The Club was established in 1911 when a group of business men and sports men decided that Bendigo, a rich gold mining centre and rapidly growing commercial city, deserved a second licensed social club. so the Citizen’s Club was established in Bull Street in the centre of Bendigo city.

A Commonwealth census in 1911 showed the population of the Greater Bendigo area as 39,417.  This substantiated the need for another club.

The Sandhurst Club was the first licensed club to be established in Bendigo and had been in operation from late in the 19th Century.

There are now many licensed clubs in the greater Bendigo area including many golf and bowling clubs who cater for the now 100,000 plus population.
Minute books from the early years of operation were not available to pinpoint leading officers in the early administration but the first President was Mr. Luke Murphy, a prominent legal figure of the time and the Secretary was Mr. C Walker.  Many well known leaders of the Bendigo community served on the first and subsequent committees of the Club.
There was some opposition to the new club from city hotel keepers because the club could operate well beyond the 6 o’clock closing time for hotels.  There opposition was short-lived when it was realised that the Club Administration was acting responsibly.  Generally licensed clubs keep a low profile and it was no different with the Citizen’s Club.
The Club opened for business in mid afternoon and it was usual to see a few card games, mostly euchre, before the tea hours.  Crib and Poker were also popular pastimes in those days but do not interest members of the present day.

Club members in the early days played organised bowls games against the Sandhurst Club and also against the Old Colonists Club at Ballarat and later with the Echuca Club and the Working Men’s Club Echuca.
Old visitor’s books have shown that many men camped at the Bendigo Racecourse during World War 1 and using the facilities of the Club, including the American troops who were billeted in Bendigo in 1942.
The Citizen’s Club had several important tenants during it 63 years of occupancy in the original premises in Bull Street.  The Club occupied the upstairs section only of the building.  Early in the 1920’s the Bendigo Football League established its headquarters in the downstairs boardroom and remained as tenants until the Club relocated in 1974.  For many years the Liberal Party occupied one of the downstairs offices as did the Bendigo Easter Fair Society.

During the 1970’s the Club membership was between 600 and 700 with an expectation that Associate membership could be introduced if the Club were to relocate to larger premises with car parking facilities.

After a period of investigating new Club sites, The 1973 Committee decided to purchase an existing catering business known as “Woodbury House”.  There building was potentially suitable for a mixed club with expanded social activities.  There only facilities available in the old Bull Street Club were a bar, 2 billiards tables and a gent’s toilet.

Negotiations were concluded to purchase the building and most of its fittings and separate purchases provided four building blocks. An additional 3 building blocks were purchased later.  The Bull Street premises were then offered for sale and were purchased at auction by local solicitors and converted to offices.

In February 1974 the entire contents of Bull Street were re-located to Reception Avenue by the members.  This took only one weekend.
This move naturally entailed the transfer of the license to Woodbury House at Reception Avenue, so the committee decided on a change of name to Bendigo Club.  There Club constitution was re-written to include, amongst other things, associate membership.
Club life at Woodbury House was totally different.  With the introduction of associate membership, and the pleasant surroundings, social activities increased, bringing in turn a further influx in membership which reached 1800 within a few years.

There kitchen was refurbished and leased out to caterers.  This enabled to Club to provide meals to members and cater for their needs with weddings, parties, seminars and other functions.
There Club now had about 84 squares of space – three times the area available in the old Club.  A further 30 squares was added in 1976-77.  This was intended as male members only bar but later on Associate Members were also admitted into this area.
When Bingo started, the Bendigo Club held the first legal Bingo game in Bendigo.  This was a regular feature for many years but was discontinued in 1984 because of severe competition from other venues closer to city transport.

Regular entertainment became a feature with the increase in membership and additional bar facilities.  For younger members a regular “disco” started.  This became a contentious issue amongst older members and the Club’s neighbours.

There increasing number of members and the provision of entertainment soon led to the appointment of the first full time manager of the Club.  Mr. Allen Power took up this position for three years and was followed later by Mr. Gerry Keep and Mr. Gary Post.  This was a period of membership growth which reached more than 1800 people.

An eight rink bowling green was constructed on three of the building blocks in 1976.  This has proved a sound investment and the Bowls Club established, which was named the Woodbury Bowling Club was the first Bowls Club in the Shire of Strathfieldsaye.   There Club was very successful, entering 2 teams in the Bendigo District Bowling Association and by winning six pennants in six years.