Adelaide Club

Adelaide Club
Front view of Adelaide Club, 2026
General information
Type	Clubhouse
Location	165 North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Coordinates	34°55′19″S 138°36′00″E / 34.921888°S 138.600017°E / -34.921888; 138.600017
Year built	1863–1864
Completed	1864
Client	Adelaide Club
Technical details
Material	Brick and stone
Floor count	3
Design and construction
Architect	G. & E. Hamilton
Main contractor	English and Brown William Lines
Website
www.adelaide-club.asn.au
South Australian Heritage Register
Official name	The 'Adelaide Club' Building
Designated	28 May 1981
Reference no.	10870

The Adelaide Club is an exclusive gentlemen's club situated on North Terrace in the South Australian capital city of Adelaide. Founded in 1863, the club comprises members of the Adelaide Establishment.

South Australian Club (1838–1843)

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. Members included Sturt, Morphett and Fisher. Membership was by ballot; joining fee 10 gns., membership 2 gns. per annum. It folded in 1843 after failing financially.

History and description

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, 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.

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.

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. Facilities include a library, mixed accommodation for members and reciprocal club members, dining rooms, billiards room, function rooms and office facilities.

Equivalent women's club

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

Notable members

Members of the Adelaide Club have included:

See also

• Country club