Adelaide Club

The Adelaide Club is an exclusive gentlemen's club in the South Australian capital city of Adelaide. Founded in 1863, the club comprises members of the Adelaide establishment.

The Club's headquarters are at the Club House on North Terrace in the city-centre. The Club House was built in the same year as the club's establishment, and has been continually occupied since 1864. Facilities include a library and guest rooms, in addition to function rooms.

It apparently once wielded such great powers that it could veto appointments to the Supreme Court of South Australia.

Controversies

The Club has been criticised for restrictive membership which prohibits women and, allegedly, certain minorities.

In 1994, former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating publicly criticised club member Alexander Downer, who had just become Federal Opposition Leader and leader of the parliamentary Liberal Party for being a member of an organisation which excluded women.

Suggestions of anti-Semitism also arose in 2006 after prominent Jewish Adelaide businessman Albert Bensimon was twice rejected for membership, despite his application being supported by Barry Fitzpatrick, Group Managing Director and CEO of Adelaide Bank. Fitzpatrick himself subsequently resigned from the club. Supreme Court judge John Perry wrote to fellow members warning them that the rejection of Bensimon was "likely to be regarded by the Jewish community as an expression of anti-Semitism". However, club manager Andrew Gay publicly denied that the club was racist, calling such an allegation "offensive".

References

* [http://www.adelaide-club.asn.au The Adelaide Club - Official Page]
** [http://www.adelaide-club.asn.au/History.htm History]
** [http://www.adelaide-club.asn.au/Club_Facilities.htm Facilities]
* [http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/natint/stories/s1583416.htm "Radio National: The National Interest": 5 March 2006]