The 500 Club

What The 500 Club does

The 500 Club is a Perth-based membership organization founded in 1986 that hosts business networking events connecting Western Australian business leaders with political figures. It is designated under the Liberal Party of Western Australia by the WA Electoral Commission, anchoring its positioning within the state's conservative business and political establishment. The organization was established with 150 founding members and operates with a small team of 1–10 employees under CEO Lisa Fox and Chairman Jason Skinner.

The club's core offering is a calendar of ticketed events, including sundowners ($75–$99), breakfasts ($90–$110), and dinners ($302.50–$2,200), with typical attendance of 60–120+ guests per event. Events are hosted at premium venues and are supported by an ecosystem of commercial partners including Lavan, Barbagallo, Perth Racing, Willie Creek Pearls, Little Things Gin Distillery, and wine sponsors Flametree, Duke's Vineyard, and Grand Cru. The technology stack is modest: a WordPress website integrated with Eventbrite for event management and ticketing.

The revenue model combines annual membership dues with event ticket sales. Standard individual membership is $550 per year, with a discounted Future Membership tier at $275 per year for members aged 35 and under, and complimentary Corporate Memberships available to institutional members. The organization is preparing for its 40th anniversary in 2026, which functions as both a milestone and a focal point for renewed member engagement and event programming.

Name

The 500 Club

Legal name

The 500 Club

Website

https://the500club.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The 500 Club is a Perth-based membership organization founded in 1986 that hosts business networking events connecting Western Australian executives with political figures aligned with the Liberal Party of Western Australia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Networking Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Premium/Upmarket Membership Clubs (CRAEADAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Specialty Membership Clubs (Category-Focused) (CRAEADAI)

Keywords

• Business networking events
• Professional membership club
• Corporate event hosting
• Political fundraising events
• Executive networking services

Headquarters

HQ city

Perth

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership subscriptions providing discounted event pricing, early access to tickets, and business register listing. Individual memberships at $550/year and Future memberships at $275/year for members 35 and under. Corporate memberships are free.
2. Event Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from ticket sales for exclusive networking events including Sundowners ($75-$99), breakfasts ($90-$110), and special events like the 40th Anniversary Dinner ($302.50-$2,200).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The 500 Club is a private business networking organization founded in 1986 in Perth, Western Australia, that hosts exclusive professional and political events (Sundowners, breakfasts, luncheons, dinners, race days) for members who are influential leaders, executives, and decision-makers. The club operates on a tiered membership model — Individual ($550/year), Future ($275/year for younger professionals), and free Corporate memberships — and channels significant fundraising toward the Liberal Party and conservative political causes, having hosted six Australian Prime Ministers.

Product overview

The 500 Club is Western Australia's premier business networking organization offering a tiered membership model (standard, future/youth, and corporate) that provides access to exclusive events including Sundowners, Breakfasts, Luncheons, Dinners, and Race Day functions. The organization connects influential business leaders, professionals, and decision-makers with political figures and each other through curated networking opportunities across Western Australia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Individual Membership Standard annual individual membership priced at $550 per year, granting access to all club networking events, political functions, and exclusive member benefits. Designed for senior business leaders, executives, and decision-makers in Western Australia.
• Future 500 Club Membership Annual membership tier priced at $275 per year aimed at younger professionals and emerging business leaders (typically under 35), providing access to the same networking events and political functions as full members at a reduced price point.
• Corporate Membership Complimentary corporate membership tier allowing companies and organizations to nominate representatives to attend club events, providing broad access for executives of member firms.
• Sundowner Events After-work evening networking events typically featuring guest speakers from politics, business, or media, designed to facilitate informal networking among members and guests in Perth.
• Breakfast Events Morning business networking breakfast events with prominent guest speakers, typically held at hotels or private venues in Perth, designed for senior business leaders and political figures.
• Luncheon Events

Quantifiable outcome

• Events consistently attract 60-120+ attendees demonstrating strong community engagement

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LavancoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLegal firm Lavan is a regular sponsor of The 500 Club Sundowner events. They host events at their offices and provide sponsorship support. Lavan has sponsored multiple Sundowner events including those featuring political figures like Basil Zempilas.
• Willie Creek PearlscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWillie Creek Pearls hosts The 500 Club business Sundowner events at their Cottesloe showroom. They partnered on events featuring guest speakers like Basil Zempilas and Colin Barnett.
• Flametree WinesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFlametree Wines sponsors Sundowner events, providing wine for tastings and donating prize packs including their premium wines.
• Duke's VineyardminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDuke's Vineyard provides award-winning wines for event sponsorship, including tastings from their Magpie Hill Reserve range.
• Grand Cru WinesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGrand Cru Wines provides wine sponsorship for events including wine tasting experiences and prize donations.
• Barbagallo ShowroomscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBarbagallo Showrooms (Scarbrough Beach Road) hosts The 500 Club Sundowner events. They are partnering on an anticipated August 2026 Sundowner featuring Libby Mettam MLA.
• Little Things Gin DistillerycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLittle Things Gin Distillery in Subiaco hosts The 500 Club August Sundowner events, including the Meet the State's Upper House event with the full WA Liberal Party Legislative Council team.
• Perth Racing / Ascot RacecoursecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPerth Racing and Ascot Racecourse partner with The 500 Club for exclusive race day functions including Oaks Day with over 60 guests in the exclusive 1900 Room.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Chief Executive Group: Membership community for senior executives and C-suite leaders offering curated events and peer networking. Comparable audience and event-led value proposition, though broader geographic footprint and more recent in origin than The 500 Club.

Direct peers

• The Athenaeum Club (Melbourne): Long-established Melbourne private members' club offering hospitality, accommodation and curated networking events. Comparable business model and member demographic to The 500 Club.
• Vistage: CEO peer advisory and executive networking organization running paid membership groups and curated events for business leaders. Closely parallels The 500 Club's tiered paid membership and facilitated peer access model.
• BNI (Business Network International): Largest business networking organization globally, running membership-based local chapters with structured referral-based networking events. A direct comparable in event-driven, member-funded business networking, though at much larger scale and broader audience.
• The Savage Club (Melbourne): Melbourne private members' club with curated events, dining and networking for senior business and creative leaders. Comparable operating model and event-driven membership structure.
• The West Australian Club: Perth-based private members' club serving senior professionals and business leaders. Direct regional peer competing for the same Perth executive demographic as The 500 Club.
• YPO (Young Presidents' Organization): Global peer membership organization for senior executives and business leaders, providing exclusive forums, events and peer-learning networks. Directly comparable to The 500 Club in its membership-gated, event-driven model serving influential business decision-makers.
• The Weld Club: Historic Perth private members' club offering dining, accommodation and networking facilities to senior business and professional leaders. Closest like-for-like members' club peer in the same Perth market.
• The Melbourne Club: One of Australia's oldest and most exclusive private members' clubs, headquartered in Melbourne. Directly comparable to The 500 Club in operating a curated, subscription-based club for senior business and community leaders.
• Tiger 21: Peer membership organization for high-net-worth individuals and CEOs operating through local groups, curated events and confidential forums. Comparable to The 500 Club in targeting influential business owners with vetted membership and recurring curated gatherings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=61571235582313
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the500club
• Instagraminstagram.com/the500club.wa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The 500 Club