Rotarians have finished stripping Carisbrook of its former glory, but the sale is not over yet.
Carisbrook Rotary Project committee member Lindsay Thorburn said they had finished work in the stadium but there was still some memorabilia in storage for sale.
About 7000 seats, eight turnstiles, two 40-foot containers of rimu timber and a ''few'' signs remained, he said.
''We think over the next four-five months everything will go. If that's the case, we will exceed our expectations.''
The Carisbrook Rotary Project had from June 28 until yesterday to strip and sell stadium fittings for a combined fundraising project by the nine Rotary clubs in Dunedin, Mosgiel and Milton, before demolition begins at the ground. Memorabilia had been snapped up by sports fans across the country keen to claim a piece of Otago sporting history.
The goalposts sold for $5000 to an Ashburton buyer and blocks of 700 seats from the Railway Stand were sold to buyers in Invercargill and Oamaru. About 300 boxes of Carisbrook turf had also been sold.
Mr Thorburn said leaving the stadium for the last time was tough.
''There were a few people with tears. I was one of them. I felt really sad. I spent 35 years watching rugby there. It wasn't a good feeling. It was like losing a friend.''
It was hoped the project would raise between $250,000 and $1 million, but the final figure would not be known for about three months.
- Robert van Royen
