The Karrakatta Club was founded in 1894 by members of Amy Jane Best's St George Reading Circle.

[3] The objective of the Club was to bring into one body the women of the community for mutual improvement which included involvement in local issues affecting women at that time, social justice issues, and social engagement.

The club's motto, suggested by Edith Cowan, is Spectemur Agendo, which means "let us be judged by our actions".

In late 1984 the Karrakatta Club moved into the Lawson Apartments building at the corner of Sherwood Court and The Esplanade.

In October 2020 the club moved to new premises at the ANZAC house building on St Georges Terrace.