6-499: The Western Australian Turf Club (WATC), later known as Perth Racing , is a members club in Perth, Western Australia. It was established in the 19th century during the colonial period, was modelled after Turf Clubs in England, and operated as an elite social club. Since its inception it has been the primary administrator of Western Australia's horse racing sector. The club manages
12-592: A hundred years or so earlier the name had been claimed by Dr Johnson and Sir Joshua Reynolds for their renowned dining society. The Turf Club moved in 1875 to the corner of Piccadilly and Clarges Street. The new building at 85 Piccadilly, designed by John Norton , remained the clubhouse for ninety years until the Club decided to sell the extremely valuable freehold. In 1965, the Turf Club moved to its current home at 5 Carlton House Terrace , SW1Y 5AQ, overlooking
18-582: The Ascot Racecourse and Belmont Park Racecourse . Many of its racing-related functions were taken over by the body Racing and Wagering Western Australia in 2003. The club was one of Perth's two most prominent members clubs in early Western Australia, along with the Weld Club . Many of its members were prominent families in the city's business and agricultural sectors, political or colonial elite, and successful professionals. Premier George Leake
24-631: The Mall . Carlton House Terrace itself was designed and built by John Nash , the successful Regency architect, between 1827 and 1833. The freehold of Number 5 belongs to the Crown Estate and the lease was held by the Earls of Caledon from 1830 until 1929, and its residents included Lord Palmerston ; John Hay , the U.S. Ambassador ; Emerald, Lady Cunard (mother of Nancy Cunard ); and Harry Gordon Selfridge , founder of Selfridges . The following
30-706: Was the chairman until his death in 1902. Many parliamentarians around the time of Australia's federation were also members of either the Turf or Weld club. Turf Club (gentlemen%27s club) The Turf Club is a London gentlemen's club , established in 1861 as the Arlington Club . It has been located at 5, Carlton House Terrace since 1965. The Turf Club was founded in 1861 as the Arlington Club, with premises in Bennett Street, Piccadilly. It
36-553: Was while there that a committee of the Arlington, consisting of George Bentinck , Sir Rainald Knightley , Charles C. Greville , H. B. Mayne, John Bushe, G. Payne, and Colonel Pipon, under the chairmanship of John Clay MP, drew up the laws of whist , officially sanctioned by the Portland Club in 1864. Members had originally wished to call themselves simply The Club until it was discovered that they had been beaten to it:
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