ABOUT US

The Northland Club grew out of the fellowship if “The 13 Club”, which was formed in 1948 by Arnold Franks and Ernie Ralls over a drink after work one Friday night at Pioneer Express Cartage’s premises on the corner of Porowini Avenue and Tarewa Road. They recruited 11 more businessmen to make up the 13 members.

The club was based in a similar club in the USA. They met twice a month to allow their group to network with other businessmen within a social but exclusive setting. Each Christmas, wives and partners joined in the social activities and by all accounts, much fun was had by all.

In 1955, a confidential letter was sent to 27 people asking them to attend a meeting held at the Whangarei Cruising Club to discuss the formation of a social club. During the meeting, which lasted over 2 hours, they discussed the dearth of chartered clubs in Whangarei compared to other similar-sized towns. In forming a social club, it was deemed necessary to discriminate in its members, limiting membership to “commercial, middle class, businessman type of people”. Such a club was needed, they said, it would advance the social progress of the town.

A working committee was elected, possible venues were discussed and supper was served. All present were asked to nominate 10 people as potential members. Messrs Ralls and Woods were charged with opening a bank account, into which the initial one pound per member donation was to be deposited.

The first meeting of the not-for-profit, as yet un-named social entertainment club closed at 10.40pm, with those in attendance described as foundation members.