Japanese Club
Hollis Hopkins Place, Sturt Street
A community centre
When you stand here in Hollis Hopkins Place, you are at the site of the Townsville Japanese Club, a vital community centre that operated from at least 1903 to 1907. It was nestled between the Townsville Court House and the Hollis Hopkins & Co. building.
While the club hosted social events, including lavish celebrations for the Emperor's birthday, its other role was to provide essential support for the local Japanese community. It offered members crucial services, including:
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Assistance with letter writing and banking.
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Help sending money home to family in Japan.
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Managing labour contracts and delivering mail.
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Providing interpreting services
The Townsville club was not isolated to Townsville. It was part of a well-connected network of Japanese societies across northern Australia, with strong links to clubs in Cairns, Darwin, Broome, and beyond. These associations provided a powerful link between individuals, the Japanese Consulate, and the Australian government.
Japanese Club in Townsville with the visit from the Japanese Naval Squadron, 1903 from 練習艦隊遠航紀念帖編纂委員会 編. 練習艦隊遠航紀念帖, 共益商社, 明36.11, 10.11501/901769