About B&B > History
History
The beginning
In the early 1950's some members of the wine industry in Adelaide commenced the cheerful habit of lunching on Fridays. Most would bring a bottle of wine masked in a paper bag for the comments of their peers, which comments were sometimes more hilarious than accurate.
They met informally at the Imperial Hotel in a long narrow dining room, on a slightly raised dais at one end, from which they could observe and be observed by the other diners.
One day in 1954 they noted that other diners were observing them with interest and envy, because of their obvious enjoyment. The idea was floated that they form a club so that others could participate. From this serendipitous beginning Beefsteak and Burgundy was born.
On 1st April, 1954 the first official meeting of The Foundation Club, to become known as The Club, was held at the Ambassadors Hotel, Adelaide, South Australia. This meeting involved 8 people, now known as the First Eight.
A good idea endorsed
Following the first meeting, at which the First Eight invited guests, the membership doubled. The Committee that was formed agreed that a membership limit of 30 should apply and that additional prospective members should form a new club as a branch. This was to ensure that all members got to know each other and to encourage free and unrestrained discussion of particularly the wines that were served. Soon the membership limit of 30 was reached.
The first Branch Charter was given to Brighton, an Adelaide seaside suburb. It was quickly followed by Lockleys, Burnside and Edwardstown, all suburbs of Adelaide. Nagambie, a small Victorian country town, was the first interstate Branch Club formed, followed closely by Sydney with Charter No. 7. Hobart became Club Number 13, Perth was 14 and Cygnet (WA) 16 and Melbourne 18.
Overseas expansion
Then a big leap to London (Number 55), Wellington (60), Tokyo (126), Sudbury - Canada (193), Beijing (212) and St Francis – USA (214), now no longer in existence.
The distinctive Beefsteak and Burgundy tie design was settled upon in 1957 and 300 were ordered in French material. They are now woven in Australia.
The formation of the London Club in 1965 was considered a landmark in the history of Beefsteak and Burgundy, so much so that the Charter should be presented by someone whose long service would allow them to represent all other Clubs. The natural choice was George Fairbrother, the Winemaster for The Club, and this idea was so well received that members throughout Australia set up a fund to help pay George’s expense.
General Secretary appointed
In 1966 a general secretariat was established and the first General Secretary, E. (Toby) Clay appointed to take care of the general administration. Following his retirement in 1981 Bill Russell took over until his untimely death in 1994. Bill Dand was subsequently appointed and Bill was followed by John Macklin. In 2009 Craig Thornquest took up the position.
On 13 July 1966 charters were presented simultaneously in the national capitals of Australia (Canberra, Club No 59) and New Zealand (Wellington, Club No 60).
The first convention
Only two years after the formation of Beefsteak and Burgundy the SA Clubs decided it would be a good idea to hold a convention to enable the clubs to get together. The fist one was held in 1956. Next year another was held, this time with eleven Clubs represented, including Nagambie, Victoria (Club No 6).
Surfers Paradise Club (Club No 22) hosted the first interstate national gathering of Beefsteak and Burgundy in 1964. The Convention was attended by the Foundation President, the Charter President of Lockleys SA (No 2) and delegates from Somerton, Brighton, Millicent (all SA Clubs), Nagambie, (Victoria); Launceston, Tasmania; Sydney and North Sydney, NSW; and Alice Springs (Northern Territory).
The first truly representative convention was in Adelaide in 1968, the second in Manley (NSW) as host on 1970, in Adelaide again in 1972, and a milestone: the twentieth anniversary in 1974 with the Coolangatta-Tweed Heads as host and the first presentation of a written history of the Club.
Life memberships introduced
That same year The Club committee introduced the concept of a Branch Life Membership. The 20th anniversary of the Beefsteak and Burgundy Club was the appropriate time to recognize those members who had made a significant contribution to a Branch Club.
Based on the criteria drawn up by The Club, a Brach Club could submit an application that a certificate of life membership be awarded to a member for long and outstanding service. To date 412 life members have been the recipient of the framed certificate as a permanent record of their achievement together with a lapel pin which denotes to all members their status with Beefsteak and Burgundy.
A further milestone came in the following year with the issue of Charter No.150 to King Island Beefsteak and Burgundy Club.
For the 1976 convention in Adelaide, the highlight was a memorable and magnificent gourmet dinner attended by a capacity gathering of 252. For the first time no smoking was permitted during the nine course meal, an innovation that even some well-kippered members were heard to grudgingly approve.
Ladies club chartered
Other customs were changing too, and on 8 November 1976 the first Humble Petition presented by ladies only was received, and Charter No. 167 was issued to Alexandra Beefsteak and Burgundy Club, Adelaide. It was not long before the second ladies club was formed; Bayettes of Adelaide, Charter No. 169.Ladies clubs subsequently spread from South Australia (four clubs) to Queensland (two clubs) and the Northern Territory (three clubs). The challenge has been met with the first overseas ladies clubs being chartered in 2005; the Shanghai Ladies (Club No. 256). Currently there are 11 ladies clubs.
