Blockhouse Bay

Last updated

Blockhouse Bay
Blockhousebay.jpg
The Blockhouse Bay town centre.
Blockhouse Bay
Coordinates: 36°55′00″S174°42′32″E / 36.9167°S 174.7089°E / -36.9167; 174.7089
CountryNew Zealand
City Auckland
Local authority Auckland Council
Electoral ward Whau ward
Local board Whau Local Board
Area
[1]
  Land455 ha (1,124 acres)
Population
 (June 2023) [2]
  Total16,950
Avondale New Windsor New Windsor
New Lynn
Pfeil oben.svg
Pfeil links.svgBlockhouse BayPfeil rechts.svg
Pfeil unten.svg
Mount Roskill
Green Bay (Manukau Harbour) Lynfield
Blockhouse Bay beach Blockhouse Bay Beach.jpg
Blockhouse Bay beach

Blockhouse Bay is a residential suburb in the south west of Auckland, in New Zealand's North Island. It is sited on the northern coast of the Manukau Harbour, and is also close to the administrative boundary that existed between Auckland City and Waitakere City, two of the former four cities of what was the Auckland conurbation before amalgamation into Auckland Council.

Contents

The suburb is located 11 kilometres to the southwest of the city centre, and is surrounded by the more central suburbs of Lynfield and New Windsor, and the Waitakere suburbs of New Lynn and Green Bay.

The Blockhouse Bay Library is located in the town centre, [3] as is the Blockhouse Bay Community Centre, located 200 metres from the library. [4]

History

Early history

Blockhouse Bay circa 1917 Blockhouse Bay (AM PH-NEG-C21519) (cropped).jpg
Blockhouse Bay circa 1917

Portage Road is the location of Te Tōanga Waka, one of the overland routes between the two harbours (and thus the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea), where Māori would beach their waka (canoes) and drag them overland to the other coast, thus avoiding having to paddle around North Cape. This made the area of immense strategic importance in both pre-European times and during the early years of European occupation.[ citation needed ]

The earliest European known to have trekked through, and followed the coastline of the Manukau Harbour in an endeavour to find if there was a waterway connecting the two harbours, was the Rev. Samuel Marsden in 1820. Two missionaries who had arrived in New Zealand on 30 December 1834, William Colenso and R. Wade, walked through the Whau South area in 1838 hoping to find a Māori settlement, but the Pa site on Te Whau point had been abandoned some time before. They remarked that the area was "open and barren heaths, dreary, sterile and wild."[ citation needed ]

Te Whau Bay was used as a camping spot for European settlers during the early colonial era of Auckland. [5]

The Blockhouse

A wooden blockhouse was constructed over Te Whau Bay in 1860. [5] At this time the first land war in Taranaki was escalating and there were fears it would spread north and so a defence system for Auckland was actioned. A 12-acre site was chosen, bordered by Esplanade (Endeavour Street), Gilfillan Street, Wynyard Road (Blockhouse Bay Road) and Boylan Street (Wade Street). The actual Whau Blockhouse was located on what is now No. 8 Gilfillan Street.[ citation needed ]

The site was chosen for two reasons:

Colonel Thomas Mould of the Royal Engineers was charged with planning the location and type of defence system needed. A blockhouse is a purpose-built building with walls thick enough to stop musket ball penetration, with slits in the walls for defensive musket fire, a fence or stockade surrounding the building, with a trench beyond that.[ citation needed ]

The blockhouse was manned by the 57th (West Middlesex) Regiment of Foot and the 65th (2nd Yorkshire, North Riding) Regiment of Foot until 1863. [5] Never seeing military action, the blockhouse was rented out to a tenant in the 1880s and was gutted in a fire. It was subsequently demolished. The trenches were apparently still visible in the 1940s but have since been obscured.[ citation needed ]

Urban development

The earliest industry, in 1884, was the Gittos Tannery. The early 1900s saw other industries such as poultry, orchards, potteries, strawberries, flowers, loganberries and small farm holdings.[ citation needed ]

