A brief History
1883 - George's Bay
St George’s Rowing Club was first established on 31st August 1883 – the same year as the Auckland Rugby Union. The Captain was Mr FJ Sanderson and the Hon Sec and Treasurer was Mr HW Hudson. The object of this Club was “the promotion of rowing in boats of a class suitable for use in this harbour in any ordinary weather (i.e. whaleboats), and no outrigger or sliding seat was to be used in the Club”.
1888 - Judge's bay
In the first five years two fires occurred which burnt down the wooden clubrooms and the boats inside. During this time the shoreline of Auckland was being reclaimed so in 1888 the clubrooms were rebuilt in Judges Bay, Parnell.
1932 - Mechanics Bay
The club was central to the social life in New Zealand, with a description in the New Zealand Herald in 1932 stating that “… Georgians could do anything – they set the fashion, and at one time were not only easily first on the water, but were quite a power in the social world. It would amuse the present-day rowing man to know that there was a time when the annual ball of the St George’s Bay Rowing Club ranked next in social importance to the Government House Ball, and the fairest girls in the town were pleased to receive a card branded…”
Once again in 1932, progress forced St George’s to move from Judges Bay to Mechanics Bay. This was as a result of the construction of a railway and waterfront road across Judge’s Bay making it difficult for the rowers to access the harbour safely. It was built on the edge of the Drive (Tamaki), in front of the Akarana Yacht Club. The new boathouse was in an excellent situation, and from it a panoramic view of the harbour could be obtained. However, once again, progress – this time in the form of the first flying boats – meant St George’s needed to move again.
1949 - Panmure
In 1949, the committee made the courageous decision to move from downtown Auckland to the Tamaki River on Kings Road, Panmure. This was only four years after World War Two ended. The distance from Auckland central to Panmure was considerable and many of the members chose not to continue their membership, so the club needed to be re-established physically and in membership. Some key personalities and committed individuals led the club through these challenging times. To name a few: Cyril Hilliard, Jack Biss, Viv Sanders, Dennis Lawford, Pauline Tonkin, Betty le Grice, Evan Jenkins and Peter and Karen Faulconbridge, Len Gissing and Kerry Brear. More recently were Brian Clarke and Len Gissing.
1949 - Present
During the new millennium the club has grown to now having over 175 members from Glendowie and Macleans College, Club rowers, and masters rowers. The active club membership ranges in age from 12 to 76.
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