One hundred and fifteen years ago fourteen gentlemen met in Melbourne to form a Motor Boat Club. This Club was to form the basis of the Royal Victorian Yacht Club. The RVMYC has been fortunate in the intervening years to have had a continuance of members with great foresight who saw the need for a club specifically catering for the needs of motor boat enthusiasts.
Steeped in tradition and history, this club has always been at the forefront of the Motor Boats Clubs on Port Phillip and enjoys links and friendships of all Motorboat and Yacht Clubs around the bay and beyond.
The RVMYC formed at a gathering at the Port Phillip Club Hotel in Flinders Street Melbourne, three doors from Young and Jacksons on 25 February 1904.
Present at this meeting were FM Linley, J McQuade, HBarker, C Atkins, E Huon, E James, C James, C Garner, L Garner, F Jackson, F Rayson, G Knott, B Lowther and Capt GM Strong.
It was resolved by these gentlemen to meet on 4 March for the purpose of forming a Motor Boat Club.
At this meeting the Office Bearers were elected: Commodore – FM Linley, Vice Commodore – JM Quade, Rear Commodore – H Baker, Captain – C Atkins, Hon Secretary – E James, Hon Treasurer – B Lowther, Committee – E Huon, C Garner, F Jackson, F Rayson, G Knott and Capt GM Strong.
Other foundation members were; A Harvey, Dr. I Blitz, CO Dentry, V Cole, J Myer, A Woods and C MacIntoch of Geelong.
The Club was first called the Victorian Launch Club. This was later changed to the Victorian Motor Boat Club. The club met for some years at the hotel until new premises were acquired at a site near the present ferry terminal at Princess Bridge Wharf.
The opening day of the club in 1904, was held in June and took the form of a cruise down the Yarra River. Among the boats to take part were the Motor Launches, Cingalee, and Nanoya, steam launches, Alvina and White Knight, St. Omer and Peggy.
The first of many races to Geelong was held on 30 January 1909 and was won by Mr Dentry in his boat Iona. Mr G Thomas donated the first prize of 5 guineas. All boats started on a handicap. A resolution was adopted to see that all boats starting were properly equipped with the necessary life belts and and any boats turning back, must ‘wire’ the secretary at Geelong, so as to allay any anxiety as to their whereabouts.
The Port Phillip Hotel served as our Clubrooms till 11 November 1913, when a discussion to have our own rooms at Princess Bridge was agreed.
It was resolved to request the City Council to grant us rooms in the vaults at Princess Walk. Number 6 vault was granted to the Club. The first monthly meeting at Princess Walk was held on 1 December, 1913.
On 18 February 1937, the Club was formally given the permission to use the prefix ‘Royal’.
This marked the opening of the 1937 season, whereby Royal Charter from the Lords High Commissioners of the Admiralty London, the title ‘Royal Victorian Motor Yacht Club’ could be used. For this signal honour, the club is greatly indebted to Mr Charles Marshall, who helped the Club in many other directions.
The club was proud to receive the King’s blessing in granting title, as documentation at the time, he made it clear to the Governor General that in his considered opinion there were too many requests for the Royal Title taking place at the time. In the correspondence granting the club Royal Title form the Prime Minister at the time, JA Lyons, he states;
“The request has received full consideration and in view of the possible usefulness of the Club from a national standpoint in time of emergency it is desired to support the application”.
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