Sydney Savage Club

Sydney Savage Club is, or was, a social club in Sydney, Australia, associated with the London Savage Club, named after the poet, Richard Savage, and was formed to bring together literary men connected with literature, the arts, sport or science.

History

The first iteration of the Sydney club was founded in the 1880s[1] as a meeting-place for artists and writers. Its meetings were called "corroborees". The club disbanded sometime in the 19th-century.

The concept of the Savage Club was introduced to Sydney in 1930 by H. L. S Havyatt, a New Zealander, who organised receptions in Australia for the "kiwi" aviator Francis Chichester who had flown solo from Britain, narrowly beaten to the record by Bert Hinkler.[2]

The Sydney Savage Club was formed, or re-formed, in 1934 under rules adopted from the London Club, and sponsored by the Kindred Clubs Association of New Zealand, where Savage Clubs were numerous.[3] Havyatt was appointed chairman of the ways and means committee, with joint secretaries E. A. Richards and C. H. Dickinson.[4] The first club meeting elected Havyatt as Chief Savage[5] and E. A. Richards secretary.[6]

Joe Collins was elected Chief Savage in 1936. Other members were Alfred Hill, violinist Lloyd Davies,[7] Harry Julius,[8] and Charles Bryant. James Brunton Gibb was Chief Savage in 1937.[9] Lindley Evans was president in 1954.[10]

The Sydney Savage Club was a strong supporter of Australian literature.[11][12] In 1965 "Inky" Stephensen was given a standing ovation by an audience of Sydney Savages after a his long tirade against what he saw as the Australian pursuit of mediocrity.[13]

Other cities

Savage Clubs were formed in other Australian cities:

References
  1. "Savage Club Social". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 15, 861. New South Wales, Australia. 22 January 1889. p. 8. Retrieved 26 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. "Mr Chichester". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 28, 723. New South Wales, Australia. 25 January 1930. p. 16. Retrieved 27 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. "The London Savage Club Moves On". Sydney Mail. Vol. XLIX, no. 1259. New South Wales, Australia. 13 May 1936. p. 11. Retrieved 27 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. "Savage Club". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 30, 121. New South Wales, Australia. 18 July 1934. p. 12. Retrieved 27 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. "Non-Ferocious Meeting of Savages". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). Vol. 4, no. 140. New South Wales, Australia. 28 July 1934. p. 9. Retrieved 27 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. "Getting Personal". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). Vol. I, no. 49. New South Wales, Australia. 18 May 1936. p. 6. Retrieved 27 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "These Men Make News". The Daily Telegraph. Vol. I, no. 76. New South Wales, Australia. 18 June 1936. p. 6. Retrieved 27 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. "Obituary". Construction. Vol. XLX, no. 1578. New South Wales, Australia. 29 June 1938. p. 5. Retrieved 27 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ""Savages" and "Moon-eyed Lubras"". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). Vol. II, no. 136. New South Wales, Australia. 27 August 1937. p. 10. Retrieved 27 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. "Seen Out And About". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 28 October 1954. p. 10 Section: Women's Section. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  11. "Topical Talk". The Australian Worker. Vol. 46, no. 49. New South Wales, Australia. 8 December 1937. p. 3. Retrieved 27 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. "Australian Literature Not Appreciated". The Morning Bulletin. No. 22271. Queensland, Australia. 13 December 1937. p. 13. Retrieved 27 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. "Writers' World". The Canberra Times. Vol. 58, no. 17, 835. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 28 July 1984. p. 16. Retrieved 27 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. "South Australia" The Queenslander 27 October 1883 p.691
  15. "Out among the People". The Advertiser. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 24 February 1937. p. 25. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  16. The West Australian 15 August 1896
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