A bach community at Blockhouse Bay developed in the early 1900s, [5] with the area becoming a popular holiday resort for Aucklanders in the 1920s, with families making the journey over rough roads to spend the summer at the beach.[ citation needed ] During the Great Depression in the 1930s, workers developed the Blockhouse Bay beachfront area, building stone walls and pathways. [5]

Demographics

Blockhouse Bay covers 4.55 km2 (1.76 sq mi) [1] and had an estimated population of 16,950 as of June 2023, [2] with a population density of 3,725 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
200613,347    
201314,370+1.06%
201815,747+1.85%
Source: [6]

Blockhouse Bay had a population of 15,747 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 1,377 people (9.6%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 2,400 people (18.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 4,767 households, comprising 7,854 males and 7,893 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.0 males per female, with 2,850 people (18.1%) aged under 15 years, 3,525 (22.4%) aged 15 to 29, 7,023 (44.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 2,349 (14.9%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 34.8% European/Pākehā, 6.6% Māori, 13.2% Pacific peoples, 50.8% Asian, and 4.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 52.1, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 33.0% had no religion, 35.1% were Christian, 0.3% had Māori religious beliefs, 14.4% were Hindu, 8.1% were Muslim, 1.9% were Buddhist and 2.6% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 3,852 (29.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 1,788 (13.9%) people had no formal qualifications. 1,887 people (14.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 6,135 (47.6%) people were employed full-time, 1,650 (12.8%) were part-time, and 537 (4.2%) were unemployed. [6]

Individual statistical areas
NameArea (km2)PopulationDensity (per km2)HouseholdsMedian ageMedian income
Glenavon0.642,9074,54278031.1 years$23,500 [7]
Blockhouse Bay North0.933,8734,1651,17035.2 years$27,400 [8]
Blockhouse Bay North East0.532,1814,11565735.8 years$29,800 [9]
Blockhouse Bay South1.674,2362,5371,35639.4 years$31,300 [10]
Blockhouse Bay East0.782,5503,26980441.2 years$25,300 [11]
New Zealand37.4 years$31,800

Education

Blockhouse Bay Intermediate is a school for years 7–8 with a roll of 801. [12] The school was established in 1959. [13]

Blockhouse Bay Primary School, Chaucer School, and Glenavon School are primary schools for years 1–6 (years 1–8 for Glenavon) with rolls of 503, 197 and 377 students, respectively. [14] [15] [16]

St Dominic's Catholic School is a state-integrated contributing primary school for years 1–6 with a roll of 258. [17]

Auckland International College is a private senior secondary school for years 11–13 with a roll of 37. [18] The school was founded in 2003. [19]

All these schools are coeducational. Rolls are as of April 2023. [20]

Local state or state-integrated secondary schools are Lynfield College, Mount Roskill Grammar School, Green Bay High School, and Marcellin College .

Sport and recreation

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waiuku</span> Town in Auckland Region, New Zealand

Waiuku is a rural town in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is located at the southern end of the Waiuku River, which is an estuarial arm of the Manukau Harbour, and lies on the isthmus of the Āwhitu Peninsula, which extends to the northeast. It is 40 kilometres southwest of Auckland city centre, and 12 kilometres north of the mouth of the Waikato River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Lynn</span> Suburb in Auckland, New Zealand

New Lynn is a residential suburb in West Auckland, New Zealand, located 10 kilometres to the southwest of the Auckland city centre. The suburb is located along the Whau River, one of the narrowest points of the North Island, and was the location of Te Tōanga Waka, a traditional waka portage between the Waitematā and Manukau harbours.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Titirangi</span> Suburb in Auckland, New Zealand

Titirangi is a suburb of West Auckland in the Waitākere Ranges local board area of the city of Auckland in northern New Zealand. It is an affluent, residential suburb located 13 kilometres to the southwest of the Auckland city centre, at the southern end of the Waitākere Ranges. In the Māori language "Titirangi" means "hill reaching up to the sky".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Onehunga</span> Suburb in Auckland, New Zealand

