Cannibal Clubs in Australia seem to have been modelled on the Cannibals Club formed in London in the 1860's. It's purpose seems to have been to allow discussion of many subjects considered taboo by the contemporary society.
In Melbourne, the artist George Coates established the Cannibal Club, mustered from his circle of bohemian (the practice of an unconventional lifestyle, often in the company of like-minded people and with few permanent ties. i.e. NOT the country of Bohemia) art students at his studio in the North Melbourne Town Hall in around 1893. The Cannibals later rallied in a succession of city studios including Coates' room above Peppas' fruiterers, 62 Swanston Street, and enlivened gatherings of the Victorian Artists' Society. Cannibals included Leon Pole, who succeeded Coates as its king, the Lindsays (all of whom progressed to the Ishmael Club), Hugh McLean, Meyer Altson, Alek Sass, and Carl Archibald. The artist Tom Roberts was made an associate member of the 'Prehistoric Order of Cannibals' in 1896. The club ceased to function soon after. (Gavin de Lacy from https://www.emelbourne.net.au/biogs/EM00287b.htm. May2023)
On from Melbourne’s economic bust in the 1890s, was the Cannibal Club which comprised mainly of painters, including Norman Lindsay, Max Meldrum and Alek Sass. Meetings were held in George Coates‘ Swanston Street studio. Many members of the Cannibal Club later joined the Ishmael Club, who were dedicated to becoming the ‘artistic outsiders in society.’ (2) They were championed by the University of Melbourne’s music Professor George Marshall-Hall. (State Library of victoria https://blogs.slv.vic.gov.au/such-was-life/melbournes-bohemians/ June2023)
Rupert Gedye, a member of the Gedye-Thiele family, seems to have been a member of a Cannibal Club in Melbourne. Possibly, an outer suburbs offshoot of the first Melbourne Cannibal Club.
Cannibal Clubs featured in public social activities:
- 1910 'Farewell Social to Mr. B. Hurter.', The Reporter (Box Hill, Vic. : 1889 - 1925), 8 April, p. 2. , viewed 08 Jun 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article89694570
- 1911 '', Punch (Melbourne, Vic. : 1900 - 1918; 1925), 2 November, p. 34. , viewed 08 Jun 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article177534268. Henley on the Yarra
- 1912 'Cannibal Club Farewell.', The Reporter (Box Hill, Vic. : 1889 - 1925), 10 May, p. 2. , viewed 08 Jun 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90368413
- 1912 "CANNIBALS" AT PLAY, The Reporter (Box Hill, Vic. : 1889 - 1925), 16 August, p. 4. , viewed 08 Jun 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90369805
- 1920 'Australian Artists', The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), 4 December, p. 15. , viewed 08 Jun 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article242244354:
Lionel Lindsay: "Indeed there used to be a Cannibal Club, of which t also was a member. It included Lionel and Norman Lindsay; Max Meldrum. then a rosy-cheeked youngster full of jest and hilarity; George Coates, who mostly seemed to subsist on tea and cigarettes In order to save all his money to buy paints and canvas; Alee Sass; and Leon Pole, who- used, to play beautifully oil a tin whistle, and between whiles made the most wonderful charcoal caricatures on the walls of the class-room find of his lodgings. It was a bit of real Bohemia."
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