Carlaw Park, Rugby league stadium in Parnell, Auckland, New Zealand
Carlaw Park was a rugby league stadium in Parnell, Auckland, New Zealand, located close to Auckland Domain. The site included grandstands and open terraces, and after it closed, it was rebuilt as a mixed-use development with offices, a hotel, and residential buildings.
James Carlaw, chairman of the Auckland Rugby League, bought the land in 1920 and opened the stadium the following year with a match between City Rovers and Maritime. The ground stayed in use for over 80 years before closing in 2002.
The ground took its name from James Carlaw, chairman of the Auckland Rugby League managing committee, who secured the land in 1920. Its opening match on 25 June 1921 drew 7,000 spectators to see City Rovers beat Maritime 10–8, with Herb Lunn scoring the first try and Eric Grey the first goal. Between 1924 and 1999 it hosted 66 Test matches.
The site is in Parnell, within easy walking distance of Auckland Domain and the city center. Visitors passing through today will find a modern complex of buildings, with little visible trace of the original stadium.
The ground's record crowd of about 28,000 watched New Zealand beat England 17–13 during the 1928 England tour. The last test there, on 22 October 1999, drew only 4,528 as New Zealand beat Tonga 74–0. Since mid-November 2018 a walkway has linked the redeveloped site to Parnell railway station.
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