The Princes Park redevelopment project is moving a step closer with preliminary works underway. The Heatley and Harris Stands will be demolished to make way for a new elite training facility for the Carlton Football Club.
While the official demolition of the Harris and Heatley Stands is yet to commence, there has been plenty of action at Princes Park in what is referred to as ‘preliminary works’. The preliminary works are necessary before the actual demolition of the stands can take place.
The demolition of the two stands will signify the official commencement of the redevelopment works and this is expected to occur in early August.
As part of the demolition works the signs on the Heatley Stand and the Harris Stand have been removed and these will be retained by the Club as part of the history of the ground. Andrew Walker, who kicked Carlton’s last ever goal in an AFL match at the Heatley Stand end assisted with the removal of the sign from the facia of the famous stand during the week. Walker kicked the last goal at the Heatley Stand end during the Princes Park ‘Farewell Game’ in 2005.
Walker was joined by Brian O’Keefe, who is a member of the contract team completing the preliminary works, to remove the sign. Brian played three games for Footscray and his one and only goal, with his first kick in the AFL, was scored at the Heatley Stand end. (Brian is the father of Sydney Swans star, former Strathmore and Calder Cannons junior, Ryan O’Keefe).
Joining Walker were members of Robert Heatley’s family who were on hand to see the removal of the sign from the stand. The new sign has been on the facia since the 1990s when the ground was renamed Optus Oval and while it was expected there would be another Robert Heatley Stand sign beneath this, everyone was surprised to find two more signs.
Andrew Walker with Robert Heatley's Great
Grandaughter and Grandson
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