Tel: 03 9689 6033
Fax: 03 9687 6433
135 Stephen Street
Yarraville, Victoria
Email us

Club History

Then...and Now! The Yarraville Club Inc

The Yarraville Citizens Club was started by 43 men present on August 10, 1905 at St George’s Hall. The meeting was organised by Henry York R Wilson, Manager of Farnbach’s Estate Agency.

A few weeks later Edmundson’s Bag Factory, Simpson Street, was rented and converted to Clubrooms. The Club so well prospered that early in 1909 it was about to purchase St George’s Hall for 600 cash when James Cuming, a generous member, offered to build on land he owned in Stephen Street modern Club rooms and a public hall, to endow the building with 1000 to provide an annual income for maintenance, the Club to have free, perpetual use of it subject to the Club observing various trust conditions to the satisfaction of the James Cuming Trust. The “James Cuming Institute” cost Mr Cuming over 3000. The foundation stone was laid on August 28, 1909, and the Club moved into the Institute on January 10, 1910.

Hence the Club continued to grow and prosper. But as decades passed, particularly after the 1914-18 World War, members found the trust conditions more and more irksome, unsuited to the change of life and habits of club members throughout Australia. Particularly that which stated the Club must never apply for a liquor licence. In the belief that James Cuming if alive (he died 18/10/1911) would alter the trust conditions, various deputations approached the Trust, but unsuccesfully.

However, at long last, in 1956, the Club found a sympathetic trustee in William James Cuming, grandson of James Cuming. Following a suggestion made many years ago, worked out by Barrister, Mr J Bourke (now Judge Bourke) and Stan D’Altera, WJ Cuming suggested the Club write to the Trust stating it's intention to vacate the James Cuming Institute, and follow with another letter offering to purchase the property for 6000.

Though the property had been valued at 15,000, through the influence of WJ Cuming, the Club’s offer was accepted. The Club changed name to “Yarraville Club”, and a Special Committee (Bill Hazeldine, Norm McMahen and Stan D’Altera) was authroised to act to obtain registration from the Victorian Licensing Court and to have the clubrooms suitably renovated. After an initial approach to the Court, the Club with confidence built a modern bar, etc, at a cost of approximately 11,000. On May 29,1959, the Court granted registration, Club membership being 432.

The Club’s prosperity, prestige and popularity have since increased at a record rate.

Present day members salute and thank the pioneers of 1905 and 1909, and all who since further built our Club, in the sure and certain knowledge that decades hence members will say of their predecessors. “They, like the early pioneers, proved worthy of a great trust”.