The club was established on 26 August 1875, with clubrooms on the New River Estuary.
[1][2] It is located adjacent to Southland's second large rowing club Waihopai.
[2] It expanded its facilities in 1983 when the first women members joined the club.
[1] An additional boat storage shed was built in 2005 given an increase in competition and training skiffs.
[1] It won the Rowing New Zealand Club of the Year award in 2007.