13 ½ acres of a September 1885 land, leased to the Trustees of the Poona Assemble Rooms at a yearly rent of Rs.13 and 12 annas is such an epic foundation for Poona Club. Then meant for high serving British officialdom, Poona Club’s stony edifice was constructed somewhere in the year 1882, creepered with vipers and the far pavilion in beckoning resonance to a sporty lifestyle. It was an elegant amalgamation of two unincorporated bodies, namely Poona Gymkhana Club and Lloyd Polo Club; popularly known later as the Poona Assembly Rooms.

The site where the present Club stands, was originally known as “Edward garden” where, in 1862 recreation rooms were built, for the use of military troops and later came to be known as “Assembly Rooms” or “Soldier’s Institute”. In the year 1880, with DADABHAI DORABJEE BOOTTEE, as its President, the name was changed to Poona Gymkhana Club. His Highness, the royal Aga Khan was its first founder patron.

Later on, the Poona Gymkhana Club was re-christened “ Poona Club” and was registered as recent as 1931, as a Limited concern. The Club lands then were delimited from the Cantonment limits and included with that of the Poona Suburban Municipality around 1890.

History tells us that a fire gutted the stately Club on August 29,1945, destroying most of the predominant wooden building. It was in 1953 that the facelift of today was officially inaugurated by the then Chief minister of Mumbai, Hon. Mr. Moraji Desai. During the transformation, the soul of quaint Poona Club never altered the distinct Colonial ambience of wood panels, gas lamp evenings, turbaned staff and gaiety unending resonating across the card rooms, library, bar, bridge room to the cricket dinners and unforgettable Cinderella balls.

Over time with the British membership dwindling and the Indian ones rising; Poona Club gradually metamorphosed from an army trait Club to a more amiable civilian haunt. With more than 4500 members breathing its premises everyday, Poona Club’s air of an aura gone by, just keeps getting more and more life.