History
Tracing the evolution of the Hawkes Bay Rowing Club, from its 19th-century origins to its modern-day facilities.
Representative Senior Crew, 1898 - 99
The Beginnings
The Hawkes Bay Rowing Club originally started out as the Napier Rowing Club in 1875 based in Ahuriri. Back then, there were two separate clubs: Napier and Union.
They eventually merged, keeping the Napier Rowing Club name. By the time the 1931 Napier Earthquake hit, the club was located on the river where Georges Drive is today. This was likely the same building mentioned in a 1895 newspaper article.
Post the 1931 Earthquake
After the 1931 earthquake, the building moved to Clive and was raised on piles, extending into Farndon Park with a grassy ramp leading to the river. This old shed was about 50 metres from where the current one stands, and it was torn down when the new shed was built. The club changed its name to Hawkes Bay Rowing Club in the late 1950s.
Winners of the Madien & Junior Fours, NZ Champs, 1938
NZ Senior 8 Champions, 1980 - 81
The Current Setup
The existing main shed was constructed in the early 1970s, led by Club Captain Noel Glengarry. Notably, architect John Scott designed the structure, as three of his family members were active rowers in the club at the time. Key contributions came from Basil Jordan, who donated the steel trusses, and Mark Morgan, who provided crucial oversight. Thanks to these generous contributions, the shed was built for just $8,000.
An extension was added to the back of the shed sometime in the 1980s. During this renovation, all the original fibrolite cladding was replaced due to concerns about asbestos.
Do you want to add to this page with your knowledge of the Club's history. We are keen to hear from you!
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