Lifestyle & Entertainment
13 July, 2026
From collar and tie to come as you are
FOR much of its early history, the Stawell Club was a place where men gathered. Ladies waited outside, using an intercom to summon their husbands. Friday nights meant formal attire, bar staff wore bow ties and membership was exclusive. Today, families are welcome, women have served as president, pool competitions fill Wednesday evenings and visitors are encouraged to walk through the front door. Those changes help explain why the Stawell Club has endured for well over a century — a milestone members celebrated recently.
“There’s not many establishments around that have made 130 years,” secretary and life member Mick Nunweek said.
Members marked the anniversary by recreating a moment from the club’s earliest days.
When the club was founded in 1896, inaugural president D.G. McKellar proposed a toast “to the success of the Stawell Club”.
On Sunday, members again raised their glasses — this time to its continued success.
In his anniversary address, Mr Nunweek said the club had become part of Stawell’s story.
“From an early gold rush town to the present day, through many changes, good and bad, the Stawell Club has stood the test of time and is woven into the rich and vibrant history of Stawell,” he said.
Past president and current board member Geoff Reading has witnessed much of the club’s evolution since becoming a member in 1969 after returning from service in Vietnam.
“It was very strict,” he recalled. “Friday nights were virtually collar and tie.”
Mr Reading said the atmosphere was very different today, following major renovations to the bar over the past decade.
“It’s much more friendly now,” he said.
Mr Nunweek said opening the club to women and families had been one of the club’s most significant changes, with Judy Blake later becoming its first female president.
Board member Andre Dalton said the welcoming atmosphere was now one of the club’s greatest strengths.
“It’s a great place to come, bring your friends and catch up for a quiet drink,” he said.
“There’s never too much carry-on. Fantastic environment, very welcoming.”
The club now has about 200 members and continues to host regular social activities, including Wednesday night pool competitions. Members have also raised money over the years for bushfire appeals and fellow members facing hardship.
Barman Matthew Jones, who has worked at the club for almost six years, believes the secret to reaching 130 years is simple.
“As time goes on, you need to adapt so you survive,” he said.
“It’s a very welcoming place. Whether you become a member or you’re just popping in as a visitor, you’ll be made to feel welcome.”
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