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Clubs · Top 10

The 10 Best Private Members' Clubs in Sydney (2027)

By Kory White · Updated Nov 2026 · 5 min read
Australian Club
Direct answer

The Australian Club is the best private members' club in Sydney, with the Union, University & Schools Club at #2 and Tattersalls Club at #3. The ranking weighs heritage and facilities first, then how clearly each club publishes its membership terms; most do not publish a price.

At a glance

#PickFoundedBest for
1Australian Club1838Members who want Sydney’s oldest club, with dining, bedrooms and a gym
2Union, University & Schools Club1857City professionals who want a club with a gym, pool and a long reciprocal list
3Tattersalls Club1858Members who want a full athletic department next to dining and a bar
4Royal Automobile Club of Australia1903Travellers who want city rooms and the widest reciprocal list here
5Royal Sydney Golf Club1893Golfers and families who want tennis, bowls and a fitness centre too
6Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron1862Sailors and non-sailors who want a Sydney Harbour clubhouse
7The Women’s Club1901Women who want a Hyde Park club with a library, lectures and rooms
8City Tattersalls Club1895City workers after a club with a long Sydney racing story
9New South Wales Golf Club1928Golfers who want a clifftop course by the Tasman Sea
10Cruising Yacht Club of Australia1944Offshore sailors who want a club tied to the Sydney Hobart race

Pick by what you want

Best overall
Australian Club
Best for fitness
Tattersalls Club
Best for travellers
Royal Automobile Club of Australia
Best for women
The Women’s Club
Best published prices
Cruising Yacht Club of Australia

The ranking

1

Australian Club

Australian Club
Photo: Collywolly / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictSydney’s oldest private club, with views of the Botanic Gardens.
Founded: 1838Address: 165 Macquarie Street, SydneyMembership: Men only; a 2021 vote on admitting women won 38 percent against the 75 percent requiredMembership cost: Not published

The Australian Club, founded in 1838, sits at 165 Macquarie Street with views of the Botanic Gardens and North Shore. It offers dining, en-suite bedrooms, a gym and a business centre. It is men only and does not publish its fees.

Go ifMembers who want Sydney’s oldest club, with dining, bedrooms and a gym
Skip ifYou want a club that admits women; the 2021 proposal failed
Why #1 over #2: Its age and Macquarie Street setting beat the Union, University & Schools Club for sheer heritage.
2

Union, University & Schools Club

Union, University & Schools Club
Answrs VerdictThe 1857 Union Club merged with the University and Schools clubs in 2007.
Founded: 1857Address: 25 Bent Street, SydneyReciprocal clubs: More than 120 clubs worldwideFacilities: Gym, pool and squash courts; accommodation and diningMembership cost: Not published

The Union, University & Schools Club at 25 Bent Street traces to the Union Club of 1857 and combined with the University and Schools clubs in 2007. Members get a gym, pool and squash courts plus more than 120 reciprocal clubs. Fees are not published.

Go ifCity professionals who want a club with a gym, pool and a long reciprocal list
Skip ifYou want published prices
Why #2 over #3: Its gym, pool and wide reciprocal list give more day-to-day use than Tattersalls Club.
3

Tattersalls Club

Tattersalls Club
Answrs VerdictFounded for the racing community, now built around fitness and dining.
Founded: 1858Address: 181 Elizabeth Street, SydneyJoining fee: $750; annual fees not publishedAthletics: Gym, squash court, heated indoor pool, sauna, steam room and ice bathsReciprocal clubs: More than 110 clubs worldwide

Tattersalls Club at 181 Elizabeth Street was founded in 1858 for the racing community. It now centres on an athletic department with a heated pool, squash court, sauna and ice baths. The joining fee is $750 and annual fees are not published.

Go ifMembers who want a full athletic department next to dining and a bar
Skip ifYou want published annual fees
Why #3 over #4: It publishes a joining fee, which the Royal Automobile Club of Australia does not.
4

Royal Automobile Club of Australia

Royal Automobile Club of Australia
Photo: Rangasyd / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictAustralia’s first automobile club, in a Macquarie Street clubhouse.
Founded: 1903Address: 89 Macquarie Street, SydneyReciprocal clubs: Over 200 clubs worldwideAccommodation: 28 rooms, with breakfast includedMembership cost: Not published on its website

The Royal Automobile Club of Australia, founded in 1903, runs a Macquarie Street clubhouse with 28 rooms, a gym and a Harbour Dining Room. Membership opens access to over 200 reciprocal clubs. Fees are not published on its website.

Go ifTravellers who want city rooms and the widest reciprocal list here
Skip ifYou want published fees on the club site
Why #4 over #5: Its 28 rooms and reciprocal list suit travellers better than the Royal Sydney Golf Club.
5

Royal Sydney Golf Club

Royal Sydney Golf Club
Photo: Tristanave / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictA harbourside sporting club with a Gil Hanse course renovation.
Founded: 1893Location: Rose Bay, SydneyFacilities: 18-hole Championship Course, 9-hole Centenary Course and 18 tennis courtsAustralian Open: Hosted 15 times between 1906 and 2016Membership cost: Not published in the sources used

Royal Sydney Golf Club in Rose Bay was founded in 1893 and has hosted the Australian Open 15 times. It has an 18-hole Championship Course, a 9-hole Centenary Course and 18 tennis courts. Fees are not published in the sources used.

