet to be identified). It seems that it might have been a way to be able to sell alcoholic beverages without a publican's licence. There were complaints of various kinds about it, but it survived until nearly the end of 1842.

The Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal (WA : 1833 - 1847) Sat 16 Aug 1834
page 338 :
UNION CLUB.
A MEETING of the Gentlemen who have proposed to establish the Union Club, will take place on Wednesday next, at 1 o'clock, at Hodges's Hotel, Perth, for the purpose of framing suitable Rules and Regulations, as well as electing a Committee for the ensuing year.

Hodge's Hotel almost certainly means the United Services Hotel on Perth Lot L3, on the south side of St George's Terrace. [[../people/hodgesgeorge.html|Mary Hodge]] was the first woman to own a town lot in the colony ([[../earlydays/8/adams.html|Adams]]), having acquired it two years before her husband was discharged from the army.

The Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal (WA : 1833 - 1847) Sat 13 Sep 1834 page 355:
CORRESPONDENCE.
To the Editor of the " Perth Gazette. "
THE UNION CLUB.
Res parvœ concordia crescunt.
Sir,--The benefits which might hereafter accrue to this Colony from the establishment of a society accordant in principle and action to the above title, are so obvious that more than a rapid review of some few of them would on this occasion be tedious and unnecessary. They consist of, the associating of acquaintance ; the commencing or cementing of friendship ; the convenience and comforts of a well-attended room and table at all times ready for the reception and entertainment of the members ; who, as the institution is evidently intended to be more of a public than private nature, may be supposed to consist of those individuals of the various professions and interests, constituting a community, who, respectable in their habits and manners, are entitled by courtesy and modern usage to rank as Gentlemen. Here, although not founded for the express purpose, subjects of general interest would occasionally arise, and the Welfare of the whole, springing from the union of the separate interests of the individuals of each class, might, by discussion, be better understood and promoted. Impressed with these ideas and expectations, I, a few days ago, entered, as I have been for some years accustomed, the apartment dedicated to the future meetings of the Society, and where, as I was informed by the proprietor, the first meeting would be held on that afternoon or the following day. The list, in alphabetical order, of the founders, for such must be considered those members who, without the formality of recommendation or election by ballot, are originally in the Society, was suspended over the mantle-piece ; and on glancing over the names it was easy to discriminate the component parts and the spirit presiding at its formation. The several classes deemed eligible for admission would naturally have each their representatives, to whom the future candidate might appeal for recommendation and support ; in short, the fulcra on which the machine was to turn. Thus the commissioned Officer desirous of becoming a member would lean on his class, the Public Officer, the Agriculturist, or others respectively on their own. The list being spread out in this manner, appears to consist of the following : The Officers of the Colonial Government, The Officers of the detachment of the 21st Regt., The Agriculturists, Some Officers of ihe detachment of the 63rd Regt. recently removed from the Colony ; together with a few names of persons who, having transiently visited the place, are supposed, perhaps with reason, to entertain an interest in its welfare and progress. But there is one class, that of the Trader or Merchant, to which I have the honor to belong, altogether omitted ; and to the propriety, the justice and decency of this insulting exclusion, it is my purport to direct your attention. The motto which I have selected for this letter is that of one of those eminent associations of this class in England, whose rank and influence has in all times been acknowledged and respected by a wise and enlightened policy--a policy which it would be well for this unfledged community to imitate, instead of, with bloated and premature aspirings, scattering its members into opposing and enfeebling castes. I may possibly in a future letter make some observations on the peculiar and exclusive qualifications of the classes enumerated who have assumed to themselves the power of proscribing this. Let us allow for a moment that the connection with trade be of that contaminating and polluting tendency affected by our high minded exclusives, few of the members of those two admissible classes, which may be called the fixed or residing, are entirely exempt from the practice ; from the highest, who may occasionally be detected in sly dalliance with the nymph at cent,per cent., to the most humble who hawk from house to house their supernumerary comforts in barter for actual and pressing wants, they may safely congratulate themselves on the double qualification of being eligible to the Bankrupt Laws as well as to this Society. It is unjust thus to attempt the degradation and proscription of a class which has, equally with others, embarked capital and exhausted energies as fruitlessly and perhaps as hopelessly. Has it conferred no benefits to the community? Are there no obligations due to its members remaining undischarged ? The slender thread which connects the world with this remote and insignificant spot vibrates in their hands. From one extremity of the Settlement to the other, let me ask, where is the house, built, the garden or field cultivated or stocked, unaided by their credit or capital? An " Union " Culb it is with mingled feelings of indignation and contempt, that I look down on the mis-shaped abortion, bearing on its head and front a falsehood, it is dis-union, dismemberment, separation. I am, Sir, Your obedient Servant, A TRADER.

The Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal (WA : 1833 - 1847) Sat 27 Sep 1834, p. 363

CORRESPONDENCE.
To the Editor of the "Perth Gazette"
Mr. Editor,—Young as we are in years, few as we are in numbers, it is distressing to think we should be, on the eve of splitting into factions. It is most sincerely to be lamented that we should not allow the res pareas concordia erescere. But it has been shrewdly remarked that mottos and subjects are often diametrically opposite. Your Correspondent "a Trader," I fear, has done little to strengthen any weak link that might have existed in our chain of union with each other. He, indeed, is the first to proclaim that any such weakness did exist. Societies and Clubs have been formed at Fremantle as well as at Perth, and persons admitted members after their formation. Merchants and Agriculturists, Civil and Military Officers, have, or have not joined in originating them, or have been admitted subsequently. In so small a community some of these professions and occupations are often blended. Circumstances have demanded this alliance here in more than one case ; yet it would look odd if in the person of your Correspondent more than two of these employments (to his good luck) should conjoin. It is only, however, as a Trader, that he has chosen to take umbrage at that, to which, as other employes, he could only have given his unqualified approbation. It is in his first capacity his pride (not I hope the pride of pelf) has chosen to liaise a phantom to fight with; and finding this vain, has vented its ire on the innocent, not surely because " a Trader " thought them the defenceless parties. He commences in humble guise, but, like the frog, swells out in bulk, and (to his own idea no doubt) in consequence, till he gets beyond all reasonable bounds—till he not only imagines that the individual advancement of every colonist, but the very existence of the colony itself could no longer go on were the disinterested aid—the generous sacrifices of his party withdrawn After this let not a murmur be heard at the traders' exorbitant charges ;—be duly thankful for the high prices resulting from the obdurate cupidity of the Forestaller ;—burn incense to dives for the heavy discount on your Bills ;—pray that an usurious interest may enable him to extend his accommodations ! After all what is the mighty fuss of "a Trader" about? A few Gentlemen, chiefly, perhaps, Officers of the Army, wished to have a Club, and thinking that the Civil Officers as residing at Perth,—the Settlers frequently visiting it,—and the Military stationed there, would find convenience in such an association, proposed originating one, and chose the name of " Union Club"— very likely from its uniting the three classes just mentioned. Is there any thing in this to excite, in a sane mind, mingled feelings of indignation and contempt ? Such a Club has, I understand, been formed ; how then can it be an abortion ? it is not even a misnomer. I am satisfied no disrespect was intended to our Merchants, for it is notorious that the English Merchant is respected as, and receives the curtesies due to a Gentleman, all over the world. How " a Trader could for a moment fancy he was slighted by a community, in which he seems too well aware of his importance, I cannot imagine. Has he allowed himself to be elevated by his good fortune to such a high pinnacle, that, although he overlooks all below, he is giddy with the height—his sight is indistinct ? Nec enim solum ipsa fortuna cœca est,sed eos étiam plerumque efficit cœcos quos complexa est. Yours &c. MEDIATOR,

References and Links

as above, and ...

Adams, David 1981, '"Superior" boys schools in a pioneering community: the Swan River Settlement, 1829 to 1855', Early Days, vol. 8 part 5: 75-93.

Freotopia

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 29 February, 2024 and hosted at freotopia.org/clubs/union.html (it was last updated on 11 March, 2024), and has been edited since it was imported here (see page history). The donated data is also preserved in the Internet Archive's collection.