OUR STORY

Celebrating 70 years in 2022

St. George Leagues Club is situated on the Princes Highway at Kogarah, where it relocated in 1963 after having first opened its doors in 1952 down the road. St. George was the first of the “Super” Leagues Clubs developed in the 1960’s and was commonly referred to as the “Taj Mahal” because of the extensive use of white marble in the original building.

The original St. George Leagues Club was a very informal meeting place that encompassed two poker machines, a stage, and one long bar. Originally, the bar was situated in the cellar, which was the only completed section of the building.

Very little of the original design survives today after extensive refurbishing and redesigning the entire Club to make it one of the most superbly fitted clubs in Australia. From the luxurious foyer, through to the catering outlets and lounge areas, St. George’s interiors are comforting and welcoming.

The Premier’s Lounge, also on the ground floor, is the home of our football memorabilia commemorating St. George’s outstanding achievements in Rugby League. The Premier’s is the place for a quiet drink during the day or some relaxing live music in the evening. Also on the ground floor is our ever-popular Jubilee Brasserie featuring wholesome food at competitive prices, and the Jubilee Café.

HISTORY

St. George Leagues Club was no “Taj Mahal” in the early days. It was up the road from the present building, on the intersection of Rocky Point Road and Princes Highway, where once an old store stood.

The club that grew to be the most famous in all clubdom opened there in 1952. It was a basic meeting place with two poker machines, a couple of offices, a stage for the band and one long bar.

In the early days the bar was in the cellar which was the only part of the building completed. In heavy rain there would be minor flooding – and the stalwarts would remove their shoes and socks to breast the bar.

At that time the club was not allowed to buy direct from the breweries – so beer was bought from local pubs. It was the second such club to get a licence in NSW.

The first St. George Leagues Club was a happy, informal place, but it lacked potential for expansion and there was no parking. Glynn Price, the foundation treasure, remembers it making £3000 in the first six months of operation.

St George Leagues Club circa 1963
St George Leagues Club circa 1963