Downs Club

About

The Downs Club is a private members club founded on 20 July 1889. The new brick clubhouse was completed in May 1900, with the Centenary Room added for the 1989 centenary. The kitchen was renovated in 2013, and the club celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2014. The building is heritage-listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, added on 4 December 2020. More details can be found in the club history.

Facilities

The club features multiple indoor and outdoor rooms and members-only facilities, including the Centenary Room, Middle Dining, Cocktail Bar, Reading Room, Billiard Room, Cellar, Garden Marquee, and Stranger's & Committee Room. There is a private members' bar, an award-winning cellar, billiard and poker tables, a fully equipped commercial kitchen, private dining rooms, and on-site parking for approximately 40 cars. For more information, visit the club facilities page.

Dining

The club offers private dining and silver-service options for members and guests, with dedicated dining rooms such as Middle Dining. The in-house chefs provide a la carte, themed, and degustation menus for members and functions, along with regular wine, beer, and spirit tastings. The dining facilities also include glassware hire for functions.

Events

The club hosts a regular programme of events, including Members’ Free Roast on the first Wednesday of each month, Committee Dinner on the second Wednesday, and various seasonal sport events. Other notable events include the Melbourne Cup Calcutta and Lunch, an annual Gala Ball, wine dinners, themed dinners, and charity events. For a complete schedule, refer to the events calendar.

Membership

The Downs Club offers multiple membership categories, including Town, Country, Corporate, Life, Honorary, Absent, Member in retirement, Special retired town, Over 40 years member, and Junior. Subscription rates vary, with Town membership at $1,500 per annum and Country membership at $840 per annum. New applicants must be nominated and seconded by current members and pass a committee review and ballot. Detailed information can be found on the membership options page.

Networking Opportunities

Members can network through private dining, members-only functions, tastings, and committee dinners. The club also provides access to reciprocal clubs when traveling, enhancing networking opportunities. More details are available on the networking opportunities page.

Business Services

The club offers private dining and meeting spaces for corporate functions, offsite catering for members’ events, and cashless transactions through member account/card billing. Additional information can be found on the business services page.

Leisure Activities

On-site leisure activities include a reading room, billiard room, poker tables, wine tastings, and themed dinners. The club also supports seasonal sporting activities. Further details can be found on the leisure activities page.

Sports Facilities

The club organizes seasonal sporting competitions and events in tennis, golf, and cricket. The schedule for these activities is available on the sports facilities page.

Dress Code

A gentlemen’s dress standard applies at the club. This includes a tailored long-sleeve business shirt with a collar, short-sleeve collared business shirts permitted until 6 PM, tailored slacks, clean dress jeans until 6 PM, and enclosed shoes or leather dress boots. Some events may specify alternate standards, which can be reviewed on the dress code page.

Special Events

Flagship and recurring special events at the club include the Melbourne Cup Calcutta and Lunch, the annual Gala Ball, wine dinners, themed dinners, and charity events such as Ladies High Tea. The club also hosts private weddings and externally booked special functions. More information can be found on the special events page.

Affiliations

The Downs Club maintains reciprocal relationships with various Australian and international private clubs, including the Brisbane Club, United Services Club, and Tattersall’s Club Qld, among others. The club also has established links with numerous Australian wineries. For a complete list, visit the affiliations page.