While your average tennis fan will pay around $200 to see the biggest matches at the Australian Open, the mega-rich and mega-famous are putting down more than $30,000 to gain access to the tournament’s most exclusive club – and the level of luxury they get access to is eye-watering.
Named after the year the Open was first played, the super-exclusive Club 1905 is home to high net worth individuals – the super-rich and their corporate masters, who gain access to stunning seats, food, beverages and treatment for their huge outlay.
The benefits of splashing out at least $32,240 for membership include a ticket to every match of the tournament – and when the biggest games are held on centre court at Rod Laver Arena, the highest of high flyers sit in the best seats in the house in or near the front row.
It’s where several big Aussie and Asia-based corporates block out sections of seats for the entire tournament to entertain guests, with unequalled views of the action as they sit almost within touching distance of the stars right behind the baseline.
It’s rumoured that the official TV cameras in the stadium are told not to film those areas of the seating, offering the VIPs a level of privacy other big names at the matches – like movie and sports stars – don’t have access to.
Members can also relax in an outdoor bar and lounge with views of the picturesque Garden Square area of Melbourne Park.
Club 1905 (pictured) is the new, ultra-luxurious addition to the Australian Open, with a membership fee of more than $32,000
The uber-opulent Open experience features 350 dishes from two of Australia’s top chefs, bottomless champagne and the company of corporate high-flyers
Passes like this one guarantee tennis fans the very best experience at Melbourne Park
Away from the court, the new Club 1905 sits in a specially built pavilion and features one of the best dining experiences at any Australian sporting event.
The three-course lunches and dinners are put together by highly acclaimed chefs Martin Benn and Viki Wild, whose offerings include five à la carte menus with a total of 350 dishes like a caramelised Japanese radish, feta and shiso vinaigrette.
The VVIPs can wash their meals down with unlimited Piper-Heidsieck champagne and Grey Goose martinis after entering through the lobby and reception area with its eight-metre-high walls.
When Daily Mail Australia visited this year guests included restaurateur Jason Woods and former federal Liberal Party vice-President Teena McQueen and in addition to other very wealthy names.
Section one of Rod Laver Arena – where the Club 1905 members watch the action – is also home to the celebrities with the biggest names, who can be seen occupying the four front rows.
Pictured: Some of the best seats in the house are situated on the playing surface itself – and you’ll find them filled with famous faces
Celebrities like Bec Judd and her footy legend husband Chris (pictured at the Open this year) regularly occupy the ground-level pews
Pictured: The best seats in the house, located in section one of Rod Laver stadium, directly behind the baseline. It’s rumoured that TV cameras are told not to film part of this area as it contains super-rich VIPs who aren’t widely known to the public
Tennis Australia chief and corporate supremo Jayne Hrdlicka has the prime position with an incredible view of the court and also her own personal private digital screen to follow the action in greater detail.
On the first evening session of this year’s tournament the fans in the front four rows included Rebel Wilson and her new wife Ramona, Melbourne lord mayor Nicholas Reece, Dannii Minoque, plus The Project host Waleed Aly and his wife Susan Carland.
Collingwood captain Darcy Moore and teammate Pat Lipinski, Nadia Bartel, former Miss Universe Australia Olivia Molly Rogers, former Masterchef judge Matt Preston, and ex-ABC News Breakfast host Michael Rowland and his wife Felicity were also front and centre.
They saw defending champion Aryna Sabalenka beat America’s Sloane Stephens, but despite the incredible vantage point, most of them had left by the midpoint of the following match between Alexander Zverev and Lucas Pouille.
Anthony Albanese and his partner Jodie Haydon sat in the coveted section one seats during last year’s men’s singles final
Anthony Albanese and his fiancee Jodie Haydon were also sitting in that area when he was booed by the crowd at last year’s men’s singles final, and players’ family members, friends and staff are also seated in the section if they don’t make it into the Open’s new and controversial coaching pods.
To give you an idea of their value, the seats behind them were going for around $6000 each for the men’s and women’s finals in 2024.
This year Bec Judd and her footy great husband Chris got a step closer to the players when they scored seats placed on the playing surface itself, along with a handful of other high-profile guests.
However, last year Judd found out the hard way that the super-exclusive pews don’t necessarily ensure you’ll be with the creme de la creme of Australian business, sport and entertainment.
She made headlines when she and Chris were put next to ex-Mongols bikie boss Toby Mitchell in their $8000 seats.