Queen Mary Club

The Queen Mary Club was formed as a residential social club for ladles In Hobart on 4 July 1910, obtaining patronage from the new Queen Mary. The founders were three very enterprising women, Mrs Tetley Gant, Mrs CE Webster and Miss Rymer Maxwell, all keen bridge players. It has reciprocal rights with similar clubs in all state capitals, Canberra, London, Canada, New Zealand and the United States.

Club members leased the upstairs manager's quarters of the former Bank of Australasia, eventually buying the whole building in 1935. Designed by James Blackburn in 1843, it is said to be his most polished work, but the freestone maintenance has been a financial headache for Club committees. A Mercury award for the best restored and preserved building in the National Trust Register was received in 1964. After 96 years, many descendants of the original seventy listed members are enjoying the Queen Mary Club.

Further reading: M Atkins, The Queen Mary Club 1910-1969, Hobart 1969; Club minutes in the possession of the Club.

Joan Graney