Tasmanian club grants women access to bar with one proviso

The private Tasmanian Club for men has voted to allow women to have a drink at its bar for the first time in its 163 year history – but there’s just one catch.

At the club’s annual general meeting in late November, a motion permitting women to accompany their partners into the bar passed with a significant majority.

Previously, women had been able to visit the club with their partners, allowed to enter the club’s reading room or library, but had to ask the manager’s permission to enter the bar.

The decision to give women more access to the club’s facilities was initially resisted by what one member described as “the old guard”, leading initial delays in the change being implemented.

“It’s traditionally been a men only club since it came into existence, some members wanted the change and there were enough for it to pass at the AGM, with the requirement two thirds majority”, manager Malcolm Wright said, the ABC reported.

“The club is very supportive of women and for a member to bring in female guests is a positive story, members wanted change and it was approved.

“The club’s now in a good position to grow.”

While Tasmania has a history of private members clubs, the Tasmanian was the only one to maintain restrictions on women, with Athenaeum on Hobart’s Davey street removing the last of its restrictions in 2019.

According to the clubs website, its purpose “is to serve its Members and should be viewed as a home away from home.”