Store plans to honour Carisbrook’s triumphs

Standing on the former Carisbrook turf with sporting memorabilia to be housed at the future...
Standing on the former Carisbrook turf with sporting memorabilia to be housed at the future PlaceMakers store are (from left) former All Black Arthur Stone, PlaceMakers Dunedin owner Justin Macready and former Highlander Brett McCormack. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH
Ever since the demolition of Carisbrook in 2014, sports fans across the city have lamented the ignoble fate of the once hallowed grounds.

Now the mighty fortress of Otago Rugby is set to get the recognition it deserves thanks to a new PlaceMakers hardware store which plans to honour the history of the site’s former sporting triumphs.

As well as paint, hammers and power drills, the store will feature Carisbrook signage, goal posts and a scoreboard, while the store will have a collection of memorabilia recalling the glory days of the stadium on display.

Various jumpers, programmes and Highlanders-branded products have been collected already, the prize exhibit being an original bench seat from the ground signed by 10 Otago rugby luminaries, including Ben Smith, Kees Meeuws and Laurie Mains.

PlaceMakers Dunedin branch operator Justin Macready said he felt lucky to be able to build in the location, and he wanted to ‘‘ensure our new store forever reflects its special past’’.

While his current collecting had meant keeping an eye on Trade Me, he was keen to get his hands on more memorabilia.

‘‘If you’ve some Carisbrook stuff that’s floating around home and you’re keen, we’d love to buy it off you, and if you’ve got something you don’t want to hand over that’s just sitting in a cupboard, we’d love to securely showcase it.’’

Former All Black, New Zealand Maori and Otago player Arthur Stone said a lot of people around Dunedin had fond memories of Carisbrook, and he was pleased the history of the ground would be remembered.

andrew.marshall@odt.co.nz

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