This year marks 50 years since a historical protest that changed the face of Australian drinking culture.

The suggestion book from the Settlers Club, with an entry recommending a stable be built for the members' horses. (ABC Local:Sophie Malcolm )

But in Mildura it seems things took a little longer to take hold.

In March, 1965, two women chained themselves to a public bar in Brisbane, protesting the fact they couldn't be served there.

Mildura publican Liam Wood says this weekend, he will celebrate the anniversary by "locking out the blokes" as part of a charity event at his pub.

Mildura itself, Mr Wood says, has an interesting history when it comes to women being allowed to drink in bars.

Originally designed to be a dry colony, "gentlemen's clubs" were set up around the town in lieu of pubs, with women strictly forbidden.

The Mildura Club, and the Settlers Club, which was set up in 1893, were one of a handful of places in the town that served alcohol until the early to mid-1900s.

According to its website one of these, the Mildura Club, is still one of the few gentlemen's clubs left in Victoria, "and upholds the guidelines established over a century ago".

The Settlers Club, Mr Wood says, changed in the 1980s from being a men's club to allowing women through the doors, but was met with quite a lot of resistance.

Across the road from where the pub stands today is a service station, which used to be a stable for horses for the club's members and a shed for their wives to wait in.

"They built a stable where the guys could come and park their horse and buggy," Mr Wood says.

"Originally it was a stable, and there was a ladies shelter shed in the middle.

"So essentially the women had to wait outside with the horses."

The Settlers Club charge book, which dates back to 1900, also details the controversy that was caused when one member brought his wife to the club.

"[He was] requested to attend a meeting on the 8th August 1964, to give explanation as to conduct concerning an incident, in which his wife appeared in the lounge," it reads.

"He was sent a registered letter on 15/8/64. He appeared at the meeting as requested and was warned by the president of the committee of the serious nature of his offence, allowing his wife to come into the lounge. [He] apologised to the meeting and assured them there would never be a repetition of such an incident again. The apology and explanation was accepted and no formal charge was laid."

While women are now allowed through the doors of many more Mildura establishments, Mr Wood says that this weekend he's turning the tables for an afternoon in honour of those two women in Brisbane.

"The blokes can wait in the stables as such, for the afternoon."