Onehunga is a suburb of Auckland in New Zealand and the location of the Port of Onehunga, the city's small port on the Manukau Harbour. It is eight kilometres south of the city centre, close to the volcanic cone of Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whau River</span> River in Auckland, New Zealand

The Whau River is an estuarial arm of the southwestern Waitemata Harbour within the Auckland metropolitan area in New Zealand. It flows north for 5.7 kilometres (3.5 mi) from its origin at the confluence of the Avondale Stream and Whau Stream to its mouth between the Te Atatū Peninsula and the long, thin Rosebank Peninsula in Avondale. It is 800 metres (2,600 ft) at its widest and 400 metres (1,300 ft) wide at its mouth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panmure, New Zealand</span> Suburb in Auckland, New Zealand

Panmure is an east Auckland suburb, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located 11 kilometres southeast of the Auckland CBD, close to the western banks of the Tāmaki River and the northern shore of the Panmure Basin. To the north lies the suburb of Tāmaki, and to the west is the cone of Maungarei / Mount Wellington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Māngere</span> Suburb in Auckland, New Zealand

Māngere is a major suburb in South Auckland, New Zealand, located on mainly flat land on the northeastern shore of the Manukau Harbour, to the northwest of Manukau City Centre and 15 kilometres south of the Auckland city centre. It is the location of Auckland Airport, which lies close to the harbour's edge to the south of the suburb.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green Bay, New Zealand</span> Suburb in Auckland, New Zealand

Green Bay is a suburb of West Auckland. It is under the local governance of the Auckland Council. The main road running through Green Bay is Godley Road and this is the Urban Route 15 that follows through Green Bay to Titirangi and Laingholm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Windsor, New Zealand</span> Suburb in Auckland, New Zealand

New Windsor, founded in 1865, is a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It is located 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the Auckland city centre, between Mount Albert, Blockhouse Bay, Mt Roskill and Avondale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Favona</span> Suburb in Auckland, New Zealand

Favona is a mostly industry-dominated suburb of Auckland, New Zealand, and is part of the Māngere area. The suburb is in the Manukau ward, one of the thirteen administrative divisions of Auckland city, and is under governance of the Auckland Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ōtāhuhu</span> Suburb in Auckland, New Zealand

Ōtāhuhu is a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand – 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) to the southeast of the CBD, on a narrow isthmus between an arm of the Manukau Harbour to the west and the Tāmaki River estuary to the east. The Auckland isthmus is the narrowest connection between the North Auckland Peninsula and the rest of the North Island, being only some 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) wide at its narrowest point, between the Ōtāhuhu Creek and the Māngere Inlet. As the southernmost suburb of the former Auckland City, it is considered part of South Auckland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lynfield, New Zealand</span> Suburb in Auckland, New Zealand

Lynfield is a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It is under the local governance of Auckland Council. The suburb is located on the southwestern Auckland isthmus bordering the Manukau Harbour, much of which is densely forested with native forest. Lynfield was developed for suburban housing in the late 1950s and 1960s, modelled after American-style suburbs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waikōwhai</span> Suburb in Auckland, New Zealand

Waikōwhai is an Auckland suburb, under the local governance of the Auckland Council. Waikōwhai has the largest block of native forest left on the Auckland isthmus. The block was considered the too infertile for farming and subsequently not cleared but given to the Wesley Mission. Today the forest block hosts a valuable sample of Auckland's original fauna and flora. Waikōwhai Walkway extends for 10 km (6.2 mi) linking Onehunga to Lynfield Cove.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hillsborough, Auckland</span> Suburb in Auckland, New Zealand

