The Austral Salon was founded in January 1890 by female journalists led by Mary Hirst Browne,[1] as a meeting place for women writers.
[2][3][4][5][6][7] The Countess of Hopetoun, wife of the Victorian Governor, later first Governor-General of Australia, was the Salon’s first Patron.
[12] The club was originally located at 115-119 Collins Street, Melbourne in the Austral Building.
Before the opening of the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music the Austral club helped aspiring musicians.
[13] The Salon continues as The Austral Salon of Music, a Melbourne society committed to encouraging young musicians that holds regular recitals at St Peters Church, East Melbourne.