Go ifGolfers and families who want tennis, bowls and a fitness centre too
Skip ifYou want a central city address
Why #5 over #6: Its golf, tennis and fitness facilities go well beyond the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron.
6

Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron

Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron
Answrs VerdictOpen to sailors and non-sailors alike, on Sydney Harbour.
Founded: 1862Address: 33 Peel Street, KirribilliJoining: A proposer, a seconder and two referees; the election committee meets monthlyMembership cost: Not published

The Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, founded in 1862, is at 33 Peel Street, Kirribilli. Joining takes a proposer, a seconder and two referees, with the election committee meeting monthly. Fees are not published.

Go ifSailors and non-sailors who want a Sydney Harbour clubhouse
Skip ifYou want a CBD location
Why #6 over #7: Its harbour clubhouse welcomes non-sailors, which the Cruising Yacht Club’s racing-rights Member category does not.
7

The Women’s Club

The Women’s Club
Answrs VerdictThe only club here to publish its full price list.
Founded: 1901Address: Level 4, 179 Elizabeth Street, SydneyMembership cost: $2,000 one-time entrance fee; $1,840 a year (metro, 2026-27)Accommodation: The Residence, with 8 rooms for members and guestsJoining: Three member sponsors; nomination posted for 30 days

The Women’s Club, founded in 1901, is at Level 4, 179 Elizabeth Street. A $2,000 one-time entrance fee and $1,840 a year (metro, 2026-27) are published, and The Residence has 8 rooms for members and guests.

Go ifWomen who want a Hyde Park club with a library, lectures and rooms
Skip ifYou are not a woman
Why #7 over #8: It publishes its full price list, which City Tattersalls Club does not.
8

City Tattersalls Club

City Tattersalls Club
Photo: Sardaka / CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictFounded by bookmakers in 1895 and named after the older Tattersalls Club.
Founded: 1895Location: Pitt Street, between Market and Park StreetsOrigin: Formed by 25 bookmakers who each subscribed two guineasMembership cost: Not published in the sources used

City Tattersalls Club on Pitt Street was formed in 1895 by 25 bookmakers who each subscribed two guineas. It took its name from the older Tattersalls Club. Fees are not published in the sources used.

Go ifCity workers after a club with a long Sydney racing story
Skip ifYou want a quiet, formal clubhouse
Why #8 over #9: Its central Pitt Street address is easier for city workers than the New South Wales Golf Club at La Perouse.
9

New South Wales Golf Club

New South Wales Golf Club
Photo: Eddy23 / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictA MacKenzie links course at La Perouse.
Founded: 1928Location: La Perouse, overlooking Botany BayCourse: Routed by Dr Alister MacKenzie; 18 holesMembership cost: Not published

The New South Wales Golf Club at La Perouse opened in 1928 on cliffs above Botany Bay. The course was routed by Dr Alister MacKenzie. Fees are not published.

Go ifGolfers who want a clifftop course by the Tasman Sea
Skip ifYou want a city clubhouse with accommodation
Why #9 over #10: Its coastal links course is a draw the Cruising Yacht Club cannot match for golfers.
10

Cruising Yacht Club of Australia

Cruising Yacht Club of Australia
Answrs VerdictHome of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, with published prices.
Founded: 1944Address: 1 New Beach Road, Darling PointMembership cost: $999 a year plus a $500 joining fee (Member)Pathway: $499 a year plus a $250 joining fee, ages 30 and over

The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, founded in 1944 at 1 New Beach Road, Darling Point, is the home of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Member is $999 a year plus a $500 joining fee; Pathway is $499 plus $250 for ages 30 and over.

Go ifOffshore sailors who want a club tied to the Sydney Hobart race
Skip ifYou do not sail; the Member category carries racing rights

How we ranked these

We ranked each club on heritage and facilities first, then on how clearly it publishes membership terms. Prices appear only where a club publishes them. Facts come from each club’s own website; Royal Sydney Golf Club, City Tattersalls Club and the Australian Club’s address and 2021 vote come from Wikipedia because their own sites were unavailable or members-only. Replaced from the old list: The American Club (no current club found) and The Queen’s Club (no usable photo of its clubhouse). Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.

Questions people ask

Which is the oldest private members’ club in Sydney?

The Australian Club, founded in 1838 and based at 165 Macquarie Street, is the oldest club on this list. The Union Club followed in 1857 and Tattersalls Club in 1858.

Which Sydney clubs publish their prices?

The Women’s Club lists a $2,000 one-time entrance fee and $1,840 a year for metro members in 2026-27. The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia lists $999 a year plus a $500 joining fee. Tattersalls Club lists a $750 joining fee.

Which Sydney clubs admit women?

The Australian Club is men only; members voted against admitting women in 2021. The Women’s Club is for women. Tattersalls Club says its membership is open to anyone aged 18 and over.

Which Sydney clubs have accommodation?

The Royal Automobile Club of Australia has 28 rooms, and The Women’s Club has 8 rooms at The Residence. The Australian Club also offers en-suite bedrooms and apartments.

Year founded per each club’s own website at a glance

Australian Club1,838
Union, University & Schools Club1,857
Tattersalls Club1,858
Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron1,862
The Women’s Club1,901
Royal Automobile Club of Australia1,903
New South Wales Golf Club1,928
Cruising Yacht Club of Australia1,944
Year founded per each club’s own website, as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.

Official sites

Sources

Prices, specs and availability change; confirm on the official site before you buy.

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