Garrick Club (Melbourne)
The Melbourne Garrick Club[a] was an association of people with interests in the theatre, founded in 1855, and disbanded around 1866 after the death of one of its "leading lights".
History[edit]
The Club, whose aims were "the cultivation of dramatic literature and art, and the occasional production of dramatic representations in aid of charitable and other purposes",[1] was founded with around 50 members, including:
- President: Richard Hengist Horne, the poet and critic, "Orion"
- Vice-president James Smith of The Argus[2]
- Secretary: Dr James Edward Neild
- Treasurer: James Coates
Other members included:[3]
- Sir William A'Beckett (Chief Justice)
- William M. Akhurst, journalist and writer of burlesques
- S. H. Banks[4]
- W. B. Baxter
- Alfred Bliss, auctioneer of Bliss & Joy[2]
- Charles Edward Bright
- G. V. Brooke
- H. A. Bruce[4]
- John Buckley Castieau of Beechworth
- J. H. Deorwyn (c. 1623 – 6 August 1888), actor[4]
- John Edwards jun. (born 1836 in Launceston), barrister, "the Collingwood chicken"[2][5]
- R. Henningham
- W. J. Henningham
- W. B. Hickling[4]
- G. J. Hough[4]
- George H. R. Ireland[6]
- William Levev[4]
- Archibald Michie journalist and politician
- Thomas Pavey, solicitor
- G. H. Rogers, actor, comedian[7]
- Dr Clement Sconce
- James Smith[4]
- Henry Gyles Turner[8]
- Theodore W. Whipham
- W. H. Williams[4]
- William John Wilson, theatrical scene painter
- Richard Younge, stage manager[9]
The club was formed at "Williams' dining rooms" in Elizabeth Street; later meetings were held at the Kelly's Argus Hotel, adjacent The Argus newspaper offices.[10] It went into recess around 1866. One of its last activities was a concert to raise money for a memorial to the great actor G. V. Brooke.[11]
Notes and references[edit]
- ^ The name paid homage to the great actor David Garrick, and had no connection to the Garrick Club of London, a "gentlemen's club" for thespians and patrons of the theatre.
- ^ "The Garrick Club". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 2613. Victoria, Australia. 11 October 1855. p. 5. Retrieved 20 March 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b c Hayseed (18 May 1904). "Early Stage Reminiscences". The Sydney Sportsman. Vol. III, no. 190. New South Wales, Australia. p. 8. Retrieved 20 March 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "More Wilsonians". The Newsletter: an Australian Paper for Australian People. Vol. 12, no. 46. New South Wales, Australia. 31 July 1909. p. 2. Retrieved 20 March 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Death of Mr J. H. Deorwyn". The Lorgnette. Vol. XLIX. Victoria, Australia. 3 September 1888. p. 4. Retrieved 11 July 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ "The Chronicle". The Australasian Sketcher with Pen and Pencil. Vol. X, no. 151. Victoria, Australia. 3 June 1882. p. 162. Retrieved 20 March 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Mr Ireland's Benefit". The Herald (Melbourne). No. 9505. Victoria, Australia. 31 March 1906. p. 5. Retrieved 20 March 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "The Late Mr G. H. Rogers". The Ballarat Star. Vol. XVII, no. 39. Victoria, Australia. 14 February 1872. p. 2. Retrieved 20 March 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Mr. Henry Gyles Turner". Table Talk. No. 298. Victoria, Australia. 6 March 1891. p. 4. Retrieved 11 July 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Mummer Memories". The Sydney Sportsman. Vol. XI, no. 671. New South Wales, Australia. 1 May 1912. p. 3. Retrieved 20 March 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Hayseed (7 September 1904). "Theatrical Squabbles". The Sydney Sportsman. Vol. III, no. 206. New South Wales, Australia. p. 8. Retrieved 23 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "The Brooke Memorial Fund". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 6, 214. Victoria, Australia. 8 May 1866. p. 5. Retrieved 20 March 2021 – via National Library of Australia.