Bowls greens tipped to fetch $5m

Rod College, president of the Rawhiti Bowling Club, which will be closing after 100 years. Photo / NZ Herald

Up to nine homes could be built on prime real estate after bids to keep Remuera club as open space fail

A 100-year-old bowling club has put its greens on the market — and millions of dollars are needed to secure some of the most prime real estate in the country.

Dwindling membership at Rawhiti Bowling Club in Remuera led to the decision to sell up.

The north-facing site has current resource consent for up to nine dwellings and is expected to fetch well in excess of $5 million.

Membership has declined since the 1990s, and maintenance costs led to the decision to sell and bolster membership numbers at nearby clubs.

The 5,954sqm property is on a corner block of Rangitoto Ave, Rakau St and Ara St, and is for sale through a tender process. David Rainbow, of Bayleys Remuera, said the "blank canvas" — which would be sold as a whole — was zoned to allow subdivision to nine residential lots, ranging from 504sqm to 1,009sqm.

Club president Rod College could not be reached for comment yesterday, but previously told the Herald that the 60 club members could not personally share in the proceeds of the sale, because the money had to be used for the good of bowling.

Playing members were relocating to nearby clubs.

When Rawhiti was rezoned for residential use, Auckland Council received 37 submissions opposing residential 5 zoning.

Nearby resident Brenda Barnes said it had been hoped the land could be kept as open space, but efforts to get the club to talk to other parties had proved unsuccessful.

QV figures put the median value of residential property in Remuera at $1.36 million in April, nearly double the $699,659 median for Auckland.

End of an era

• 100 seasons of bowls have been played at the Rawhiti Bowling Club, but declining membership has seen its greens put on the market.

• Upwards of $5 million expected for the 5,954sqm Remuera property.