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Foundation<BR>
The RS (Returned Soldiers) and SILA (Sailor's Imperial League of Australia), later the RSS (Returned Soldiers and Sailors) and AILA (Airmen Imperial League of Australia), were set up to represent the returned service personnel of World War 1, both for commemorative events and as a pressure group for the rights of ex-service men and women. It operated through a network of local branches. Alongside, chiefly to preserve comradeship, associations of various wartime units existed. From 1918 here were several attempts to form Gallipoli Associations. None endured until 1934 when, on 6th September, a meeting at the State Shopping Block, Market Street, Sydney resolved to form 'a legion to perpetuate the comradeship and preserve the spirit of Anzac'.
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The meeting, the result of some advance preparation and publicity, drew up a constitution, limited membership to AIF and New Zealand personnel who had landed at Gallipoli and chose a steering committee. The constitution was adopted on 18th October. Membership grew rapidly - to 800 by the time of the first Annual Meeting on 30th January 1935. The Legion met in various premises, mostly at Empire House, Castlereagh Street. It conducted commemorative and representational occasions. By mid 1937 it had 1,400 members and had sponsored the formation of a Victorian Branch. In 1938 there were 1,550 members in New South Wales and 1,000 in Victoria.
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Large-scale clubs of the type associated with the RSL in the post-World War 1 had not yet developed. But a number of branches, and independent groups, did form clubs for fraternity and refreshment. In 1935 there had been a move to create an 'Anzac Naval and Military Club'. It did not proceed until 1937 when, on 1st October, a Gallipoli Legion of Anzacs Club was founded.
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The Club, open to all returned men, had rooms at Wall House, Loftus Street. In 1938 it moved to rented premises at 16-20 Young Street, opened on 26th November by WM Hughes. By this time the Club had 1,600 members, including non-Anzac 'associates'.
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The Legion and the Club were separate entities with differing membership requirements. In practice, the Legion committee was in control of both, though the two were not formally joined until 1949. Club and Legion worked vigorously, especially during World War 11, when repatriation and welfare problems became important. A Brisbane branch of the Legion was founded in 1940 and a monthly Gazette was published. There were branches at Newcastle (with a club) and at Lismore.
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The Young Street premises, which were rented, proved to be inadequate and were soon required by the owners. After considerable search, the premises 12-14 Loftus Street were purchased from the Perpetual Trustee Company. The executive first met in the new premises on 16th February 1946, which were opened officially by WM Hughes on 15th November 1947.
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Loftus Street Building<BR>
In moving from Young to Loftus Street, the Legion and Club were staying in the same district. The Circular Quay area was not the busiest part of the city. It was well removed from the retail centre and from most of the principal offices. Since 1932, the Harbour Bridge had propelled much traffic further south. The wool trade of former days had long departed to Darling Harbour. But many of Sydney's trams terminated at Circular Quay as did the remaining ferries. The principal government offices were in the vicinity, also some of the older commercial firms. The Club premises were thus convenient without being unduly expensive.
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In the 1950's there were signs of change. The Circular Quay railway was opened in 1955; the Goldsborough Mort building gave way to the first AMP 'sky scraper'; and Opera House plans were unveiled. The popularity of the Circular Quay district began to grow. The Gallipoli Club was finding itself more favourably pleased.
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The Legion and the Club progressed rapidly in the 1950's. Fortified by a new constitution, they were able to take advantage of the special place given by returned servicemen of both wars to Gallipoli veterans. Further branches of the Legion were formed and land for a bowling club was leased at North Sydney in 1951.
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In 1947, the Club occupied only a small portion of the Loftus Street premises. Gradually, in the 1950's, more space came to be used as existing tenants vacated. In 1952-3, Morrow and Gordon carried out some remodelling and installed a new fire escape. By 1961, the Club had occupied the first floor as an administration and recreation area and the second for a lounge, dance space and library. The National Bank occupied remodelled space on the No 14 ground floor.
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Meanwhile, City Council plans for Circular Quay improvement prompted a proposal in 1960 by the owners of no's 10 and 16 Loftus Street for a 14 storey building on the whole site. The Club was unable to make the necessary financial arrangements and the proposal lapsed.
