Melbourne’s men-only Savage Club is facing an internal rebellion against its decision to allow women in for meals, with some members warning of uneasy wives and “Karens”.
A group of members has called an extraordinary general meeting for Thursday, writing in an email that “the loud and boisterous bohemian behaviour that the club is famous for will now have to be tempered for fear of upsetting a ‘Karen’ at the other end of the dining room” if women are allowed to lunch.
In May 2024, a survey of members – to which 183 members responded – found just four out of the total 458 members supported the idea of women being admitted as members.
Sign up: AU Breaking News email
But others suggested loosening the rules and allowing “lady guests” to visit for mixed dining.
In June, the club revealed those “lady guests” would be welcomed under a six-month trial, in the context of waning use of the dining room by existing members. Women – who could already enter the club for certain events and after 4.30pm – would be allowed in for lunches on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and for a pre-lunch tipple in the social room.
Another room, the Third World bar, would be reserved for members only.
But clearly not everyone was happy with that limited access.
In an email addressed to “Dear Brother Savage” (which is how members address each other), the authors write that there is “no sound reason” to change the club rules because there is a record number of members and a financial surplus.
“Our wives no longer will have the comfort of knowing we are at a male-only venue, so long hours spent at the club will no longer be viewed as favourably on the home front,” the email says.
The Melbourne Savage Club was formed in 1894 and bought its current home on Bank Place in 1923.
It is more “bohemian” than other exclusive male-only clubs, and has hosted members including former Liberal senator George Brandis, former Liberal prime minister Robert Menzies, and entertainer Barry Humphries.
Former Labor senator Doug Cameron once described it as a club based on “bohemianism, free love, frugality and voluntary poverty” and “the more sozzled alternative to the genteel Melbourne Club”.
