September Bites
Board of Directors at The Masonic Club in 1927
The Masonic Club Celebrates 130 Years
On Friday, 15 September the NSW Masonic Club in Sydney’s CBD turned 130 years old.
Started in 1893 in Paddington’s Royal Hotel by a group of Freemasons, the NSW Masonic Club has evolved in leaps and bounds since its humble beginnings, with the Club owning and operating the Castlereagh Boutique Hotel located on its premises — which was built by the Club in 1926 — now boasting a heritage listing.
The venue is home to one of Sydney’s finest dining rooms, Cellos Grand Dining Room, and has hosted a slew of recent events such as the Cabaret Club for the 2023 Sydney Fringe Festival this month.
On their special day, the NSW Masonic Club hosted members and guests for a two-course lunch, ceremony and speeches to celebrate the milestone.
Local Man Drops a Knee at Club Mudgee
Club Mudgee has had their very first in-venue proposal, with a young local man dropping a knee in the newly opened Hub Sports Bar on Sunday, 10 September.
Russel ‘Rusty’ Moriarty — a mad fan of the Mudgee Dragons football team — proposed to his partner Kobie at the Club after the Mudgee Dragons’ grand final loss in Dubbo, brightening everyone's mood.
A video clip of the special moment posted to social media shows Rusty kneeling down while a room of over 50 fellow Dragons fans loudly cheer him on while watching him produce a ring and popping the big question, which of course received a big “yes!” from Kobie.
The clip has been viewed over 22,000 times on Facebook and has received over 60 messages of congratulations from proud locals.
Bar Beach Bowlo’s 100th Birthday Bash
Mereweather’s beloved Bar Beach Bowling Club has celebrated its 100th birthday in style.
Saturday, September 9 saw the Bowlo’s celebrations kick off with a lawn bowls tournament, with players from all over Newcastle, Port Stephens and Maitland competing. The competition was followed by an afternoon of live music, $5 schooners of Newtowner beer and free games of pool for patrons.
Situated opposite Bar Beach and Cooks Hill Surf Club, Bar Beach Bowlo was originally registered as Newcastle South Bowling Club in 1923, and as the Comsteel Bowling and Sporting Club in 1966. When the two clubs amalgamated in 1986, the venue became the Comsteel-Newcastle South Bowling Club.
The Club’s two grass greens have become increasingly popular with barefoot social bowlers and the resident Bar Beach Breakers, as member bowlers are known.
The birthday celebrations will continue on Saturday, 23 September with a Black and White Ball to be held at the Club, complete with canapes in the garden, a sit-down dinner and plenty of entertainment.
The Club is also set to publish a book to commemorate the milestone and is inviting members and guests to submit stories and photos by via email at [email protected].
Byron Bay Bowlo Celebrates Centenary
The evening of Friday, 4 August saw Byron Bay Bowling Club — also known as Club Byron — celebrate 100 years of operations.
The Marvell Street venue had a display detailing the Club’s storied history, serving up finger food and a complimentary drink on arrival for members and guests. There was plenty of live entertainment on offer too, including from local singer and guitarist Jon J Bradley.
Club Byron has become a premier destination in the heart of beautiful Byron Bay, offering accommodation in the form of self-contained cabins just a short walk from Main Beach, handmade authentic Asian food at the Club’s on-site restaurant Shoza Gyoza, and a space for special events including weddings and birthdays.
Club Marconi Marks 65 Years
On Wednesday, 2 August Club Marconi celebrated its 65th birthday, with over 500 members filling the Colosseo — the largest internal event space in Doltone House Marconi, complete with floor-to-ceiling glass on the northern side of the room and a grand, gold textured feature wall.
Attendees of the sold-out event enjoyed an evening of fabulous food and entertainment, listening to stories about how the Club was established back in 1958 as a meeting place for the Italian community in Western Sydney.
Today, the Club is still enriched in Italian culture and tradition. It now has over 38,000 members, a renowned soccer club (the Marconi Stallions), a childcare centre, a gym, multiple eateries and more.
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