Mosgiel Memorial RSA Club, home to the Spitfire Restaurant and Diggers Tavern, is a community club on Church Street in Mosgiel, Dunedin, established in 1961 and officially opened in 1966.
The club exists to provide comfort, welfare and support for servicemen and women and their families, to nurture a society of peace, and to offer friendship and fellowship in a safe, welcoming environment. With around 600 members, the RSA describes its vision as "a place where everyone can belong," acting as a community hub for the wider Taieri area.
The Spitfire Restaurant and Diggers Tavern operate under a general license, meaning anyone can come in for a meal or a drink, not just RSA members. House rules apply out of respect for those who have served — no hats and tidy dress. Restaurant bookings are essential.
On Church Street in Mosgiel, the Mosgiel Memorial RSA has been part of the local community since it was established in 1961 and officially opened in 1966. Today, it combines its role as a returned services club with the day-to-day operation of the Spitfire Restaurant and Diggers Tavern.
The club's vision, "a place where everyone can belong," reflects a membership that has grown well beyond returned servicemen and women. With around 600 members and a wide range of non-members using its facilities, the Mosgiel RSA positions itself as a community hub for the Taieri area — somewhere to meet people, share stories, get involved and help out. Anyone over 18 can become a member; you don't need to have served to join.
Remembrance runs through everything the Mosgiel RSA does. Each ANZAC Day, on 25 April, the club hosts a march and service that draws veterans, families, MPs, local dignitaries, schools and community groups, followed by a free lunch for returned service people. On 11 November at 11am, an Armistice Day service is held at the Mosgiel cenotaph, open to the public and growing each year. Beyond these major dates, the ode is read and a moment of silence observed every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 6pm — a long-standing RSA tradition.
The club's commercial heart is the Spitfire Restaurant and Diggers Tavern, which operate under a general license — meaning anyone, member or not, can come in for a meal and a drink. Restaurant bookings are essential. House rules apply throughout: no hats and tidy dress, observed as a mark of respect to those who have served or are currently serving. The restaurant and tavern are run by a dedicated team, including a Manager, Head Chef and Restaurant Manager overseeing day-to-day operations.
Beyond hospitality, the Mosgiel RSA Welfare and Support Service plays a significant role in the community, helping veterans, ex-service people and their spouses or partners access benefits, pensions, allowances and welfare assistance. This includes practical support such as arranging transport to medical appointments in Dunedin and advocating on people's behalf with other agencies.
Joining the Mosgiel RSA comes with a range of privileges: discounted alcoholic drinks, discounted snooker table hire, free function room hire, members' nights and draws, free monthly club trips, discounts with local and national businesses through RSA and Clubs NZ partnerships, a free drop-off service to hospital appointments for those unable to drive or access the bus, and access to RSA funding for things like scooter batteries or hearing aids.
As membership has grown over the decades, the Mosgiel RSA has extended its building, with a major redevelopment currently in progress after several years of fundraising. The goal is a facility that can serve more community organisations and better fulfil its role as a community hub — including hosting fundraising quiz nights, providing a free venue for the not-for-profit sector, and partnering with East Taieri Church to help provide a Community Christmas dinner.
Whether visiting for a meal at the Spitfire Restaurant, a drink at the Diggers Tavern, or to take part in a remembrance service, the Mosgiel Memorial RSA continues its mission: to remember all those impacted by service, then, now and always.