Rowing: Historic club finds new home

Auckland's new West End Rowing Club will be officially opened by Prime Minister Helen Clark tomorrow.

The $1.75 million complex at Avondale's Saunders Reserve includes a two-and-a-half storey clubhouse, a gymnasium, function room, showers, and boatshed, and a water access pontoon.

The clubrooms, by the side of the Whau River, were funded through the sale of the club's old base at Westhaven, and by several grants.

West End Community Charitable Trust Board chairman Kerry Ashby said the club could not have wished for a better location.

"The Whau River is marvellous for water sports, but has always been hard to access," he said.

"Now we have a great community facility that we are all very proud of."

The West End club was established in 1884 in St Mary's Bay.

They were situated in the bay until three years ago, when they were forced to move from their clubrooms which became the police headquarters.

They have since shared a home with the Waitemata Rowing Club in Te Atatu.

The club has a proud history, having produced several national champions and three Olympic gold medallists - Dudley Storey, Tony Hurt and Shane O'Brien.

A wall displaying the oars of the gold medal winners - and Don Rowland's Commonwealth Games gold medal-winning single scull - will be unveiled at the opening.

The water access pontoon is to be named after club patron Winston Wrathall.

The opening takes place at midday.