Second Melbourne Club warranted

Probus has not been marketed in “Inner Melbourne” (CBD, Docklands & Southbank) since 2011. For a bird’s eye view of Probus around Melbourne, see Table 1.

Inner Melbourne has 92k population and its Melbourne Sunrise Probus with 123 members at Nov 2019 is now full. Echuca (pop. 20k) and Bendigo (110k) have 4-5 Probus clubs each averaging 100 members. Brighton (23k) has 5 clubs, Altona (11k) and Melton (62k) 3-4 clubs.

 The retiree-age (50-74yrs) cohort of Inner Melbourne of 10,795 could generate 430 Probus members based on Probus HQ criterion of 4% of cohort. Even a 1-2% criterion could justify a second club (30 members minimum). This assumes no members from extra-territorial areas (east & west Melbourne, suburban, country). In reality such members may comprise a third of the club’s members.

The  members of Melbourne Sunrise Probus (started by Rotary Central Melbourne  in 2011) at December 2019 are from Docklands (40%), “other” metro/outer (35%), CBD (16%) and Southbank (9%). There is now big CBD and Southbank potential – e.g. the 11 Southbank members are from Southbank’s total residents of 24,000.

 The City Council’s data base has been interrogated and reveals a 25% growth in Inner Melbourne retiree residents projected for 2019-22. In our view this ‘future proofs’ a new club and could even spur a third club down the track. (Table 2)

Table 1: Status quo: Existing Probus Clubs 

Note: Melbourne Mens and Ladies Clubs suburban-based.

Growth of seniors’ population, Inner Melbourne (CBD, Docklands, Southbank only)

Note: Probus Clubs attract extra-territorial members as well, e.g. country people with city flats, suburban seniors with adult children in city. 

Source: MCC data base widget