In years gone by, the leather armchairs at the Tattersall’s club in Brisbane were seats of power. Decisions and deals had long been made there by men, away from prying eyes, behind the closed marble and glass doors.



On Wednesday, the club will announce the results of a ballot on whether to allow women to join. Twice in the past 12 years members have voted against a similar proposal. But this time the process has sparked a more serious existential crisis for patrons of the Queen street establishment.

Some think it might restore some status to a club now blacklisted by the premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, and her majority-female state cabinet. Many others seem to think it would amount to the admission of prying eyes.

“The club is a good refuge for men from the bombardment of daily business life (and to some extent women),” one member, Nick, wrote on a website set up to campaign against female membership.

“It is important that is preserved. We need some quiet time to have a bit of lunch, read the papers, gather our thoughts, have a quiet chat with a mate, get a hair cut etc. etc.

“Reports in the press that the Queensland Labor ministers will boycott a male-only club is all the reason needed to keep it that way.”



Tattersall’s prides itself on its broad professional networks and its role “in the growth of Brisbane”. The club picks about 100 people to be honorary members; usually a selection of prominent and influential men, including sports stars and politicians. Women are allowed in, if invited, but cannot become members.

In 2015, for the first time ever, the premier and deputy premier of Queensland did not receive invitations to join, because they did not meet the strict male-only criteria. Palaszczuk and Jackie Trad led a cabinet of mostly women. Male ministers also turned down their memberships, leading to an effective boycott by the government.

“When doors are closed to women, men and women will demand they open them,” Palaszczuk said. “Tattersall’s should open its doors. Until they change their policy, my ministers won’t be attending functions there.”

Guardian Australia understands the club’s committee has discussed concerns about the impact the public denouncement has had on other aspects of the business. Corporate sponsors have been reluctant to sanction events. Other functions have been outright criticised.

Most notable was a Liberal National party fundraiser, a breakfast for International Women’s Day.

The club’s current president, Stuart Fraser, is an LNP backroom figure and the party’s treasurer. In a recent video message to members, Fraser said the club needed to address its falling patronage. It has debts of about $10m.

“We started this conversation because many of you were coming in less, and we wanted to know why,” Fraser said in the message to members. “You told us that the financial security of our club was the most important thing to you and you told us increasing patronage should be our focus.

“A yes vote will return this club to a busy social space and a respected member of our community.

“We have all witnessed with great disappointment a small, vocal and anonymous group acting free of scrutiny of their motivations and short on truth.”

The month-long postal vote process has become increasingly nasty. Prominent club members, including a newly appointed supreme court justice, signed a letter attempting to change the club’s voting rules before the verdict on allowing women members.

Columns in the News Corp owned Courier-Mail have suggested Fraser is using the vote to further his political ambitions, which would be hampered by having led a male-only club.

A campaign website has also been established to push the case for a “no” vote. It has become a forum for members, posting anonymously, to air their views. Many suggested they would resign their memberships if women were allowed in.

“Well intentioned or otherwise, the move to allow female membership can only end in the complete financial ruin of the club and, of course, the complete destruction of the foundation of the club we all joined,” one member wrote.

The club’s motto, Amicita Vita Est, translates to “friendship is life”.

“This issue might not mean much to you, but we guarantee you have a mate in the club to whom it matters a great deal,” the website Tatts Myths posted. “So if the issue means nothing to you either way, vote no to support your mates.”