Ask any North fan born in the early and middle part of the 20th century what they remember about Arden Street, and the Gasometer will likely be at the top of the list.
The towering structure wasn’t technically part of the ground, but from a station on nearby Macaulay Road, its shadow hovered over Arden Street.
Players were confronted with the site of the Gasometer as they ran out in front of huge crowds at their home ground.
Surviving pictures from the late 1920’s – North’s first few years in the then-VFL – show the gasometer in full sight.
As the team continued playing at the ground through the 1970’s, highlights from the time often show the Gasometer lurking in the background.
Then came the “Galloping Gasometer”, a nickname handed to 194 centimetre, 135 kilogram ruckman Mick Nolan for his towering stature.
One of North’s all-time greats, Barry Cable labelled Nolan ‘the best tap ruckman’ he’d ever played with.
As time went on, developments in technology meant the usefulness of gasometers decreased.
While the one on Macaulay Road is now long gone, it will live on in the memories of North fans who were lucky enough to see their side play at Arden Street.
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