BGC History Tour Celebrates 129 Years of Club Heritage

The recent Brisbane Golf Club (BGC) History Tour offered a captivating journey through the Club’s 129-year legacy, uniting past and present in celebration of our rich heritage. Organised in partnership with the Annerley-Stephens History Group (ASHG), the event brought together ASHG President Pauline Peel, committee members, and BGC members for a morning of storytelling, reflection, and community connection.

Hosted by Club President Deb Kember, the tour was brought to life by long-standing members Mike O’Shea, Rob Hollingworth, and Greg Mellifont. They generously shared anecdotes of historical milestones, notable personalities, and natural history, while also showcasing the enduring charm of hickory golf. Their stories painted a vivid portrait of how the Club has evolved—from a humble vision into the vibrant, award-winning community it is today.

Many of the tales shared were drawn from The Fairway is Mine, a publication authored by former Club President Bruce Richter in honour of BGC’s centenary in 1996. This vital work chronicled the Club’s first 100 years and continues to serve as a key reference for understanding the Club’s beginnings.

The BGC story officially began on 4 November 1896, when 11 golf enthusiasts met to discuss forming Brisbane’s first golf club. Within weeks, 52 members played the first holes on makeshift fairways spanning backyards and vacant lots in Chelmer. The Club’s early days were shaped by a strong sense of community and vision.

Lord Lamington, Queensland’s 30-year-old Governor at the time, was invited to be the first Club President. He famously struck the first ceremonial drive on the Chelmer links and donated the Lamington Cup—an event still contested by members today. His portrait, now proudly displayed in the clubhouse foyer, was reproduced from an original discovered and purchased in England during the Club’s 120th anniversary in 2016. The original now hangs in Government House, thanks to the efforts of Dianne Byrne from the State Library of Queensland, who gifted BGC a high-quality copy.

In a progressive move for the time, the Club welcomed female members in April 1898. By July, 12 women had signed up for lessons with a visiting golf professional and soon formed a committee to organise competitions and handicaps—laying the foundation for today’s strong women’s program at the Club.

As Chelmer became increasingly urbanised, the need for a more permanent home prompted the Club’s relocation to Yeerongpilly in 1904, where we continue to flourish as a top 100 golfing community.

The History Tour concluded with an invitation to all members: to help mark the 130th anniversary of the Club’s formation by contributing photographs and short stories from personal collections. These contributions will form part of a broader initiative to preserve and share the Club’s living history with future generations.

More details about the 130th anniversary celebrations will be shared later this year.

Click here to view the presentation.