North East Valley

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North East Valley
NortheastvalleyNZ.jpg
North East Valley
Coordinates: 45°51′11″S170°31′19″E / 45.853°S 170.522°E / -45.853; 170.522
CountryNew Zealand
City Dunedin
Local authority Dunedin City Council
Area
[1]
  Land468 ha (1,156 acres)
Population
 (June 2023) [2]
  Total10,150
Pine Hill
Maori Hill
Pfeil oben.svg
Pfeil links.svgNorth East ValleyPfeil rechts.svg
Pfeil unten.svg
Dunedin North Opoho

North East Valley (sometimes spelt Northeast Valley, and often abbreviated to NEV) is a suburb of the New Zealand city of Dunedin.

Contents

Geography

North East Valley sits in the valley of the Lindsay Creek, a tributary of the Water of Leith and on the flanking slopes of Pine Hill and Signal Hill, 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) to the northeast of the city centre.

North East Valley is a residential suburb, and is home to a mix of older residents and students from the city's tertiary institutions (the University of Otago and Otago Polytechnic, which lie 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) to the south, beyond the Dunedin Botanic Gardens. The suburb mainly consists of one long street, North Road, and numerous perpendicular side roads which branch off of it, many of which - especially on the eastern (Signal Hill) side - are notoriously steep. One of these, Baldwin Street, is reputedly the world's steepest street. Other than North Road, the suburb's main roads include Blacks Road and Norwood Street.

North East Valley was a separate borough until 1910, when it was amalgamated with the city of Dunedin. [3]

The Gardens, Normanby, and Mount Mera

The term North East Valley is often used to encompass four smaller suburbs within the valley, but more specifically refers to only one, which stretches from approximately Chambers Street north to Chingford Park. Beyond this are two smaller residential areas, Normanby and Mount Mera, and the area below Chambers Street is often simply referred to as The Gardens or The Gardens Corner (after the nearby Dunedin Botanic Gardens).

Normanby is the name of the northern end of North East Valley, at which point Dunedin's urban area gives way to open countryside. The land here is steeply sloping, as it is the foothills of Mount Cargill. The slopes of Mount Cargill itself are densely wooded, and are crisscrossed with walking tracks, some of which start at the Bethune's Gully reserve, at the northern end of Normanby. Mount Mera is an area of state housing sitting on the north facing side of the valley, just above Normanby.

North Road

Looking across the Gardens Corner at the mouth of the valley towards Opoho from Prospect Park. The Gardens Ground is clearly visible at the lower right. GardensfromProspectParkDn.jpg
Looking across the Gardens Corner at the mouth of the valley towards Opoho from Prospect Park. The Gardens Ground is clearly visible at the lower right.

North Road, originally the main road north out of Dunedin, starts at the Gardens Corner, where it links with Opoho Road and Bank Street (which links with the northern end of Dunedin's main street, George Street). A sports ground at this corner (the Gardens Ground) is the site of cricket and football pitches, and beyond this ground is the southern end of the Dunedin Northern Motorway, part of State Highway 1. The Gardens Ground is the home ground of Northern Football Club and North East Valley Cricket Club. [4]

From the Gardens Corner, North Road runs relatively straight for 2 kilometres (1.2 mi), crossing the Lindsay Creek and continuing to the northeast. Blacks Road, a steep connection to the suburb of Opoho, branches off North Road close to the valley's widest point. Past Chingford Park, the suburban part of the road ends at the junction with Norwood Street, and North Road starts to climb and wind around the end of the valley. From here, it runs through rural farmland, connecting with roads to Port Chalmers and Waitati. Until the construction of the Dunedin Northern Motorway this was a major route out of Dunedin to the north, but is now only lightly used.

Landmarks

Baldwin Street, North East Valley - reputedly the world's steepest street. BaldwinStreet Descending Tourist.jpg
Baldwin Street, North East Valley - reputedly the world's steepest street.
Chingford Stables. Chingford Stables, May, 2008.JPG
Chingford Stables.

