Two years after its excruciatingly exposed vote on whether to allow women to join as members, Sydney’s highly exclusive Australian Club remained in rude health. At least, judging by a July 2023 membership list we’ve recently come into possession of.

It evinces no sign of a reduction in membership numbers. Those who dropped off the mortal coil were being swiftly replaced, at a pace of between 50 and 80 a year. And of the 150 members who put their name to a petition in favour of letting accomplished daughters join accomplished sons, only a handful had actually resigned.