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| Inside The Northern Club |
I was a member of this august institution from 1987 to 1995. For anyone who knows about 'gentlemen's clubs' whether in the UK, Australia or New Zealand they will know that they cling to empire and tradition and you have to get 'promoted' to be able to join. When I joined in 1987 the Auckland Club was flying high. It had recently moved into new premises in Shortland street which occupied about 5 floors of a smart high rise building. The whole operation was pretty good - a nice mixture of the old and the new. Age-old traditions were adhered to but new ideas, catering preferences and a recognition that it was now the '70's (even though it was in fact the '80's) were acknowledged.
While the 'club' was embracing the new age they didn't get carried away however and it bore no resemblance to Grace Jones' version of 'clubbing'. See below:
Actually, under the 'tradition' rules old Grace wouldn't have been allowed in unless accompanied by a male member (no jokes please).
The Auckland Club came into existence in 1856, originally in Princes Street by the university before establishing itself for more than a century in Shortland Street.
In the mid '80's it sold its premises and moved across the road into a purpose built five level building inside a tower block. This is the new club I joined. I joined as part of my job. It was beneficial to the business I ran. I 'hob-nobbed' with the judges, barristers and lawyers who had obligatory membership along with Auckland's businessmen both famous and infamous. There was an old-world atmosphere about the club with quiet reading rooms, a superb restaurant (dining room), a tranquil breakfast room, a superb billiard room and overnight accommodation which overlooked Fort Street (the manager told me that some of the old legal eagles would book in there so as to watch the goings on across the road when Fort Street was the 'sin' street of Auckland).
This was in the late 1980's and early 1990's when there were only a few good restaurants and wine bars in Auckland. Unfortunately (for the Auckland Club) the liberalisation of licensing laws and the increase in numbers of drinking and entertainment venues led to its demise. This was exacerbated by the archaic club rules where women were barely tolerated to be on site and never to be had as members. Younger members were discouraged to continue membership by wives and girlfriends and older members simply died off. The heyday of the club was in the 1980's with membership of 1000 but in the late 90's this dwindled to below 300 and in 2010 the club sold up and amalgamated with the Northern Club which, like Miss Haversham, sits neglected and gathering moss on the corner of Princes Street and looks certain to disappear soon if only under the foliage.
The Auckland Club came into existence in 1856, originally in Princes Street by the university before establishing itself for more than a century in Shortland Street.
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| The old Auckland Club |
In the mid '80's it sold its premises and moved across the road into a purpose built five level building inside a tower block. This is the new club I joined. I joined as part of my job. It was beneficial to the business I ran. I 'hob-nobbed' with the judges, barristers and lawyers who had obligatory membership along with Auckland's businessmen both famous and infamous. There was an old-world atmosphere about the club with quiet reading rooms, a superb restaurant (dining room), a tranquil breakfast room, a superb billiard room and overnight accommodation which overlooked Fort Street (the manager told me that some of the old legal eagles would book in there so as to watch the goings on across the road when Fort Street was the 'sin' street of Auckland).
This was in the late 1980's and early 1990's when there were only a few good restaurants and wine bars in Auckland. Unfortunately (for the Auckland Club) the liberalisation of licensing laws and the increase in numbers of drinking and entertainment venues led to its demise. This was exacerbated by the archaic club rules where women were barely tolerated to be on site and never to be had as members. Younger members were discouraged to continue membership by wives and girlfriends and older members simply died off. The heyday of the club was in the 1980's with membership of 1000 but in the late 90's this dwindled to below 300 and in 2010 the club sold up and amalgamated with the Northern Club which, like Miss Haversham, sits neglected and gathering moss on the corner of Princes Street and looks certain to disappear soon if only under the foliage.
3 comments:
Pity we're not allowed to do jokes about male members.
Hey, do you remember the Cosmopolitain Club in Tamaranui?
Yes, another club you belonged to who kicked you out.
Don't make me quote Groucho Marks... you know the quote I mean.
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