1909 – 1987

Guest house operator

Joy Crewes (née Cluett) was born in Sydney in 1909. In 1934 she married John (Jack) Crewes and they lived in Bankstown where Jack worked as a storekeeper. He was also a keen golfer, playing regularly in local competitions, but in 1941, as World War II continued, he enlisted to serve with the Royal Australian Air Force.  

During the 1920s, a small nine hole sand-green (oiled sand) golf course had been laid out by Charlie Rankin on Edith Twynam’s land just up from the beach. As nobody knew where Mollymoke was, it was known as the Milton Seaside Golf Course.

In April 1949, Joy and Jack decided to move out of Sydney and came to Mollymoke (now called Mollymook). They bought the lease on the golf course land and the Mollymoke Country Club from Marjorie Bayly.

The Crewes extended the Mollymoke Country Club. It could house about 30 guests – golfers who enjoyed playing on the course alongside, swimming at beautiful Mollymook Beach and also beach anglers. Jack and Joy managed the club together and hosted golf competitions and monthly dances.

However, in 1956, Jack died after a long illness and Joy decided to continue managing the club on her own but onsold the lease for the golf club land to the recently-formed Mollymook Golf Club. As a keen and regular golfer, Joy had become President of the ‘Associate Members’ (aka the women members) in 1953.

The Mollymoke Country Club was remembered by many locals as a rather exclusive establishment. Joy was an extremely charming and efficient host and most of the guests were professional people. The huge sitting room had large windows overlooking the ocean. Joy did all the cooking with the help of a few staff. She was an excellent cook, and the meals were much appreciated by her guests.

Milton Ulladulla Historical Society is fortunate to have the original sign from the Mollymoke Country Club, painted by local signwriter Peter Williams and donated to MUHS by Chris Turnbull.

In the late 1970s, Joy remarried Charles Costello.