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The Melbourne Garrick Club^[a] was an association of people with interests in the theatre, founded in 1855 in Melbourne, Australia, and disbanded around 1866 after the death of one of its "leading lights".

History

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

^ 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.