HISTORY OF ARDMORE

In the mid to late 1980's the pedigree dog showing exhibitors and the organizing club's faced a major crisis. The availability of suitable venues to hold their dog shows.
Auckland Kennel Council had lost its venue at the Easter Show grounds in Greenlane.
Kumeu Kennel Association had dissolved its relationship with the Kumeu A&H society in Kumeu & Franklin Kennel Association relationship with the Franklin A& H Society was nearing its end. The group & specialist clubs were somewhat better off, but had no place they could call home.

The conditions were right for a group of dedicated people in Karen Graham, Jean McErlane, Eddie Croad, Lindsay Bradley, and Gordon Morris to get together & the concept of an exhibition centre of our own was brought forth.

In 1987, with the assistance of the NZ Kennel Club, a 9.1 hectare property at 742 Clevedon Road was bought from Mr. & Mrs. Zule.
This property was part of a once large dairy farm & housed the old milking shed & cream collection centre and the old homestead, but had for some time been used as a horse riding school.
The Auckland Exhibition Centre of the NZ Kennel Club was born.
The Grand Opening was Saturday 28th February 1987


These photos were taken 12th March 1987


The original steering committee that oversaw the purchase & the initial council approvals consisted of Eddie Croad, Gordon Morris, Owen Wright & Lindsay Bradley.

Early Contributors

From there on in the growth of the Ardmore complex can only be spoken of as a rags to riches story. The support of the members & our senior members was phenomenal, and today that dream is being taken to another level, in that our exhibition centre is to be further enhanced and turned into what is considered as the Auckland Centre of Canine Excellence.

The old cowshed & implement sheds were quickly converted into meeting & administration rooms. In October 1994 the amenities building was built, & our next dream of an all weather exhibition hall was realised in December 1998 when the earthworks began on the covered venue. The official opening for this was held in June 1999.

Since that date a series of small modifications have been made & in 2006 the final stage of the dream was started in that an enhanced entrance way was constructed, an extensive tree planting programme was initiated along with a metalled car park to service the events centre.

We go forward to the NZKC Auckland Exhibition Centre - Canine Centre of Excellence