Written by Jackson Thomas for stuff.co.nz

A central Auckland bowling club is on the market for a small fortune.

The Hillsboro Bowls Club, founded in 1925, is on the market, with management hoping to sell the section for $6 million to $8m.

The 7975sqm site, about the size of a rugby field, is located about half way between the CBD and Auckland International Airport, at 16 Hillsborough Rd.

The property has a 2014 capital value of $2m.
The existing clubhouse of 661sqm is included in the sale along with smaller outer buildings.

Club president Ian Drew said massive overheads had forced the club to make the “much deliberated decision” to merge with the Onehunga Bowling Club, just 2km down the road.

While he and other members were sad to have said goodbye to their club, the merger presented upside for both parties.

“We have been struggling, as many clubs in Auckland are,” Drew said.

“The move is a benefit to both clubs and between us, we had around 150 members to consider.”
The two clubs will officially merge in early September and be renamed Royal Oak Bowls.

Once the sale of the Hillsborough site was completed, it would look into making improvements on the Onehunga site.

An underground carpark, upgraded clubroom and state-of-the-art indoor green were being investigated.

There were only a few completely indoor bowling greens in the country and none in Auckland, Drew said.

“As sad as it is, we know what an amazing opportunity this is for both of our clubs and the money from the sale of Hillsborough will go a long way to creating an amazing new space at Royal Oak Bowls,” he said.

The site was being sold by a joint tender with Barfoot & Thompson and Bayleys.

It is owned by the Hillsboro Bowls Club as an incorporated society.

Barfoot & Thompson Onehunga branch manager Bruce Homes said the club would likely go to a developer.

“We have had interest already from those looking into the development potential of the site,” he said.