A substantial licensed Ex Servicemen's Club in Nowra's Central Business District. The club offers a bistro, restaurant, bars, poker machines & sporting facilities to its members & guests. It has a Sub Branch of the RSL (Returned & Services League) which attends to current & ex servicemen & women needs as well as those of their families.
It was opened by the then Governor of NSW General Sir John Nortcott (1890-1966). The plaque near the front entrance is worded:
This building was opened by his Excellency the Administrator of the Commonwealth of Australia Governor of the State of N.S.W. General Sir John Northcott K.C.M.C. K.C.V.O. C.B. 11 August 1956.
J.H.Oakley President, T.C.Ober & Son Builders, F.R.Squire Hon. Secretary, W.Hardy Morphett Architect, J.R.Ashcroft Hon. Treasurer.
General Sir John Northcott army officer and governor, was born on 24 March 1890 at Creswick, Victoria. He was commissioned in August 1908 in a Militia unit, the 9th Light Horse Regiment. On 16 November 1912 he joined the Permanent Military Forces as lieutenant, Administrative and Instructional Staff, and was posted to the 6th Military District (Tasmania). He transferred to the Australian Imperial Force in August 1914 and was appointed adjutant of the 12th Battalion which was based at Anglesea Barracks, Hobart.
In October Captain Northcott sailed with his battalion for Egypt. On the morning of 25 April 1915 the 12th landed at Ari Burnu (Anzac Cove), Gallipoli. Almost immediately, Northcott was wounded in the chest by a rifle bullet. He was evacuated to Alexandria, Egypt, and thence to England, and took no further part in the war. On 14 September 1915 at the parish church, Oxted, Surrey, he married Winifred Mary Paton (d.1960), who had travelled to England to join him. His recuperation was prolonged, and he did not return to Australia until 30 December.
in Australia, he served as staff officer (later director), stores and transport, at Army Headquarters, Melbourne. From 1933 he spent a longer period in England, during which he attended the Imperial Defence College, London, and the Senior Officers' School, Sheerness, and completed an attachment to the Committee of Imperial Defence.
In 1937 Northcott returned to Melbourne. His broad experience in staff appointments gave him an unrivalled knowledge of some areas, particularly transport, important to a future mobilization for war. His assiduity in making contact with people in industry, including influential figures like Essington Lewis, made him as well known outside the army as in it. At the outbreak of World War II he was director of military operations and intelligence, with the rank of brevet colonel. In October 1939 he was promoted local major general and appointed deputy-chief of the General Staff. He accompanied R. G. (Baron) Casey to the dominions' conference (October-December) in London as his military adviser.
Northcott commanded the 1st Armoured Division (September 1941 to April 1942) and II Corps (April-September). He was promoted temporary lieutenant general in April 1942 (substantive 1 September).
On 10 September 1942 Northcott was appointed chief of the General Staff. As Blamey's principal non-operational subordinate, he was responsible for administering and training the army. Not only did he discharge his duties to Blamey's satisfaction, he also developed excellent relations with key officers at General Douglas MacArthur's headquarters, and worked harmoniously with members of the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. At the end of the war Sturdee was again invited to become C.G.S. He made it a condition of his acceptance that Northcott be given the appointment of commander-in-chief of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan, an indication of the genuine esteem in which Northcott's service was held. He headed B.C.O.F. from December 1945 to June 1946.
Northcott's qualities of correctness, competence and dedication were perhaps best displayed in his role as the first Australian-born and one of the longest-serving governors of New South Wales. Sworn in on 1 August 1946, he gave patronage and support to charitable organizations and to youth, church and citizens' groups. A staunch advocate of the British Empire, he was a widely known and respected figure throughout the State. He retired in July 1957.
Northcott had been appointed M.V.O. in 1927 for his service during the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York that year. He was appointed C.B. (1941), K.C.M.G. (1950) and K.C.V.O. (1954). In 1951 and 1956 he administered the Commonwealth of Australia; while occupying that office he held the honorary rank of general. He was awarded honorary degrees by the University of Sydney (D.Litt., 1952), the New South Wales University of Technology (D.Sc., 1956) and the University of New England (D.Litt., 1956). During his term as governor he was honorary colonel of the 1st-15th Royal New South Wales Lancers. Survived by his two daughters, Sir John died on 4 August 1966 in his home at Wahroonga, Sydney; he was accorded a state funeral with military honours and was cremated with Presbyterian forms.
Credit: Australian Dictionary of Biography (
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