The Melbourne German Gymnasts' Association was formed in April 1860, with F. Gelbrecht its president and Ernst Metzger its instructor. Already in the 1850s in Collingwood, Herr Schlobach had a 'Turnplatz' (gymnastic yard) and urged his countrymen to exercise there. Interest sprang from the 'Turner' movement begun in Germany by Friedrich Ludwig Jahn (1778-1852). Both Turn Vereins and Liedertafels encouraged Germans to express their newly discovered nationalism. In 1862 there was a large gymnastic and singing festival. Annual Turn Verein picnics on Boxing Day became popular, and by 1885 the Association had more than 600 members. After World War I the Turn Verein was forced to sell its premises, and in 1921 amalgamated with Club 'Tivoli', becoming 'Club Tivoli, Deutscher Verein Melbourne'.