History - Graaff-Reinet Club

Wellfound Cricket Shield

Donated by Llewellyn Biggs, the Wellfound Shield was introduced to provide a prize for the second league.

Garratt Locomotive

The GMA Class Garratt was the most popular steam locomotive used by the South African Railways. (120 units built between 1953 and 1958.) Known for their articulated design, these locomotives provided greater power and could navigate tight curves making them ideal for South Africa’s challenging terrain. From the early 1980s until 1988, GMA’s regularly served Graaff-Reinet, particularly over Lootsberg Pass.

Coldstream Clock 1860

The Coldstream Guards stationed in Graaff-Reinet from 1900-1902, gifted a clock to the Club. Despite a dent from when it "struck club steward Willie Deane," the clock functions with precision. (Records of the incident are vague.)
Having mysteriously disappeared in 1985, it was recovered albeit with damage.
Thanks to Mr. ES Whitlock, the clock was expertly repaired.

German Schutzgebiet

In World War I, the Union of South Africa (being part of the British Empire) was tasked with capturing key ports and disabling the German wireless station in Windhoek, South West Africa. South African forces faced harsh desert conditions, but by May 1915 they had occupied Windhoek. The campaign ended with the German surrender at Khorab in July 1915.

Welchman Cricket Shield

Walter Henry Lawrence Welchman, born in Brooklyn in 1852, became a respected doctor in Graaff- Reinet after studying in Britain. He served as Railway Medical Officer, Senior Medical Officer at the Midland Hospital and Chairman of the Graaff Reinet Club. Dr Welchman was a passionate cricketer. As President of the local cricket club, he donated the Welchman Shield - a key prize in local tournaments.

South-African Legion

South Africa was pivotal in forming veterans' organisations like the Royal British Legion and the Royal Canadian Legion, both conceived at a 1921 meeting in Cape Town. This gathering, attended by figures like Field Marshal Earl Haig and General J.C. Smuts, aimed to support World War I veterans.

The British Empire Service League in South Africa evolved into the South African Legion, advocating for veterans' rights, securing housing, and achieving racial parity in pensions by 1986/87. The Legion's legacy is honoured through items displayed at the Graaff Reinet Club, reflecting it’s support for South African and Commonwealth veterans.

About Us

Established in 1875 as a social club for gentlemen, the Graaff-Reinet Club is the third oldest Club in South Africa. ( Durban Club – 1854, P.E. Club – 1866.) Having been completed in 1886 at a cost of £3300, the building holds the distinction of being the oldest in this country to be designed specifically as a club for gentlemen. The building was designed by Mr H.Henchman and construction was overseen by a Mr Borrell from Uitenhage.

Mr. C.A. Neser, the first chairman, played a pivotal role in the early development of the Club. (Mr. Neser served on the Church Council and contributed to the construction of the “Groot Kerk” by supplying stone from his quarry.) The Club’s balustrades mirror those of the Church. The building originally featured a Snooker Hall, Reading Room, Cards Room and Bar, whilst the northern wing served as the steward’s residence.

During the Anglo-Boer War, the Club extended honorary membership to officers of the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards. At the peace celebrations in 1902, British officers fired shots into the bar counter, the repairs of which remain visible today. In a gesture of apology, the officers gifted the Club with a clock which adorns the bar.

The Club has consistently evolved to meet the needs of its members. The tennis court was transformed into a bowling green before being repurposed as parking space to accommodate the arrival of the motor car. A significant milestone in the Club’s history saw ladies being admitted as members in 1996. The former steward’s residence now houses the Coldstream Restaurant and the Willie Deane Hall, once the Snooker Hall, serves as a venue capable of seating one hundred guests.

The Club caters for both traditional and modern tastes, offering a blend of historic and contemporary amenities. The current Snooker Room caters for local championships whilst a Pool table draws a younger crowd.

The Club is equipped with conference facilities making it ideal for weddings, functions and events. The grounds provide a picturesque setting with splendid views of the Groot Kerk and surrounds. With it’s rich history and impressive facilities, the Graaff-Reinet Club remains the focal point of the community.

What defines a Gentleman?

A gentleman always uses a butter knife, even when dining alone.
A gentleman makes anonymous donations and refrains from naming public spaces or buildings after himself if possible.
A gentleman distinguishes between legal and moral standards. For him, laws are not the measure of conduct but rather a last resort, the outer limits to be enforced only when morality has failed.
A gentleman is never unintentionally rude. — Oscar Wilde.