Gym where it started demolished

One of the early training grounds of some of New Zealand’s greatest athletes is almost gone.

Former Bayfield High School pupil and Tall Blacks basketballer Andrew Parke. PHOTO: GERARD O’BRIEN
Former Bayfield High School pupil and Tall Blacks basketballer Andrew Parke. PHOTO: GERARD O’BRIEN

A large digger started making its way through the old wooden gymnasium at Bayfield High School this week — a facility used by sporting greats such as Tall Black Andrew Parke, late All Black Gary Seear, Olympic gold medallist Danyon Loader and Paralympic gold medallist Anna Grimaldi, among many others.

Mr Parke said he had a sentimental connection to the old gym because it was where he discovered his love for basketball.

The 48-year-old said he learnt "the fundamentals of the game" there and went on to play for the Otago Nuggets and Tall Blacks during the 1990s and 2000s.

"The first time I ever picked up a basketball was in that gym when I was a third former at Bayfield.

"Back in 1986, it was the first time I got to play the game, and I absolutely fell in love with it."

Principal Mark Jones said the demolition marked the beginning of a $5.86million redevelopment project over the next 15 months, in which some of the school’s old, decrepit buildings would be removed, others would be repaired and refurbished, and some new facilities would be built.

A QC Contracting digger begins the demolition of the old Bayfield High School gymnasium. PHOTO:...
A QC Contracting digger begins the demolition of the old Bayfield High School gymnasium. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH

He said the project included expanding the new gymnasium by adding new offices, classrooms and changing rooms; demolishing the old learning support unit and replacing it with a purpose-built facility; reroofing the school library and two classroom blocks; and refurbishing many of the school’s classrooms,.

It was hoped the projects would be completed by early 2022.

Mr Jones said the project was part of a larger $7.5million project, which aimed to fully upgrade the school over the next three and a-half years.

john.lewis@odt.co.nz

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