Our Mission
VISION
“To be accommodating for all existing and new clientele.”
MISSION
“To pride ourselves in providing good quality products/services to our members and new clientele in a welcoming and comfortable environment.”
Street view of HWC in 1870 taken from a Lantern Slide.
Hobart Working Men's Club Committee and Officers 1899-1900
Our History
A beginning
“A meeting to establish a Working Men’s Club was held in the Berea Schoolroom at the conclusion of the prayer meeting, Wednesday, 31st August, 1864.” There were over a 100 people present, and Mr. Chas Crosby was nominated to chair the meeting. The committee was duly elected as follows: Messrs’ Edward Rout, Leather seller Henry Higgins, Drayman W.R. Giblin, Solicitor J. Blowfield, Shoemaker Chas. Crosby, Merchant Alfred Marshall, Saddler H.R. Bastow, Architect Frederick Marshall, Plasterer Henry Dobson, Clerk Robert Stabb, Shingler John P. Jun, Draper John Buchanan, Painter Smith, Fisherman Frederick Padden, Carpenter John Markby, Wheelwright.The membership book was opened and 65 men gave their names. “The Doxology was then sung and the meeting separated.”
A serendipitous find
Surely an echo from the past of that historic meeting and even more so the way in which these minutes were found. Traditional “fairy-tale-like” opening of a disused area under the foot of the stairs leading to the cabaret, where thousands of feet had traversed little knowing that a fortune in club history was beneath them in an old one-inch thick oak chest, all tightly bound with iron straps. Inside the chest, old musty, dusty files, books of banking, minutes, etc., aged with the passage of years, but with the finest copperplate freehand writing, a gift from the days past.
A gift from William Guesdon
One surely can visualise the types of men these were by their debates and minute book, and how, as we are now ourselves doing, they communed with one another, and I have no doubt, connived as well for the progress of this club which, one hundred years ago in the year 1867, and on the gift of William Guesdon, Esq. transferred their premises “… that house in Barrack Street, formerly the Wellington Inn” which was only one room (and also their birthplace) to the premises at 213 Liverpool Street, where we are to this day, a seedling of a centum of years now fully mature. Our club benefactor Mr. William A. Guesdon, who made these premises available, will always have the thanks of every working man who becomes a member, for our birthright of equality for all human beings certainly predominates within its lofty portals.
Sir Thomas Browne
The then Governor of Tasmania, Sir Thomas Browne, laid the foundation stone and Capt. Davie supplied the Second Rifles Band to play on the occasion which was attended by M.P.s and their wives, and the Lord Mayor. During the early history we find the names of Abbott, Crosby, Giblin, Gourlay and Dobson appearing regularly. Mr. Giblin held the Chairmanship from 1867 to 1873 and again from 1876. Mr. P. O. Fysh was Vice-President, H. Dobson, Treasurer and A. B. Walker, Secretary. Mr Giblin by this time was entitled Hon. W. R. Giblin, M. H. R. During this era, a most imaginative one, a library was formed and totalled 1,284 volumes, Dr. Croucher donating many of the books.
A skittles coach
Also a skittles coach was appointed to develop and foster the game. Billiards was very popular and a basis for future Club and State championships. An interesting motion on the opening of this present club was one which reads “that the subscription be three pence per week, and that an entrance fee of one shilling be paid, and that strangers be admitted on the payment of one penny.” This was eventually amended to read “and that an entrance fee of six pence be paid.” An account was read for re-clothing a billiards table, (new) cost then Four Pounds, Rates 8 Pounds, 6 shillings and 7 pence, and the final general business gives the figures of 503 accounts toward Penny Banks by Club Members.
A Timeline
1901 - 1910
Saw once again the evolution of time at work, skittles being replaced by a card room and writing room, emphasis by committee-men being placed on the importation of newspapers of English origin, and any English literature which could be procured. Suggestions by committeemen “… that members should do more thinking on a common-sense basis for themselves for a change.” Greater reading facilities were suggested, billiards progressed and competition between Tattersalls and one other private club was mooted. The names of Dr. Croucher, Latham, Ward, Crawford, Ellis, Kay, Molloy, Salter, and Mulrennen, Coleman, and Morrisby were frequent in committee activities - what a growth in the club during this period of the “in between years” support from all for all. By the familiar names one wonders if present day members are sons, nephews or descendants.
1913 Snooker winner: Fred Wise
The book library had maintained a high lending figure; billiards had grown in popularity; skittles had fallen by the wayside; and cards were definitely gaining in strength. When competition started in 1910, Mr. Fred Wise, a life member of this club, was a competitor and in 1913 was snooker tournament winner. His nephew Eric was in the successful Centenary Team of snooker players which won the championship this year.
1913: 2128 financial members
Fifty-two entries from the club snooker and billiards was indeed proof of the popularity of the sport, There were 2128 financial members in 1913. When Chas. Dunn was elected to the committee in 1916, Les Ward, our present President won a competition between Hardware, West Hobart, South Hobart and Hobart Working Men’s Club. Chas. Dunn - The electric lighting was another major asset brought into being in this year, but owing to the state of the world at this time the membership figure was only 167 members. Mr. Chas. Dunn donated a Roll of Honour Board for members of the club who were members of the Expeditionary Forces at the front.
1920 - 1930
During this period there was a falling off of membership and therefore there were only 122 financial members of the club in 1925. The now traditional North versus South billiards and snooker matches were continued and one of the representative teams from this club was as follows; Billiards: Lynch, Woolford, Bartlett, Geappen, F. Turner and F. Wise. Snooker: Conlan, Martin, Scoles, Harrison and L. Ward.
1930 - 1940 Iron Hand Oscar
These years saw the beginning of the “iron-hand” secretary-ship of the late Oscar Oates and the ensuing years proved most successful under his guidance. The membership, which in the late 1930’s was over 700, was brought about mainly through a liquor licence in 1934; easing of the “dole” years and more general works programmes initiated by the Government of the day. This led to more club life, members feeling their independence with their own keys to the front door of the club, a place where they could meditate, play any of half a dozen sports, or read any one of a dozen newspapers. Yes, the club really was what a club should be – plenty of volunteers for jobs to be done, at little cost to the club; lending a hand when needed, ever ready to support when support was wanted and the club prospered.
1930 - 1940 Sir Robert Cosgrove
A member Robert Cosgrove, donated a trophy for competition between Hobart and Burnie annually, later he became Premier of Tasmania and was knighted. Len Barwick donated a fine trophy and so it went on to be the happiest and most prolific time of the club’s history.
1940 - 1950
During the next decennium (ten years) trials beset this fine club of ours, and we feel that this period is not in keeping with our proud history, so therefore let it go the way of the books and documents of that time, for we shall never see them again. Our sporting achievements in Table Tennis, Cricket, Snooker, Billiards, Badminton, and Cribbage have carved a niche for the club in the history of Southern Tasmanian Clubs and in this our Centenary year, one hundred years in the one club house (to be amended as required to reflect the passage of 150 years in the same Club House) let us say, “We feel that by historical facts we can produce we are the oldest such type of club in Australia, and that in keeping, we are also the proudest club in Australia” Centenary Trophy Winners Darts: - J.Rice Snooker: - A.Martin Table Tennis: - R. McKellar Cribbage: - R.Oates Billiards: -G.Tew