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History
The Bush Club was formed in 1939, largely due to the ini�a�ve of bushwalking legends, Marie Byles and Paddy Pallin.
Marie Byles, described as a mountaineer, explorer, feminist, author, conserva�onist and Buddhist, was born in 1900 in
England and migrated to Australia with her parents when she was 11 yearsold. She was one of the first women to a�end
the University of Sydney and the first woman to be admi�ed as a solicitor in NSW. Paddy Pallin was also born in
England in the same year and migrated to Australia in 1926. He was to go on to make his mark as one of the country's
leading manufacturers of outdoor goods.
They both quickly developed a life-long love of the Australian bushland and dedicated much of their lives to the
conserva�on and protec�on of the environment.
They both joined bushwalking clubs but were concerned that the stringent requirements to become a member meant that
many people who genuinely loved the bush but who were not able, or not willing, to camp overnight were denied
membership. They believed the essen�al qualifica�on should simply be alove of the bushandadesire to protect it.
The two developed a firm friendship and over the course of many discussions, decided, about the �me of the start of
World War II, to setup a brand new club and call it, simply, The BushClub.
This small step has led, 80 years later to the robust, thriving club we have today whose over 700 membersand over 100
Prospec�ves carry on the tradi�on of our founders of enjoying and protec�ng our bushland- and most importantly keeping
alive their spirit of friendship and camaraderie.
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