Club director Heinz Brill said the famous Warners Bay association had ‘‘lost its purpose’’ due to a lack of interest from young people and a shortage of new German immigrants to the area.

‘‘We no longer have enough members to keep going with the duties and responsibilities of the club,’’ Mr Brill said.

‘‘I will be sad to see it go but the last few years have been a bit of a burden due to our financial problems.’’

German-speaking migrants working in the Hunter steel and mining industry established the Germania Club Newcastle in 1957.

It took the club 10 years to raise the money to buy the Warners Bay site, which became a haven for German immigrants.

‘‘The aim was to preserve our culture and language, which was necessary then but not any more,’’ he said.

The club was ‘‘built on groups’’ such as the card, rifle, carnival, choir, women’s auxiliary and dancing group.

‘‘The dancing group, called ‘Shoetlittler’, performed during Oktoberfest celebrations each year and was very popular,’’ Mr Brill said.

The Germania Club still owns the land but another organisation will operate the building as a function centre for weddings and other events.