"Over the last couple of years we've had quite an increase in membership. It was just time for an upgrade."
The opening was attended by the past president of Clubs New Zealand Tom Fisher and representatives from other clubs.
Meanwhile, Mr Tunbridge said St John's Club was in good health and now had more than 2000 members.
"They are pretty impressed with what they are coming into now," he said.
"They've stuck by us pretty well and without their support obviously we wouldn't have got this far.
"I think it's just the service and the fact that it's a safe place to socialise. That certainly brings membership in."
Mr Tunbridge said more renovation work was being planned and he hoped it would completed by 2020.
"We've sort of been steadily saving money over the years to get here."
The club is preparing to celebrate its 125th anniversary on January 20.