Hillsborough is a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It is under the local governance of the Auckland Council. Hillsborough is a leafy suburb of 20th-century houses. The area is serviced by two shopping areas; Onehunga and Three Kings. The area is served by secondary schools Mount Roskill Grammar School and Marcellin College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Te Atatū South</span> Suburb in Auckland, New Zealand

Te Atatū South is a residential suburb in West Auckland, New Zealand. Its location allows the suburb easy access to the city and Henderson town centre. Its elevation allows views back on to the city and Waitākere Ranges. Situated on the Te Atatū Peninsula, it has coasts backing on to water on its eastern and western sides with walkways and cycleways on both sides.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Te Atatū Peninsula</span> Suburb in Auckland, New Zealand

Te Atatū Peninsula is a waterfront suburb of West Auckland surrounded by the Waitematā Harbour. The area was home to brickworks and farmland until the Northwestern Motorway was constructed in the 1950s, after which Te Atatū developed a low and medium-cost suburb. The area south of the motorway became known as Te Atatū South. The Auckland Harbour Board intended to develop a port on the peninsula for much of the 20th century. After plans for this were abandoned, the land was redeveloped into Footrot Flats Fun Park, an amusement park which operated in the 1980s. During the late 2010s, large-scale housing intensification led to the population of Te Atatū greatly expanding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avondale, Auckland</span> Suburb in Auckland, New Zealand

Avondale is a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. Located on the central western Auckland isthmus. It is located in the Whau local board area, one of the 21 administrative divisions for the Auckland Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Māngere East</span> Suburb in Auckland, New Zealand

Māngere East or Mangere East is a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand, under the governance of Auckland Council. It is located to the south of Favona, north of Papatoetoe, west of Middlemore, east of Māngere and Māngere Bridge, and southwest of Ōtāhuhu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whau (local board area)</span> Local board area in Auckland, New Zealand

Whau is a local government area in Auckland, in New Zealand's Auckland Region. It is governed by the Whau Local Board and Auckland Council. It is within the council's Whau Ward.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Auckland, New Zealand</span> Region of Auckland, New Zealand

West Auckland is one of the major geographical areas of Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand. Much of the area is dominated by the Waitākere Ranges, the eastern slopes of the Miocene era Waitākere volcano which was upraised from the ocean floor, and now one of the largest regional parks in New Zealand. The metropolitan area of West Auckland developed between the Waitākere Ranges to the west and the upper reaches of the Waitematā Harbour to the east. It covers areas such as Glen Eden, Henderson, Massey and New Lynn.

References

  1. 1 2 "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand . Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  3. "Blockhouse Bay Library" . Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  4. "Blockhouse Bay Community Centre". Archived from the original on 22 June 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Cameron, Ewen; Hayward, Bruce; Murdoch, Graeme (2008). A Field Guide to Auckland: Exploring the Region's Natural and Historical Heritage (Revised ed.). Random House New Zealand. p. 226. ISBN   978-1-86962-1513.
  6. 1 2 "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Glenavon (137100), Blockhouse Bay North (137200), Blockhouse Bay North East (138600), Blockhouse Bay South (138900) and Blockhouse Bay East (139500).
  7. 2018 Census place summary: Glenavon
  8. 2018 Census place summary: Blockhouse Bay North
  9. 2018 Census place summary: Blockhouse Bay North East
  10. 2018 Census place summary: Blockhouse Bay South
  11. 2018 Census place summary: Blockhouse Bay East
  12. Education Counts: Blockhouse Bay Intermediate
  13. "About us". Blockhouse Bay Intermediate. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  14. Education Counts: Blockhouse Bay Primary School
  15. Education Counts: Chaucer School
  16. Education Counts: Glenavon School
  17. Education Counts: St Dominic's Catholic School
  18. Education Counts: Auckland International College
  19. "Welcome to Auckland International College". Auckland International College. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  20. "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  21. 1 2 Janssen, Peter (January 2021). Greater Auckland Walks. New Holland Publishers. p. 118-119. ISBN   978-1-86966-516-6. Wikidata   Q118136068.