The Lyceum Club Melbourne
The Melbourne Lyceum Club has a long and proud history of contributing to the cultural life of Melbourne. Since its founding in 1912 the aim of the Lyceum Club has been to provide generations of women with a safe and comfortable place to meet in the city, to forge and sustain friendships and to engage in intellectual and cultural pursuits in an apolitical, non-sectarian, warm and welcoming environment.
The Club has been highly influential in the lives of generations of Victorian women. Early Club members were some of the first female graduates from The University of Melbourne, as well as distinguished artists, writers and contributors to our society.
The Club currently hosts over 70 different circles of interest, monthly club lunches and dinners and special events throughout the year, often with distinguished speakers.
Membership is open to women with university qualifications, women who have distinguished themselves in art, science, medicine, music, or literature or who have taken a prominent part in education and women who have rendered important public service.
Interstate and overseas
Brief History of The Lyceum Club Melbourne
Founded in 1912
The Lyceum Club in Melbourne was founded in 1912 by a group of educated women, following enthusiastic support at a public meeting. Its model was the London Lyceum Club, created in 1904, whose aims were to provide women members with congenial surroundings and the promotion of lifelong learning.
March 1912
In Melbourne the Lyceum Club’s foundation meeting in March 1912 numbered 25 women in a rented room on the corner of Collins and Elizabeth Streets. As described in ‘Circles of Friendship’ (Janette Bomford, 2012) the new club ‘would provide generations of their sisters with a safe and comfortable place to meet in the city, to forge and sustain friendships and to engage in intellectual and cultural pursuits’. Membership, then and now, is open to ‘women connected with or distinguished in literature, science, education, music or art, philanthropy, journalism, social or public service and the learned professions’.
1913 International admission
In 1913 the Club was admitted to the International Association of Lyceum Clubs, which holds a Congress every three years. Ours is the largest and most active Lyceum Club in the world.
1915 Circles of friendship
In 1915 the Club’s first discussion group or Circle was formed and these special interest Circles (now numbering 60) are considered the lifeblood of the Club.
1947 Membership limit raised
Membership numbers steadily increased and the Club moved four times to ever-larger rented premises. In 1947 the membership limit was raised to 1200 to ‘absorb a long and patient waiting list’
1957 A new club built
In 1957 members made the bold decision to build their own club in Ridgway Place.
2018 Award winning renovation
In 2018 an additional award-winning floor was added to accommodate the many activities offered to our 1400+ members.
The Lyceum Club acknowledges the land and Songlines of the Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation. We acknowledge and pay respect to their Elders, past and present.
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