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Instead, the Club initiated discussions with McConnell, Smith and Johnson for the extensive renovation of the entire premises. It was agreed, on Smith's recommendation, that the basic character of the façade be retained. It took several versions and much financial negotiation to produce a result in 1964. There was a new fenestration at the front and the stone wall dividing the first and second floor levels was removed. All offices were now on the ground floor and there was provision for a large kitchen on the first. There was new panelling and flooring throughout. Governor Northcott opened the rebuilt Club on 4th July 1964. At this time, the Club had 1,227 members - 625 from the Legion, 534 'ordinary', 38 serving personnel and 30 social. The Gallipoli Club was now fully operational.
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History<BR>
An association of Gallipoli Veterans was formed in Sydney in 1916 by those who had been discharged from the AIF because of wounds received in the Gallipoli campaign. This association together with a number of other groups met during the next 17 years. The Gallipoli Legion of Anzacs was formed in 1934.
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The number of members swelled the war and separate associations of the same name were formed in each state, and in NSW in Newcastle, Northern Rivers and elsewhere as well as Sydney.
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The GLA remained always separate from the RSL although a number were of course members of each association. The requisite qualification for membership of GLA was to have served in the British Forces on the Gallipoli Peninsula between April and December 1915.
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In the years between World War 1 and World war 11, the GLA leased premises in Sydney near Circular Quay. Eventually at the end of World War 11 it was able to buy two adjacent properties: Nos. 12 and 14 Loftus Street.
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These had been woolstores in the 1890's and were separately converted to offices in the 1920's and 1930's. The GLA bought title under the Real Property Act, connected the buildings to create one floor on each of the first and second floors and opened as the Gallipoli Legion of Anzacs Club.
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In the 1960's, although full membership was still restricted to those with war service in 1915 at Gallipoli, associate membership included sons of Anzacs and Returned Servicemen of World War 11 were admitted.
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New South Wales legislation of about 1970 made compulsory the incorporation of controlling bodies of licensed clubs. Incorporation was required under either the Companies Act or the Co-Operative Act. The legislation at the time required a director of 70 years and over to receive the votes of 50% of those entitled to vote. As postal ballots rarely returned more than 50% of voting papers, those clauses effectively prevented the GLA from its membership club and so led to the formation of the Gallipoli Memorial Club Limited from its membership base to take over the property and to perpetuate the ideals of the Gallipoli Anzacs.
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Successively, building alterations to improve the club have been undertaken and the eligibility for membership widened. As in succession WW1, WW11 returned servicemen dwindled in numbers, we have accepted servicemen and servicewomen and citizens in general, all subscribing to our Creed.
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During the 1990's the Directors of the Club have been negotiating with developers for the refurbishment of the Loftus Street Club premises. As a prelude to this refurbishment,m the Club leased premises at 2 Castlereagh Street. The 'Dugout' Bar and Restaurant, as it was named, commenced trading on the 18th March 1998.
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At an extraordinary general meeting of members held at Loftus Street on 23rd March 1998, members gave their approval for the Directors to enter into an agreement with Mirvac Projects Pty Ltd for the demolition of the old Club building and the erection of a 15 storey building which would include four floors of Club premises and a basement museum.
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Gallipoli Art Prize<BR>
The Gallipoli Art Prize Competition commenced in 2006 and will be conducted annually up to and inclusive of the Centenary Year 2015.
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The Gallipoli Art Prize Organising Committee invites any eligible artist (see entry conditions below) to submit a painting for the Gallipoli Art Prize, which will be administered by the Gallipoli Memorial Club Limited (hereafter referred to as the Club) and under the control of the Gallipoli Art Prize Organizing Committee.
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The directors of the Club invite any eligible artist to submit a painting, subject to the conditions below, in competition for the Gallipoli Art Prize of $15,000 which includes the Club's acquisition of the work for the Gallipoli Memorial Club Museum Fund.
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The Gallipoli Art Prize will be awarded to the artist who best depicts the spirit of the Gallipoli Campaign as expressed in the Club's "Creed".
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Those heroes that shed their blood<BR>
And lost their lives...<BR>
You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country.<BR>
Therefore, rest in peace.<BR>
There is no difference between the Johnnies<BR>
And the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side,<BR>
Here in this country of ours.<BR>
You, the mothers,<BR>
Who sent their sons from far away countries...<BR>
Wipe away your tears.<BR>
Your sons are now lying in our bosom<BR>
And are in peace.<BR>
After having lost their lives on this land, they have<BR>
Become our sons as well.<BR>
- Mustafa Kemal Ataturk
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