Ngati Paoa sold the land, now known as St Heliers to the Government in 1841. A year later the St Heliers Land Company purchased it and in 1889 sold 230 acres to The New Zealand and River Plate Mortgage Company for subdivision into residential sections. One resident, Mrs Vellenowath, worked for some years to get the area known as “The Vellenowath Green” placed in the trust of the Tamaki West Road Board (later in 1928 to be amalgamated with the Auckland City Council) for the people of “St Heliers”.

In 1913 the Tamaki West Road Board initiated proposals to lay down a sportsfield including a bowling green. The first President was George Campbell, who faced the daunting task of raising $500 of debentures and bowling in St Heliers was underway with the opening of the first green in 1914. Many prominent Aucklanders have belonged, one being L G Keys who ran the local bus company and who represented New Zealand at bowls. The major tournament for the Club, played each year is named after L J Keys.

In the Club’s archives there is an interesting invitation. It was to a social for the opening and the time was set to coincide with the 2.15pm ferry. St Heliers in 1913 was a very isolated beach suburb with a wharf and ferry connection to the city. The road connection was a back country road through St Johns and Remuera. As St Heliers grew, so did the Club and by the mid century was the largest bowling club in Auckland, with over 200 male bowlers and two and a half greens. In 1995 Mr Clem Simich, MP for Tamaki, sponsored the St Heliers Bay Reserve Bill and after it was enacted, the Club was granted a permanent tenure lease. It is still a large club with approximately 175 members. The mix has changed with the important addition of women bowlers in 1997. The new addition in the 2009/10 season of a Green Weave artificial surface on A Green is proving to be an excellent playing surface and allows for all year round bowling. With the introduction of the very popular Business House Bowls several years ago, the Club offers a wonderful social activity to people of the local community in the summer months.