A small group of cross-dressing protesters have sought access to the men-only Tattersall's Club in Brisbane for the LNP's International Women's Day lunch.

Female protesters donned knitted beards and ties outside the club, and were joined by men wearing dresses and carrying irons.

The women approached the club and tried to seek membership but a Tattersall's spokesman told them they were not welcome.

Earlier today, Liberal National Party (LNP) MP Fiona Simpson admitted there had been "eyebrows raised" over the party's decision to stage today's women's lunch at Tattersall's, which does not accept female members.

Ms Simpson said she was asked to speak at the function.

Sorry, this video has expired Cross-dressing protesters barred from Tattersall's Club ahead of Brisbane women's lunch ( Melinda Howells )

"The women asked me to speak at their function and I must admit there have been a few eyebrows raised - it is a bit of a surprise, but let's keep this in perspective," she said.

"It is important that we also stand forward and encourage women and what we should aim at is the glass ceiling, not other women."

The protesters stood at the entrance of the club for about an hour trying to gain access to the event.

They carried a large digitally-altered photo of Prime Minister Tony Abbott wearing heavy make-up and flower crown.

The protesters approached the club to try and gain membership.

The club said the female protesters were not welcome.

One of the protesters, Ivy Brennan, filled out a club membership form to try and gain access.

"Why is it being held? It doesn't make sense, I feel like it's a joke," Ms Brennan said.

"We thought we'd dress up as men and see how lenient they'd be with their membership laws."

The protesters asked women who walked into the club for the event how it felt to be celebrating their womanhood in a men-only club.

The group yelled out to other women inside: "Where is the sisterhood of woman?"

A worker at the club told the protesters to go away and get a life, to which a protester replied: "This is my life and I'm fighting for my rights".

The male protesters donned dresses and irons chained to their wrists.

A woman waits to enter the men's only Tattersall's Club for the LNP lunch as cross-dressed protesters are refused entry. ( ABC News: Giulio Saggin )

Protest organiser Shannon, who did not want to state her surname, said she thought it was a joke when the LNP announced its women's lunch was being held at the men-only club.

"I think just about every woman in the nation did [think it was a joke] until they realised that this was the harsh, shocking reality of how the LNP views the status of women that they celebrate it in a men's club in which they cannot be members," she said.

"That's who they give their money to for functions and then us women aren't actually allowed in to celebrate.

"We knew they wouldn't let us in as women, so we thought we'd try dressing as men to see how far we'd get - not very far.

"The fact that [the LNP] don't get that this is rubbing salt in the wounds to women - that says a lot frankly."

She said it showed how much change still had to happen.

"Maybe one of these days we'll be able to get a woman in the Office for Minister for Women and they'll do something more than repeal the carbon tax," she said.

"Maybe address something like domestic violence, which kills dozens and dozens of Australian women every year; maybe try and look at the pay gap inequality; maybe try and look at why we can't get into clubs like that advertise themselves the most prestigious for business and networking opportunities and we're not even allowed in."