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]
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:
^"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.
^"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.
^"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.
^"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.
^"Obituary". Construction. Vol. XLX, no. 1578. New South Wales, Australia. 29 June 1938. p. 5. Retrieved 27 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"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.
^"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.