The first Tattersall's Club in

Adelaide Adelaide ( , ; ) is the list of Australian capital cities, capital and most populous city of South Australia, as well as the list of cities in Australia by population, fifth-most populous city in Australia. The name "Adelaide" may refer to ei ...

was founded in 1879 and folded in 1886. It was revived as the South Australian Tattersalls Club in 1888 and prospered as a

gentlemen's club A gentlemen's club is a private social club of a type originally established by males from Britain's upper classes starting in the 17th century. Many countries outside Britain have prominent gentlemen's clubs, mostly those associated with the ...

, whose membership was chiefly composed of men who enjoyed gambling on

horse race Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...

History

The South Australian Tattersalls Club had its origin in a Tattersall's Club founded with 55 members on 27 May 1879, with similar rules and objectives to the Sydney and Melbourne Tattersalls Clubs. The meeting was held at the instigation of William Blackler at his Globe Hotel on

Rundle Street Rundle Street, often referred to as "Rundle Street East" as distinct from Rundle Mall, is a street in the East End of the city centre of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. It runs from Pulteney Street to East Terrace, where it becomes Ru ...

, and several rooms in the hotel were set aside for the club's activities, principally gambling, no doubt to the benefit of bookmakers. Blackler then sold the publican's licence to fellow horse breeder J. H. Aldridge. Around this time the club moved its activities to John "Glenorchy" McDonald's Theatre Royal Hotel on

Hindley Street Hindley Street is located in the north-west quarter of the Adelaide city centre, centre of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. It runs between King William Street, Adelaide, King William Street and West Terrace, Adelaide, West Terrace. Th ...

, before returning to the Globe in May 1884. In 1886 the club folded.

A fresh start

In September 1888 Arthur John Usher, the Globe's new lessee, called a meeting at which a decision was made to form a new club to be called "South Australian Tattersalls Club" and take over the assets and debts of the old club. The new committee consisted of P. F. Bonnin (chairman). F. O. Bruce, George Boothby, William Pile, T. F. Wigley, S. J. Jacobs, E. W. Ellis, H. H. Young, and Dr. Cawley. with W. Filgate as secretary. In 1890 the club once again moved to the Theatre Royal Hotel. In 1894 the club moved to a leased building on the north side of

Grenfell Street Grenfell Street () is a major street in the north-east quarter of the Adelaide city centre, South Australia. The street runs west-east from King William Street to East Terrace. Its intersection with Pulteney Street is formed by Hindmarsh Squa ...

and west of

Gawler Place Gawler Place is a single-lane thoroughfare in the city centre of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. Somewhat narrower than other busy streets in the Central Business District, it runs north to south from North Terrace to Wakefield Stree ...

. The building was altered and furnished, and officially opened on 15 November 1894. Six years later the club purchased the premises for £3,000. The club's popularity grew, and soon the building was too small for the accommodation of members, and the committee embarked on an ambitious program of expansion, demolishing the old building and replacing it with one of four storeys, the tallest in the city. The new building, which cost the club approximately £29,000, was opened on 24 December 1917. Samuel J. Jacobs (1853–1937) has been credited with much of the club's success in this period. The club premises were enlarged again in 1928, after purchase of adjoining and virtual duplication of the existing building. The new section was opened on 27 August 1928.

Race meetings

The club conducted its own race meetings, initially at the

Adelaide Racing Club Adelaide Racing Club was a horse racing club which had its origins around 1870 but founded in 1879 in competition with the South Australian Jockey Club. The A.R.C. held their race meetings on the "Old Adelaide Racecourse" (later known as Victoria ...

's grounds Victoria Park on the East Parklands, the first being held on 5 October 1889 as a fund-raiser for three members of the committee successfully sued by

Seth Ferry Seth "The Master" Ferry (25 May 1839 – 20 October 1932) was a prominent rider, dealer, owner and trainer of racehorses in South Australia. Biography Seth Ferry was born at "Providence House", Ponders End, Lower Edmonton, Middlesex, where his p ...

, who had been "posted" (i.e. suspended), for malpractice. D. Dunlevie was secretary for this meeting; the chief event was Tattersalls Cup, with prize money £90, and won by C. G. McMahon's Resolution. The next fixture was on 15 March 1890; the first meeting to be conducted by James Moorhouse as secretary, other officials included William Blackler, S. J. Jacobs,

W. K. Simms William Knox Simms (1830 – 25 December 1897) was a brewer, businessman and politician in the early days of South Australia. History Simms migrated to South Australia from England, arriving in December 1845. He formed a partnership with John ...

