When Hotel Canberra first opened its doors in 1924 as Hostel No.1, it was envisioned not only as a grand residence for visiting parliamentarians but also as a place of refined leisure with bowling greens and tennis courts. Just across the quiet curve of Commonwealth Avenue, another institution was also beginning to take shape: the Canberra Croquet Club. Established in 1928 on the grounds of the hotel, the Club became one of the city’s earliest sporting organisations for women, its lawns laid out with the same sense of order and elegance that defined the fledgling capital.

The club was officially opened on 8 March1928 when Lady Butters rolled the first ball. After a competitive 12 stroke game, Lady Butters presented the trophies and Lady Groom – the club’s first president – hosted a delightful afternoon tea at Hotel Canberra. Two days later, neighboring Albert Hall was opened by Prime Minister SM Bruce.

The relationship between the Hotel and the Club has always been one of neighbourly kinship. Guests at the Hotel, many of whom were dignitaries, politicians, or visiting officials, would stroll across to the croquet lawns, intrigued by the graceful rhythm of mallets striking balls and the social charm of the game, and likewise, members of the club would often host afternoon teas and gala days on the hotel lawns. Croquet was considered a sport of refinement and diplomacy, qualities that echoed the atmosphere cultivated within the Hotel’s corridors and courtyards.

Over the decades, the two institutions have grown side by side, quietly sharing in each other’s stories. The Croquet Club, the longest continuously operating sporting club in Canberra, has often welcomed Hotel guests to experience a quintessentially genteel pastime. Likewise, the Hotel has looked to the Club as a reminder of its own heritage—a slower, more deliberate era when conversation, connection, and ceremony were the hallmarks of hospitality.

Today, Park Hyatt Canberra and the Canberra Croquet Club stand as living pieces of the city’s history. Together, they embody a shared spirit of elegance, community, and tradition. The soft thwack of mallets on the lawn and the gentle murmur of voices drifting across the road remain symbols of continuity—an enduring partnership that reflects Canberra’s unique blend of heritage and gracious living.

Explore more on the incredible contribution Lady Butters made to Canberra here.

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