Pretoria Club History

About the Pretoria Club Section

The Pretoria Club Section is considered to be the driving social force of the Pretoria Country Club. On the 20th of May 1998 the Pretoria Club entered into an agreement with the PCC in terms of which the substantial funds standing to its credit and such of the assets and artworks still in its possession, were handed over to the Pretoria Country Club in return for life membership for the 250 remaining members of the former Pretoria Club and the renaming of a room on it’s premises, as the Pretoria Club Room. These magnificent new rooms have now become a reality, and attract new members to the section on a regular basis. Take the time to visit these premises for one of our regular social get-togethers, and enjoy their ambience. Please browse through our events calendar - we look forward to welcoming you.

History of the Pretoria Club Section

As the clock struck 8pm on the 21st of February 2007, its chimes marked the 122nd anniversary of a meeting that took place on Church Square in 1885. The meeting was held in the cottage of one James Brooks that was situated on the premises that are today occupied by Trevor Manuel’s treasury, better known as the old Reserve Bank Building. At this meeting 55 gentlemen signed a charter establishing the Pretoria Club. When Brook’s cottage became too small to accommodate the growing number of members, a much larger clubhouse was built in 1891 on the north-eastern corner of Paul Kruger and Vermeulen Streets.

The Pretoria Club occupied this building for the next 75 years. In 1968 the Club moved to it’s third home, diagonally across Paul Kruger Street, until 1994. Due to decentralization, resulting in most of the Club’s members moving their businesses and offices out to the suburbs, it was decided to sell Club’s city premises. Over the years the Pretoria Club have had many illustrious members such as Paul Kruger, Richard Loveday, Field Marshall J.C. Smuts, Louis Botha, General Hertzog, Carl and Julius Jeppe, Sammy Marks, George Heys, the Bourke brothers, Sir Arnold Theiler and Sir Percy Fitzpatrick, to name but a few. These and many other Club members have played an important part in the history and development of Pretoria, Johannesburg, the ZAR, the Union of South Africa and the Republic of South Africa. We are justly proud of out rich heritage.