Caledonian Ground
Encyclopedia
The Caledonian Ground, often simply known as "The Caley", is a major sports venue in the New Zealand
city of Dunedin
. It is primarily used for soccer and athletics, and has a capacity of 7,500.
in Dunedin North
, close to Logan Park High School
and close to the University of Otago
and Otago Polytechnic
. Other major sports venues are located nearby, including the University Oval and the Forsyth Barr Stadium at University Plaza, the latter of which is currently under construction. The ground is nestled at the very edge of the floodplain of the Water of Leith
, against the foothills of Signal Hill
, on land which was reclaimed in the early part of the twentieth century from the waters of Pelichet Bay. The tiny Opoho Creek, a tributary of the Leith, lies to the immediate east of the ground.
, at the corner of Hillside Road and Andersons Bay Road, some five kilometres to the south. The ground's former site is now largely occupied by the car park of one of the city's main shopping centres. All that remains of the former ground is a gymnasium and a bowling club. The gymnasium is a World War II
war memorial
.
The original Caledonian complex dated back to 1876, when the city's Caledonian society moved to South Dunedin from their home at the North Ground in Dunedin North
. The ground, and its grandstand, were purchased by the Dunedin City Council in 1943, and were extensively developed after public meetings in late 1950 to decide on a public utility which could also serve as a war memorial.
The original Caledonian Ground hosted New Zealand's first international football (soccer) match, albeit not officially a full international. On 23 July 1904 New Zealand lost 0-1 at the Caledonian to a New South Wales representative XI. The Caledonian also served as the city's main cycling venue for many years, and was sporadically used as a first-class cricket
venue between 1880 and 1904, hosting four matches.
formerly played many of their home games at the Caledonian Ground, and it has been the host ground for several later-round stages of the Chatham Cup
, including a semi-final in the 2008 competition
.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
city of Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
. It is primarily used for soccer and athletics, and has a capacity of 7,500.
Location
The Caledonian Ground is currently sited at the northern end of Logan ParkLogan Park, Dunedin
Logan Park is a sporting venue in the city of Dunedin, New Zealand. It lies on land reclaimed from the former Lake Logan.- History :Lake Logan was reclaimed in the early 20th century...
in Dunedin North
Dunedin North
Dunedin North, also known as North Dunedin, is a major inner suburb of the New Zealand city of Dunedin, located to the northeast of the city centre. It contains many of the city's major institutions, including the city's university, polytechnic, main hospital, and largest museum...
, close to Logan Park High School
Logan Park High School
Logan Park High School is a high school in Dunedin, New Zealand. It was opened in 1975 on the site of a former rifle range in a small wooded valley adjacent to Logan Park, an area of land reclaimed from the former Lake Logan and now largely converted into a park and playing fields in Dunedin North...
and close to the University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
and Otago Polytechnic
Otago Polytechnic
The Otago Polytechnic is a public New Zealand tertiary education institute, centred in Dunedin with campuses throughout the region of Otago including Cromwell, Wanaka and Queenstown....
. Other major sports venues are located nearby, including the University Oval and the Forsyth Barr Stadium at University Plaza, the latter of which is currently under construction. The ground is nestled at the very edge of the floodplain of the Water of Leith
Water of Leith, New Zealand
The Water of Leith , is a small river in the South Island of New Zealand.It rises to the north of the city of Dunedin, flowing for 14 kilometres southeast through the northern part of the city and the campus of the University of Otago before reaching the Otago Harbour...
, against the foothills of Signal Hill
Signal Hill, New Zealand
Signal Hill is a prominent landform in the city of Dunedin, New Zealand. It is located close to, and due north of, the head of the Otago Harbour and reaches an elevation of 393 m . The suburbs Ravensbourne, St. Leonards, and Opoho lie on its southern, eastern, and northwestern flanks, respectively...
, on land which was reclaimed in the early part of the twentieth century from the waters of Pelichet Bay. The tiny Opoho Creek, a tributary of the Leith, lies to the immediate east of the ground.
History
The venue is often referred to by Dunedinities as the New Caledonian Ground, an indication that the ground has not long been at its current site. Until 2000 the Caledonian Ground was located in the heart of South DunedinSouth Dunedin
South Dunedin is a major inner city suburb of the New Zealand city of Dunedin. It is located, as its name suggests, to the south of the city centre, on part of a large plain known locally simply as "The Flat". The suburb is a mix of industrial, retail, and predominantly lower-quality residential...
, at the corner of Hillside Road and Andersons Bay Road, some five kilometres to the south. The ground's former site is now largely occupied by the car park of one of the city's main shopping centres. All that remains of the former ground is a gymnasium and a bowling club. The gymnasium is a World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
war memorial
War memorial
A war memorial is a building, monument, statue or other edifice to celebrate a war or victory, or to commemorate those who died or were injured in war.-Historic usage:...
.
The original Caledonian complex dated back to 1876, when the city's Caledonian society moved to South Dunedin from their home at the North Ground in Dunedin North
Dunedin North
Dunedin North, also known as North Dunedin, is a major inner suburb of the New Zealand city of Dunedin, located to the northeast of the city centre. It contains many of the city's major institutions, including the city's university, polytechnic, main hospital, and largest museum...
. The ground, and its grandstand, were purchased by the Dunedin City Council in 1943, and were extensively developed after public meetings in late 1950 to decide on a public utility which could also serve as a war memorial.
The original Caledonian Ground hosted New Zealand's first international football (soccer) match, albeit not officially a full international. On 23 July 1904 New Zealand lost 0-1 at the Caledonian to a New South Wales representative XI. The Caledonian also served as the city's main cycling venue for many years, and was sporadically used as a first-class cricket
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
venue between 1880 and 1904, hosting four matches.
Usage
The Caledonian Ground is used as the city's main athletics track, and is also one of Dunedin's primary soccer venues; Otago UnitedOtago United
Otago United is a soccer club based in Dunedin, New Zealand.It participates in the ASB Premiership. Their previous home stadium is Carisbrook in the South Dunedin suburb of Caversham which is the soon the replaced home of Otago Rugby...
formerly played many of their home games at the Caledonian Ground, and it has been the host ground for several later-round stages of the Chatham Cup
Chatham Cup
The Chatham Cup, currently known as the ASB Chatham Cup for sponsorship purposes, is New Zealand's premier knockout tournament in men's football...
, including a semi-final in the 2008 competition
2008 Chatham Cup
The 2008 Chatham Cup is the New Zealand's 81st knockout football competition. The final was played on September 13 at North Harbour Stadium, North Shore....
.