"It was still smouldering. The [initial] phone call I got from the police said there's not much point in coming down now unless you want to watch the rest of it burn down, so you might as well come down at first light. That told me then there wouldn't be much left," Mr Dixon said.
"I was expecting the worst and it literally was the worst-case scenario."
Neither the pavilion nor its contents were insured. The company the club used went bust after the 2010 earthquake and it was then too expensive to get cover.
The building, which had been targeted before by vandals, housed changing rooms and the club's ground preparation equipment, including a tractor to pull the pitch roller.
Slices of history were lost, including 15 or 20 photos of club teams that won grades over the years, 30 or 40 trophies and items signed by the Black Caps.
Luckily a former club president made a record of the photos seven or eight years ago, so some history could be re-created.
The club will tomorrow hold an emergency meeting about the situation and for now was trying to set up a Givealittle page online to raise some money.
It's top team plays in the Christchurch metro's senior A grade and all up it has five adult and five junior teams.
Mr Dixon said they might have to move the first team's initial home games away this season, although the playing surface itself wasn't damaged in last night's blaze and the club remained determined to offer cricket to its community.
Other clubs have pledged to help out and Mr Dixon said an immediate focus was getting enough junior gear to let the youngsters' games go ahead.
The club's Facebook page has also been swamped with messages of support, while the New Brighton Volunteer Fire Brigade's page said: "A sad day for New Brighton - so much history that can't be replaced.
"Our crews have been on the ground since 4.20am, there'll be a lot of tired faces around today but thankfully everyone is safe."
Anyone with information can call Christchurch police on 03 3637400 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
