Brooklands | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Coordinates: 39°04′S174°05′E / 39.07°S 174.08°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| City | New Plymouth |
| Vogeltown | Welbourn | |
| Vogeltown |   Brooklands  | Highlands Park |
| farmland |
Brooklands is a suburb of New Plymouth, in the Taranaki region of the western North Island of New Zealand. It is located on the southern edge of the city and east of Vogeltown. [1] The area is named after Brooklands farm, established in 1842.
A large part of Brooklands is parkland, with Brooklands Park adjoining the New Plymouth racecourse and Pukekura Park. In 1957, its natural amphitheatre and lake were converted into the Bowl of Brooklands, recognised as one of New Zealand's finest outdoor concert venues. The Bowl plays host to many international acts and is the venue for the New Zealand edition of the WOMAD festival. [2]
The park includes a children's zoo, opened in 1965 and operated by the District Council. [3] A former colonial hospital building built in 1847 was moved to the Brooklands estate in 1904. Named "The Gables" it is New Zealand's oldest surviving hospital building, and functions as a gallery for the Taranaki Arts Society. [3]
The world's only Lawn Bowls Museum is located in Brooklands. It was established in 1980 and has more than 8000 exhibits. [4]
New Plymouth's main electricity distribution substation is in the Brooklands area.
Captain Henry King established Brooklands farm in 1842, as a model farm for the New Zealand Company, promoters of the New Plymouth settlement. The farmhouse was razed by fire in 1861 at the end of the First Taranaki War, but its chimney still stands in Brooklands park today. [3] Between 1875 and 1880 there was an attempt to establish a vineyard in part of the Pukekura stream valley, but it was unsuccessful. [3] An area of 53 acres (21.5 hectares) became the property of prominent Taranaki businessman Newton King, and a mansion named Brooklands was built there in the first decade of the 20th century. When King died in 1927, he left the sum of £10,000 to the New Plymouth parks and reserves board. However, due to some failed business ventures prior to his death, the money was unavailable, and in 1934 the trustees of his estate gifted the property to the New Plymouth borough instead. Unable to find a use for the house, it was demolished in 1936. [5] The suburb expanded south to its current limits in the 1950s.
New Plymouth is the major city of the Taranaki region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after the English city of Plymouth, in Devon, from where the first English settlers to New Plymouth migrated. The New Plymouth District, which includes New Plymouth City and several smaller towns, is the 10th largest district in New Zealand, and has a population of 90,000 – about two-thirds of the total population of the Taranaki Region and 1.7% of New Zealand's population. This includes New Plymouth City (60,100), Waitara (7,680), Inglewood (3,960), Ōakura (1,720), Ōkato (561) and Urenui (429).
Ōkato is a small town in rural Taranaki, New Zealand. It is situated about 25 minutes drive around the coast from New Plymouth on State Highway 45. Ōakura is 12 km to the north-east, and Warea is 9 km to the south-west. The place offers popular rocky surfing spots around coastal beaches. The town was established as a military settlement in the 1860s.
Ngaere is a village situated on State Highway 3, 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) south of Stratford, New Zealand. The name "Ngaere" means "swamp" in English, and before settlement, the area was covered by a vast and ancient wetland.
Mokoia is a small settlement in south Taranaki, in the western North Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 3, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) to the east of Hāwera and about 17 km northwest of Patea.
Ōakura is a small township in New Plymouth District, Taranaki, in the western North Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 45, 15 kilometres south-west of New Plymouth. Ōkato is 12 km further south-west. The Oakura River flows past the town and into the North Taranaki Bight. To the south is the Kaitake Range, part of Egmont National Park.
Moturoa is a coastal suburb of New Plymouth, in the western North Island of New Zealand. It is located to the west of the city centre, bordering Port Taranaki and the Sugar Loaf Islands. One of the islands, Moturoa, the largest, shares its name with the suburb.
Hurleyville is a community in south Taranaki, in the western North Island of New Zealand. It is located 18 kilometres north of Patea and 30 km southeast of Hāwera.
Charles Armitage Brown was a close friend of the poet John Keats, as well as a friend of artist Joseph Severn, Leigh Hunt, Thomas Jefferson Hogg, Walter Savage Landor and Edward John Trelawny. He was the father of Charles (Carlino) Brown, a pioneer and politician of New Plymouth, New Zealand.
Kokopu is a locality in Northland, New Zealand. Whangarei lies about 20 km to the east.
Poroti is a locality in Northland, New Zealand. Titoki is about 7 km to the west, and Maungatapere is about 8 km east.
Waitaria Bay is a locality in the Marlborough region of New Zealand. It lies on the northern side of Kenepuru Sound in the Marlborough Sounds.
Matapu is a locality located in South Taranaki District within the southern Taranaki Region of New Zealand. Hāwera is to the south-east, Eltham to the north-east, Kaponga to the north-west and Manaia to the south-west.
Huirangi is a settlement in Taranaki, New Zealand. Waitara lies about 7 kilometres to the north. The Waitara River flows to the east of the settlement, with the Bertrand Road suspension bridge providing access to the other side.
Mimi is a locality in northern Taranaki, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 3 close to the shore of the North Taranaki Bight, 6 kilometres north-east of Urenui and 26 km south-west of Ahititi. The Mimi River flows past the settlement into the North Taranaki Bight.
Puke Ariki is a combined museum and library at New Plymouth, New Zealand, which opened in June 2003. It is an amalgamation of the New Plymouth Public Library and the Taranaki Museum. Its name, Māori for "hill of chiefs", is taken from the Māori village that formerly occupied the site.
Pukekura Park is a Garden of National Significance, covering 52 hectares in the heart of New Plymouth, Taranaki in New Zealand.