Inside the exclusive club that bans women from joining
An exclusive Brisbane club has attracted controversy because it won’t let women become members.
However, it could soon be changing its tune.
The Tattersalls Club has announced the possible shift as part of measures to remain appealing and relevant to younger people.
Tattersalls traditionally offers the Premier of Queensland an honorary membership.
However, Premier Annastacia Palaszcuk hasn’t been able to take up that offer because she is a woman.
“Well, unfortunately the Premier of the state can’t attend there, the Deputy Premier can’t attend there at the moment, half the cabinet can’t attend because unfortunately they don’t allow women,” Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszcuk said.
“It’s up to the membership, but if they want to open up to women, then I’m more than happy to accept an invite.”
To join Tattersalls you need to be a “son, father, grandson or son-in-law of a member,” although “partners are welcome to obtain a partner’s card.”
Management is now proposing allowing women to become members in their own right.
“At the moment we’ve got a four-week consultation process, we’re going to have several information nights,” President of the Tattersalls Club Stuart Fraser said.
A vote on female membership was held about 12 years ago and it was defeated by around 100 votes.
Tattersalls isn’t the only all-male club in the country. On the other hand, there are exclusive all-female clubs too, including in Brisbane, Melbourne and London.
Tattersalls club management says they’re happy to open discussion on their club’s exclusivity.
“Obviously we’ve had to change as Brisbane’s changed over that time,” Mr Fraser said.
It comes after an elite underground men’s club opened in Germany.
The newly-opened Contenance Club in Munich is locateddeep below the city’s streets.
VIP membership, which includes pick-up from a private jet, costs up to an eye-watering $1.6 million.
