Karrakatta Club

The Karrakatta Club reading rooms in the 1920s

The Karrakatta Club is a women's club in Perth, Western Australia. Established in 1894, it was the first women's club in Australia.

History

The Karrakatta Club was founded in 1894 by members of the St George Reading Circle.[1] The St George Reading Circle was formed around 1887 for the purpose of exchanging and discussing reading material, and debating current affairs. Following a visit from an American woman named Dr Emily Ryder, the Circle decided to form a new club modelled on the Education Clubs that were popular in America.[2] The objective of the Club was to bring into one body the women of the community for mutual improvement which included involvement in local issues affecting women at that time, social justice issues, and social engagement. The club's motto (suggested by Edith Cowan) is Spectemur Agendo, which means "let us be judged by our actions". The Club's first President was Lady Madeleine Onslow.

In 1904, ten years after the founding of the Karrakatta Club, the first Lyceum Club was founded in London by Miss Constance Smedley. The aim of the Lyceum Clubs was similar to those of the Karrakatta Club. In 1923 it was decided by the members of the Karrakatta Club to align the Club with the international movement of Lyceum Clubs. This opened the Karrakatta Club to a wider contact with women all over the world.

In 1954 it had its diamond jubilee [3]

In 1972/73 the Australian Association of Lyceum Clubs was formed to link all Lyceum Clubs in Australia under the one banner, and to be part of the International Association of Lyceum Clubs linking all Lyceum Clubs world-wide.

In late 1984 the Karrakatta Club moved into its current premises in the Lawson Apartments building at the corner of Sherwood Court and The Esplanade.

Today, the Karrakatta Club remains a vibrant club for women, promoting on-going education for its members with weekly speakers on a wide variety of subjects, support for local charities and students, and friendship.

Notable members

Notes

  1. "KARRAKATTA CLUB.". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 28 August 1935. p. 4. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
  2. "GLIMPSES OF THE PAST.". Western Mail. Perth: National Library of Australia. 30 November 1944. p. 30. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
  3. "Karrakatta Club Has Its Diamond Jubilee.". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 3 November 1954. p. 23. Retrieved 12 June 2012.

References

Further reading

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