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The
Club was born out of a decision taken by 6 British Army Officers
on 22nd April 1881 who met in Frere Hall and decided to apply to
the Asst. Collector in Satara for permission to have an Army Officer's
Club in Mahabaleshwar. They proposed to convert the old Army Sanitarium
Blocks into the Club's Chambers and convert the Frere Hall into
a Club House.
That
was almost 125 years ago and that makes our Mahabaleshwar Club one
of the 30 oldest surviving Clubs of India, after the departure of
the British.
Today,
the elegant grill gates open to invite members to The Club: a complex
of charming colonial style structures built of exposed brick with
arched windows and sloping roofs.
The
unique red brick buildings of the Club, their deep red floors contrasting
with the greenery outside, the flowerbeds ablaze with colour and
the unmarred blue skies of Mahabaleshwar hold a special place in
our hearts and memories.
The
lovingly cared for gardens, flower beds and foliage make it a pleasure
to relax in the generous shade of the old trees or stretch out on
a hammock or garden chair.
The charm of the Club is not merely in its buildings and gardens,
splendid though these are. It is also in its exceptionally friendly
staff. They know members and their families by name and, during
their stay, attend to their needs with courtesy and care.
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