Geelong & District Anglers Club & Fish Protection Society Inc.

Established May 1866

(We believe ourselves to be the oldest continual fishing club in Australia)

(unless you know otherwise)

Monthly general meetings at the clubrooms, 7.30pm, 4th wednesday of the month

All are welcome

A massive discovery!

Geelong And District Anglers Club & Fish Protection Society Inc. Some history.

Until recently when Ken Alford arrived at the club with a previously “thought lost” box of club papers we were all happy with the knowledge that the club was founded in 1928.

However, membership records and meeting minutes in the box showed a history that went 20 odd years earlier to 1906. This (apologies if I’m wrong) we believed made us the oldest fishing club in Victoria and the second oldest in Australia.

Our secretary, Brian wasn’t satisfied and contacted The Geelong Heritage Centre,  where after some little research Sam (thank you Sam) found evidence in the local newspaper The Geelong Advertiser of even more history. Details below from “The Addy”

Monday 14th December 1863

A fisherman writes to the Geelong Advertiser expressing the need for a fisherman’s association.

Saturday 5th May 1866

Meeting of support to form the Geelong Anglers Protection Society

Tuesday 8th May 1866

Details from first meeting

Saturday 29th December 1866

Some details of a meeting and fishing competition.

We believe this will make us the oldest extant fishing club in both Victoria and Australia, and surely one of the oldest extant fishing clubs in the world.

We will be celebrating our 160th anniversary next May!

The gauntlet is thrown down, the challenge is on.

If you can prove your fishing club is older, please do, and please be sure to let us know.