The Newcastle Club

Newcastle Club 1916

The Newcastle Club, Newcastle, N.S.W. 1916

It’s survived world wars, economic downturns, and an earthquake. Part of Newcastle life since 1885, the imposing Newcastle Club offers a commanding position on The Hill – its wide verandas offering city and harbour vistas all the way to Stockton Bright.

The stately brick structure with solid doors, arch windows and neoclassical portico has occupied its place on the corner of King and Newcomen Streets for almost a century. Founded by a group of prominent local businessmen, the club’s home on the Hill was completed in 1924.

Built on land occupied by two 19th-century mansions (one of which was demolished), the Claremont remains part of the club house and is admired as one of Newcastle’s few surviving Georgian buildings. Claremont is also believed to be the second oldest standing building in Newcastle.

The Newcastle Club

Members:

Temporary Brigadier General: John Gibson PATON. CB CMG VD. Merchant, Soldier. Newcastle, N.S.W.

Major: Harry Lambert Edward Dixon WHEELER. VD. MID. Solicitor, Newcastle, N.S.W.

Major: Brent Burnell RODD. Insurance Manager, Newcastle, N.S.W.

Staff:

Private: 6862A James PARKER.+ Steward, The Newcastle Club, Newcastle, N.S.W. (Medal placed on Permanent Loan to the Newcastle Club from the Harrower Collection. December 2020)

Newcastle Herald. Wednesday 16th June 2021.

By Scott Bevan.

General Sir Peter Cosgrove, Newcastle Club CEO Ian Baker and Commission Member Brett Lavaling at the newly named Anzac Lounge.

Photo: Max Hubers

On June 15, 1921, one of Australia's best known military leaders of all time, General Sir Henry George (Harry) Chauvel, stood in the just-built Newcastle Clubon The Hill and officially dedicated a World War One honour roll. Exactly a century on Australia's best-known modern-day military leader, General Sir Peter Cosgrove, stood in the same room to rededicate the honour roll. Not that the former governor-general, ex-Chief of Defence Force and 2001 Australian of the year reviewed this as history repeating.

"I think it's history reflecting on itself," Sir Peter told the Newcastle Herald before the ceremony. "I think we're holding up a mirror of the past to the present." The walls in this room are mirror-like, their wooden panels gleaming. However, that is not what Sir Peter saw as he looked around, noting "the walls speak to you". For the walls now carry plaques telling stories behind each of the names of the 33 club members and five staff listed on the roll.

These were the people who signed up when World War One broke out in 1914. Six of those died during the war. Their names may not be etched into the main roll, but many more are honoured and listed in this room, for in the course of World War One, about 150 Newcastle Club members signed up. About 400 members enlisted during World War Two. To underscore the significance of this room, it has been given a new name: Anzac Lounge. As Sir Peter tod the gathering of about 120 at the Tuesday Night ceremony and dinner, the honour roll also spoke volumes about the club and its members around that time.

"It Speaks about a group of Australians who understood the gravity, the dignity, the extent of the service and sacrifice, not only of those members who gave their lives, listed on the roll, but so many other Australians listed in places in Australia, and in far off graveyards and on distant war memorials'" Sir Peter said. In preparing for the rededication ceremony, Newcastle Club CEO and Secretary Ian Baker had spent months fossicking through the archives.

He uncovered pieces of history surrounding the original honour roll dedication, including correspondence signed by General Harry Chauvel, who was renown for the charge of the Australian Light Horse soldiers at the capture of Beersheba in 1917. Mr Baker said a century on from the original ceremony, it was appropriate to have General Sir Peter Cosgrove rededicate the honour roll and unveil the Anzac Lounge.

"Because of the status of the person who unveiled it 100 years ago, we needed to get one of the greatest modern-day Generals to rededicate it," Mr Baker said. Sir Peter said he was honoured to have been asked. Having has three postings in the Hunter during his military career, he feels a strong connection to the region and Newcastle, which he described as "such a wonderful city". Even with my vestigal links through several postings, I'm comfortable in this city, I like the people of this city, and I've been led to believe I'm accepted here," Sir Peter Said. "Therefore, I feel like I'm an honorary Novocastrian, especially when I stand in the same place as Harry Chauvel Stood."