, and Dr. Cawley. James Chambers was judge and starter was one W. G. Bennett (perhaps

Gabriel Bennett Gabriel Bennett (23 December 1817 – 13 September 1895) was an auctioneer, stock and cattle salesman and horse breeder in South Australia. He founded the stock and station agents Bennett and Fisher. History Bennett was born in London, a son of ...

?). The club subsequently ran two meetings each year until 1902, then four in 1903. After being unable to reach an agreement with the A.R.C. for the following year's calendar, arranged with the

South Australian Jockey Club South Australian Jockey Club is the principal race club in South Australia. First racing events The first horse racing events in South Australia took place at a well-attended picnic meeting held over 1 and 2 January 1838. In August 1838, riding ...

to hold their meetings at

Morphettville Morphettville is a suburb of Adelaide, South Australia in the City of Marion. The northern part of the suburb is bounded by the Glenelg tram line, and fully occupied by the Morphettville Racecourse (horseracing track). The tram barn storage an ...

. In 1914, the club decided on an additional three race per year, but could not be accommodated at Morphettville, so they arranged with the A.R.C. to hold the extra meetings at the "old course", Victoria Park, the first being held in February 1915. The club was charged 100

guinea Guinea, officially the Republic of Guinea, is a coastal country in West Africa. It borders the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Guinea-Bissau to the northwest, Senegal to the north, Mali to the northeast, Côte d'Ivoire to the southeast, and Sier ...

s per day by the host club for the use of their facilities. In the early days the Tattersalls Cup raced over ; from 1900 to 1914 it was ; from 1915 to 1918, ; and since then , the committee feeling that by increasing the length of the events it was assisting in improving the stamina of South Australian thoroughbreds. The minimum weight in all races was fixed at . The committee provided at each meeting one race for apprentices only, who have not ridden 20 winners, and they were not allowed to use either whips or spurs. In 1922 a new classic event, Tattersall's Stakes, was instituted for two-year-olds, carrying £500 in prize money.

Office holders

Secretary :1879 H. J. Cohen :1879 Granville S. Price, "an enthusiastic secretary" :1881 E. W. Aldridge (either during or directly after his term of office, the position of secretary was paid at £100, later £300 p.a.) :1883 Thomas P. Fenner :1884 S. Barnard :1885–1886 William Filgate :(in recess) :1888–1890 William Filgate :1890–1911 James Moorhouse :1911–1913 John "Jack" Goffage (resigned after being criticised for acting as judge at Port Adelaide) :1913-1916 J. S. Malone (given leave of absence to join

1st AIF The First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during the First World War. It was formed as the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) following Britain's declaration of war on Germany on 15 Aug ...

) :1916 James Moorhouse :1916–1917 F. W. White :1917 H. P. O'Brien (acting) :1919–1929 J. S. Malone (returned from overseas) :1929–1936 H. P. O'Brien Chairman :1879– E. M. Bagot :1883–1885 W. B. Rounsevell :1885–1886 P. F. Bonnin :(in recess) :1888–1889 P. F. Bonnin :1889–1890 S. R. Wilson :1890–1906 S. J. "Sam" Jacobs :1906–1908 A. W. Ware :1908–1910 Edward Simms :1910–1917 S. J. "Sam" Jacobs :1917–1923 H. P. MacLachlan :1923–1925 H. Allan Morris :1925–1933 P. J. "Pat" Flannagan :1933–1938 H. Allan Morris :1942 H. Jackson perhaps :1954 J. F. Brazel Membership :1887 55 :1923 1,200 :1928 1,500

Other activities

With the improvements in facilities for members, the Tattersalls Club became known as a social club as well as a sporting club. The club has been responsible for a number of benefactions; one of the earliest being a donation of £221 to the widow of James Breen, a steeplechase jockey, who was killed in the hunting field on 12 July 1879. From 1890 the club held an annual amateur billiard tournament, regarded as one of the more important in the State.

Notable members

Lewis Cohen, a prominent member of Tattersall's Club, was voted to the mayoral chair in 1909 despite fierce opposition from the Churches, who decried his open support for horse racing.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tattersalls Club, South Australia 1879 establishments in Australia Horse racing organisations in Australia Gentlemen's clubs in Australia Clubs and societies in South Australia History of Adelaide