Apart from Baldwin Street, North East Valley has several noted landmarks. Two university halls of residence, Knox College and Salmond College lie on the lower slopes to the east of the Gardens Corner, and another, Aquinas College lies on the lower slopes of Pine Hill immediately to the west. Close to this stands another prominent building, the former Santa Sabina Convent, which is visible from much of the northern central city. Another prominent building in the valley is Ross Home, one of the city's major retirement homes, which is located in North Road.

The suburb has several notable parks and gardens, among them Chingford Park, the Quarry Gardens, Forrester Park, and Bethune's Gully.

Chingford Park is a recreational reserve containing historic stone stables, located towards the northern end of North Road. It surrounded the no-longer extant Chingford House, which had been built in 1862. The property was built and landscaped in the 1870s and 1880s by businessman P.C. Neill (one of whose descendants is actor Sam Neill). Among improvements made by Neill to the property include the historic bluestone stables, built in 1880, which still stand as a centre for the park. Chingford Park is popular with walkers, and also contains soccer and cricket grounds, and the city's main archery club. Other notable features of the Park include several giant Macrocarpa trees which stand close to the banks of Lindsay Creek. [5] [6]

The Quarry Gardens are a park created from the former Palmer's Quarry, and is located on North Road directly opposite the bottom of Baldwin Street. The quarry was closed in 1980, and was thoroughly landscaped from 1989 into a terraced garden area. The amphitheatre of the old quarry pit has in the past been used as an outdoor music venue, especially during the late 1990s. Several walking tracks climb to the terraces of the former quarry, which have been extensively planted with many species, notably rhododendrons, and other walking paths follow the banks of the Lindsay Creek, connecting with Selwyn Street to the south and Watts road to the north. The gardens are privately owned, but are open to the public year-round. [7]

Forrester Park is a sports ground at the end of Norwood Street. It contains football and rugby pitches and the city's BMX circuit, as well as a dog park and kennel club. Bethune's Gully is also accessed from Norwood Street. It is a secluded 86 hectares (210 acres) reserve which lies at the southernmost foothills of Mount Cargill, and is a popular scenic area. From here, walking tracks ascend the slopes of Cargill. The reserve was originally the site of sawmills and brick kilns operated by David Bethune in the 1880s, and became city council property in 1955. [8]

Demographics

North East Valley covers 4.68 km2 (1.81 sq mi) [1] and had an estimated population of 10,150 as of June 2023, [2] with a population density of 2,169 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20068,433    
20138,658+0.38%
20189,342+1.53%
Source: [9]

North East Valley, comprising the statistical areas of North East Valley Chingford, Normanby, North East Valley Knox and Gardens (Dunedin City), had a population of 9,342 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 684 people (7.9%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 909 people (10.8%) since the 2006 census. There were 2,757 households. There were 4,398 males and 4,953 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.89 males per female, with 684 people (7.3%) aged under 15 years, 5,787 (61.9%) aged 15 to 29, 2,124 (22.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 744 (8.0%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 81.5% European/Pākehā, 10.2% Māori, 3.5% Pacific peoples, 12.4% Asian, and 3.4% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 26.4%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 58.3% had no religion, 27.1% were Christian, 1.4% were Hindu, 2.0% were Muslim, 1.3% were Buddhist and 4.5% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 2,013 (23.3%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 576 (6.7%) people had no formal qualifications. 405 people (4.7%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 2,118 (24.5%) people were employed full-time, 1,893 (21.9%) were part-time, and 717 (8.3%) were unemployed. [9]

Individual statistical areas
NameArea (km2)PopulationDensity (per km2)HouseholdsMedian ageMedian income
North East Valley Chingford1.081,6531,53163331.8 years$23,100 [10]
Normanby1.421,4251,00452843.7 years$25,200 [11]
North East Valley Knox0.672,5233,76672922.2 years$13,000 [12]
Gardens (Dunedin City)1.513,7412,47786720.3 years$7,100 [13]
New Zealand37.4 years$31,800

