Plans for accommodation at Bruce Pulman Park originally started with a wing to be attached to the proposed Arthur Lydiard House.  Arthur Lydiard House is still firmly on the plans for the Park and once built will house the Park administration and many of the user groups to use as a learning and resource centre.

Plans changed when the then Papakura District Council purchased a slither of land from the NZ Defence Force back in 1990 that had the former Army Officer Quarters on them, 5 two storied buildings housing 2 x 3-bedroom homes in each unit. This all situated in the middle of their beautiful 9-hole golf course.  The Council wanted to extend the area of McLennan Park to make room for more soccer fields. 

Papakura District Council came to Bruce Pulman Park Trust and asked if these current buildings would work as an accommodation block to complement the Park.  The Trust jumped at the chance, took on the lease of the land and at the same time acquired the buildings to make them into accommodation.  To do this and acquire a legal title the Trust also had to purchase a neighbouring house & section with a ROW which eventually went through the middle of a soccer field, to be able to get access.  Further exchanges were made between the Council and the Trust to further increase the size of McLennan Park to get three full size soccer fields, which now surround the Lodge on 3 sides.

In the original barracks five buildings lined up parallel, two were shifted to around the back, because they straddled the new boundary line, but when they came to build, issues with borer meant they couldn’t be used, all were demolished but resource consent conditions, that had been originally granted, meant that the original buildings had to be replaced in the same position with five two storey blocks.  With one wing being a dedicated disability block, which has been well received by many from this sector.  One of the Lodge’s biggest supporters over the years has been the Mobility Dogs who spend a couple of weeks at a time living in to train their dogs alongside their new owners.

Serving community to High Performance is what Pulman Lodge is now known for, teams of young kids ready to hit Bruce Pulman Park for their national tournament to top NZ sports teams that utilise the facilities for their training camps.  There is also plenty of business and corporate meetings and conferences using the many spaces too.

Whilst it is an important income generator for the Park it also serves as a unique sell for sports competitions and events with it being 1 km and within walking distance down the road.  When major sports events are booked on the Park you can guarantee Pulman Lodge is bursting at the seams with guests.  From 1-3 bed apartments to dormitories and bunk rooms, it caters for all types of teams and groups.  The Lodge also has instant hot and cold therapeutic and recovery pools which are well used by the teams.

When asked Bruce Pulman says, ‘The Lodge has gone way and above my expectations.  The highlight for 2021, would have to be the All Blacks stay, it was a dream come true for me seeing the All Blacks bus pull up at the Lodge’! 

Quoting from when they stayed at the Lodge earlier this year this is what the All Blacks had to say, “The Bruce Pulman Park experience was terrific,” All Blacks manager Darren Shand told Counties Sports Hub. “One of the most telling things for me was from Ethan Blackadder – a first time All Black. He loved the experience of having four players together in a room.

“Usually, we have players on their own or with one other player at most so this was a great bonding experience for him and the rest of the team.

“The Pulman Lodge was great and ideally located so there was no real big bus ride from our accommodation to the training field.

“Staff-wise they were as good as anywhere we have experienced, and the food was great and catered for everything we needed.”

Find out more about Pulman Lodge and what we have to offer at Bruce Pulman Park.

Article added: Thursday 16 December 2021