There are also a number of clubs that chartered with mixed membership while some existing clubs have decided to extend membership to ladies. This concept has been embraced with enthusiasm and there are now 45 mixed clubs in Australia and New Zealand and one overseas.
Prior to the 1978 convention the first eight were photographed as a group, an historic picture well guarded in Club records. The ensuring luncheon was historic as it had been many years since they had all met together. They could have been forgiven for a feeling of wonderment of the subsequent outcomes of their original luncheon.
Beefsteak and Burgundy has never had to undertake one of the uneasy things called a membership drive. It has never been necessary. Charter Petitions have arrived from places which astounded members of The Club, including; Sudbury and Stonetown in Ontario, Canada; Beijing and Shanghai in China; Miri in Sarawak, Malaysia; Rio de Janeiro in Brazil; Edinburgh in Scotland; and Copenhagen, Denmark.
Medallion created
What better way could there be to acknowledge those clubs who had spread the message and kept the dream alive in striking a 25 Year Silver Medallion, to be presented to Clubs ‘which had come of age’. This award is a prized possession of those clubs who have achieved this milestone. It is worn with pride at club functions and handed down to incoming Presidents for safe keeping.
In 2004 when The Club celebrated 50 years it was decided that to recognize branch clubs reaching this milestone in the future, a 50 Year Gold Medallion should be struck. These are presented to clubs, often at in association with a celebratory dinner at which past presidents and others are invited to share the history of 50 years.
Overseas convention
The first overseas convention was held in Wellington, New Zealand, in 1984.Some 120 intrepid Australians, led by the ‘International’ President, were treated to the very best the New Zealand has to offer , sampling Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir to die for. The New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister was on hand to extend an official welcome at the banquet, where the main course – only one guess – was Beef Wellington. The convention closed with a traditional Maori hangi at Raukawa Marae at Otaki.
Incorporation and public liability
With the growth of the movement came increased responsibilities. In 1981 The Club became an incorporated association in order to limit the liability of members to, amongst other things, unpaid subscriptions. At that time The Club recommended Branch Clubs consider becoming incorporated associations under their respective State legislation. To date 36 Branch Clubs have become incorporated.
Similarly The Club has had public liability insurance since the late 1950’s. This insurance cover was the responsibility of Branch Clubs and a scheme for individual clubs was in existence until 1988 when The Club negotiated a policy to cover all clubs throughout Australia and New Zealand.
During 2002 a government scheme was introduced in New Zealand and those branch clubs were deleted from The Club policy in 2002.
During a personal world tour in 1993, Past President Keith Gramp visited seven overseas clubs and presented Charter No. 229 to Miri in Sarawak, Malaysia, and welcomed Club No. 227, Stonetown (Canada) to Beefsteak and Burgundy.
Growth of overseas clubs
The number of overseas clubs has continued to grow with the addition of clubs from Brazil (Club No. 235) in 1996; Shanghai, China (Club No. 238) in 1997; Bangkok, Thailand (Club. No. 249) in 2002; Singapore (Club No. 253) in 2004; Copenhagen, Denmark (Club No. 255) in 2005; Shanghai Ladies, China (Club No. 256) in 2005; Shanghai Cosmopolitans (Club No. 261 in 2008 and Edinburgh (Club No. 263) in 2008.
Continuing growth
Many of the steady flow of new clubs had names which reflect the originality and humour of the members: the all ladies Blumers in Queensland, Bundles in Victoria, Black Swan (cheekily in South Australia and not Western Australia).
Amongst the most unusual were Erewon and Law’N’ Order (that’s right, police security officers and other keepers of the peace) in South Australia. Other colorful names include Les Femme Rouge, Middleback and New Age in South Autralia; and Ad Astra One and Nital in Victoria. Enjoyment is obiously a high priority in the Northern Territory with The Never Never Ladies, Troppo Femmes and Uncorked Darwin.
The Beefsteak and Burgundy Club Inc. now has 189 Branch Clubs in Australia covering every State and Territory, and 21 others around the world. The overseas Clubs are 10 in New Zealand, 1 in England, 1 in Scotland, 1 in Japan, 3 in Peoples Republic of China, 2 in Canada, 1 in United States of America 1 in Brazil, 1 in Singapore and 1 in Denmark.
Additional overseas Clubs are in the process of being formed and enquiries to establish new clubs are most welcome.
In summary
To sum up these years. Each member will have their own memories of wine, good and bad; of friendships made; of laughter across the table (such as the time when Tom Hardy , an Adelaide Winemaster, put on the same masked reds as ‘Number 1’ and ‘Number 2’ and listened to the members point out the many differences). Most of all, as a chance to know a little about wines, and to make mistakes in uncritical company.