Education

North East Valley Normal School is a state contributing primary school serving years 1 to 6 [14] with a roll of 221 students. The school opened in 1851. [15]

Sacred Heart School is a state-integrated Catholic contributing primary school serving years 1 to 6 [16] with a roll of 44 students. It started in 1895 at Sacred Heart Church, and moved to the present site ten years later. [17]

Both schools are coeducational. Rolls are as of April 2023, [18]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Water of Leith (New Zealand)</span> River in Dunedin, New Zealand

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Cargill</span> Mountain in New Zealand

Mount Cargill, known in Māori as Kapukataumahaka, is a volcanic outcrop which dominates the skyline of northern Dunedin, New Zealand.

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Pine Hill is a suburb, hill, and general area of the New Zealand city of Dunedin. It is sited on the hill of the same name, a spur of Mount Cargill overlooking North East Valley and Glenleith 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) to the north of the city centre. This spur lies in the fork of the confluence of the Water of Leith and its largest tributary, the Lindsay Creek. The term Pine Hill is used generally to refer to a group of suburbs which lie on the hill's slopes: Pine Hill suburb itself, which sits on the upper slopes of the spur, and also two other suburbs which lie on the lower slopes, Dalmore and Liberton.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Opoho</span> Suburb of Dunedin, New Zealand

Ōpoho is a suburb of the New Zealand city of Dunedin. It sits on the western flank of Signal Hill, 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) to the northeast of the city centre, overlooking North East Valley and the Dunedin Botanic Gardens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Dunedin</span> Suburb of Dunedin, New Zealand

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bethune's Gully</span>

Bethune's Gully is a notable geological feature of northern Dunedin, in the South Island of New Zealand. It is located close to the suburb of Normanby towards the northern end of North East Valley. It preserves a number of acres of very old-growth forest and a large stand of exotic Douglas fir, and is an ecosystem directly below the cloud forest on the upper slopes of Mount Cargill. The gully was formed by the upper reaches of Lindsay Creek, a tributary of the Water of Leith which flows along North East Valley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lindsay Creek</span> Tributary to the Water of Leith in Dunedin, New Zealand

The Lindsay Creek is a tributary of the Water of Leith which runs through the northern suburbs of Dunedin, New Zealand. The Māori name Puke-haukea has been attributed to the creek; however, as puke means a hill, not a watercourse, this is likely to be a confusion.

References

  1. 1 2 "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand . Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  3. Herd, J. and Griffiths, G.J. (1980) Discovering Dunedin. Dunedin: John McIndoe. ISBN   0-86868-030-3, p. 82
  4. Dunedin City Council Gardens Ground page
  5. Herd, J. and Griffiths, G.J. (1980) Discovering Dunedin. Dunedin: John McIndoe. ISBN   0-86868-030-3, p.43
  6. Hamel, A. (2007) Dunedin tracks and trails. Dunedin: Silver Peaks Press. ISBN   978-0-473-13772-4, p. 2.08
  7. Hamel, A. (2007) Dunedin tracks and trails. Dunedin: Silver Peaks Press. ISBN   978-0-473-13772-4, p. 2.06-07
  8. Herd, J. and Griffiths, G.J. (1980) Discovering Dunedin. Dunedin: John McIndoe. ISBN   0-86868-030-3, p. 31
  9. 1 2 "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. North East Valley Chingford (351700), Normanby (351900), North East Valley Knox (352000) and Gardens (Dunedin City) (352200).
  10. 2018 Census place summary: North East Valley Chingford
  11. 2018 Census place summary: Normanby
  12. 2018 Census place summary: North East Valley Knox
  13. 2018 Census place summary: Gardens (Dunedin City)
  14. Education Counts: North East Valley Normal School
  15. "About Us". North East Valley Normal School. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  16. Education Counts: Sacred Heart School
  17. "Special Character". Sacred Heart School. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  18. "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 12 December 2022.