Unfortunately these harbours are only secure under particular conditions and with the changeable weather of the Bay some hair raising times were experienced.

It was because of this that a group of yachtsmen identified the sand spit at Queenscliff as a possible refuge and safe harbour where a yacht club might be established. After much work and protracted negotiations with the then Ports and Harbours department, The Borough of Queenscliff and the Department of the Army, approval was obtained to create a wharf on the Spit and form a club to accompany it. As a matter of interest the cost of the original wharf was the princely sum of 1,031 Pounds!

On November 14 1962 a meeting was held at the Royal Brighton Yacht Club with the object of forming the club at Queenscliff. Twelve people attended,attested their support and each paid a pound to defray preliminary expenses. The meeting appointed a provisional Committee - A.Webb was elected Provisional President, R.P.Reid was appointed Provisional Secretary and R.Sanderson Provisional Treasurer after which support for the Trustees was confirmed.

On first January 1963, notice of a meeting to be held on 21st. January 1963 at Royal Brighton Yacht Club was sent to 50 boat owners and to Royal Yacht Club of Victoria, Royal Brighton Yacht Club, Royal Melbourne Yacht Club, Royal Geelong Yacht Club, Sandringham Yacht Club, Hobsons Bay Yacht Club and Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron, for posting on their notice boards, asking those who might be interested in joining the new Club, to attend on the 21st. of January.

At that meeting a draft constitution was tabled and the 40 odd yachtsmen who attended unanimously supported the proposal and almost all agreed to become members.. The Constitution was adopted...the club would be called 'The Queenscliff Cruising Yacht Club'. Flag officers and committee were elected comprising:

Commodore                  G. Chapman

Vice-Commodore         A Webb

Rear Commodore         A.R McAllister

Hon Secretary              R Reid

Hon Treasurer              R Sanderson

Committee Members   E Wilson, R Farrow, G. Anthony

On 30th January 1963 the Executive Committee of the VYC thanked the Trustees of QCYC in forming the Club and wished them every success.

Having obtained possesion of the land and with a wharf facility, the Committee proceeded to provide some accomodation facilities. A master plan for a clubhouse, which could be built in stages, was drawn up. In addition the clubs burgee was designed by Ross Farrow and adopted.

Firstly two buildings were erected to house the male and female toilets, together with septic tanks. Next a further building was constructed, which is now the main lounge, and a pipe was laid under the creek for a water supply. This was followed by covering-in the space between the toilet blocks and that between the blocks and the main lounge. The next major step was increasing the wharf length to 600ft.

In 1970 electricity was connected. This was a fairly expensive project, but it was finally arranged by the then Commodore Bill Ross through finance via a Life Insurance company. The next building period was during the commodoreship of Lindsay Halliday, when the upstairs bar, lounge and sun decks were built. These improvements added greatly to the comfort and appearance of the Club. Next, the complete refurbishment of the downstairs area was undertaken and the Club is now as you see it.

When the Club was first built the entrance to Queenscliff was a winding channel in front of the Club. At high tide the Bay lapped at the area on the east side of the building and there was a view right across the Bay. Subsequent straightening of the creek and the continual dredging and disposal of spoil has resulted in the expanse of sand and dunes down to the mouth of the creek as we now see it.

From an original membership of 40, the Queenscliff Cruising Yacht Club now boasts a membership of 500!