Crofton Downs

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Crofton Downs
Suburb of Wellington City
Crofton Downs Wellington.jpg
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
CountryNew Zealand
CityWellington City
Electoral wardWharangi/Onslow-Western
Area
[1]
 • Land131 ha (324 acres)
Population
 (June 2020)[2]
 • Total1,670
Railway station(s)Crofton Downs
Airport(s)nsp
Hospitals(s)Bowen Hospital (private)
Mount Kaukau
Wilton
Crofton Downs
 Ngaio
Kaiwharawhara

Crofton Downs is an inner suburb of Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. It is situated between Ngaio to the northeast Wilton to the south-west and Wadestown to the south. Its border runs on the Korimako Stream that flows south into the Kaiwharawhara Stream and then flows down the Ngaio Gorge into Wellington Harbour.

History and etymology[]

The area was before 1870 was called Upper Kaiwarra (a corruption of Kaiwharawhara), after 1870 Crofton (including neighbouring Ngaio). In 1908 was renamed Ngaio, then in 1950s the western side of Ngaio became Crofton Downs.[3] Crofton Downs taking its name from a house built in the 1857 by then Premier, William Fox. Crofton House, which was likely named after his wife's birthplace of Crofton in Wiltshire, England,[4] still stands today and is at 21 Kenya Street.[5]

Many of the street names in the suburb such as Winston Street, Downing Street and Chartwell Drive are a tribute to the life of former British prime minister Sir Winston Churchill;[6] Chartwell was Churchill's country home. Admiralty Street comes from 'First Lord of the Admiralty' which is appointed by the UK Prime Minister.[citation needed] Chequers Way is from Chequers the official residence of the UK Prime Minister. Doris Gordon Crescent is named after the New Zealand doctor.

Silverstream (the river) and Silverstream Road are named after Silverstream Dairy farm (formally Caseys Farm). This farm merged with Sky Farm to the North (gives its name to Skyline track). Silversky Park and track being the link between the two.

Demographics[]

Crofton Downs statistical area covers 1.31 km2 (0.51 sq mi).[1] It had an estimated population of 1,670 as of June 2020,[2] with a population density of 1,275 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20061,410—    
20131,548+1.34%
20181,641+1.17%
Source: [7]

Crofton Downs had a population of 1,641 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 93 people (6.0%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 231 people (16.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 639 households. There were 786 males and 852 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.92 males per female. The median age was 39.6 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 330 people (20.1%) aged under 15 years, 261 (15.9%) aged 15 to 29, 837 (51.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 207 (12.6%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 82.6% European/Pākehā, 6.8% Māori, 3.3% Pacific peoples, 13.5% Asian, and 2.9% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 33.6%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 56.5% had no religion, 30.3% were Christian, 1.5% were Hindu, 0.5% were Muslim, 1.6% were Buddhist and 2.7% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 699 (53.3%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 57 (4.3%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $54,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 768 (58.6%) people were employed full-time, 201 (15.3%) were part-time, and 42 (3.2%) were unemployed.[7]

Economy[]

Churchill Drive Shopping Centre is a local shopping centre consisting of a Countdown and four other shops.[8] The supermarket was expanded in 2013 and now covers an area of 3,400 m².[8][9]

Local facilities[]

Crofton Downs has a train station (with coffee shop) on the Johnsonville Line running to Johnsonville to the north and Wellington Station to the South.[10] Near to the station on Churchill Drive is a large supermarket (with cafe and pharmacy), petrol station,[11] DIY hardware store,[12] veterinary clinic[13] and the private, charitable trust Bowen Hospital.[14]

Huntleigh guide centre in Huntleigh park off Silverstream Road is a community facility that can seat up to 100 people.[15]

Huntleigh Park provides a backup community water facility in case emergency event such as a quake that disrupt supplies.[16]

Open space and parks[]

Crofton Downs is surrounded by parks and reserves. To the west, north-west and north it is encircled by the city council-owned Skyline walkway park, the park featuring 'the crows nest' a popular peak at 385m high.The access is from the Silversky Walkway and vehicles from Chartwell drive and Chartwell reserve. Huntleigh Park forms the northern edge of Crofton Downs with neighbouring Ngaio, Trelissick Park runs to the east of the train station and line and Otari-Wilton's Bush to the south east.

Bowen Hospital[]

Bowen Hospital is located on Churchill Drive on the south end of Crofton Downs. The hospital was originally situated on Bowen Street opposite parliament in 1912.[17] The old hospital was closed in 1965 and the modern location of the hospital was chosen.

Education[]

School enrollment zone[]

Crofton Downs is within the enrollment zones for Wellington Girls' College, Onslow College, St Oran's College and Raroa Normal Intermediate.[18]

Primary school[]

Crofton Downs Primary school is a Decile 10 coeducational contributing state school catering to years 1 to 6.[19] Formerly called Chartwell School, the school was opened in 1970. Its name was changed to Crofton Downs Primary school in 2008 as the surrounding area is now more commonly referred to as Crofton Downs rather than Chartwell.[20][21] It has a roll of 187 as of March 2021.[19]

Pre-school[]

Ngaio Playcentre is parent led preschool based in Huntleigh Park, Crofton Downs, which caters for children aged 0 to 6 years old.[22] Originally based in Ngaio town hall it moved into Huntleigh Park in the mid-1970s.[23]

Transport[]

Main article: Crofton Downs Railway Station

The suburb is served by the Johnsonville Branch commuter railway which connects it to the central city and stops at Johnsonville. It is one stop to Wellington Central Station, and the journey takes 9 minutes. In addition, the number 22 bus running to and from Johnsonville to Wellington stops in Crofton Downs during the weekdays.

Predator Free Crofton Downs[]

Crofton Downs was the first New Zealand Suburb to be declared predator-free after local community group, Predator Free Crofton Downs, arranged stoat and rat traps for over 200 households throughout the suburb.[24] Since its inception in 2014,[25] the community model has inspired other communities throughout New Zealand to start their own predator free groups.

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  3. ^ Gábor Tóth (9 June 2020). "How Crofton Downs got its name". Wellington City Libraries.
  4. ^ Reed, A. W. (2010). Peter Dowling (ed.). Place Names of New Zealand. Rosedale, North Shore: Raupo. p. 92. ISBN 9780143204107.
  5. ^ "Crofton - Wellington Heritage". wellingtoncityheritage.org.nz.
  6. ^ Greenland, James (24 August 2012). "Crofton Downs' stately links to Britain". The Wellingtonian. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Crofton Downs (249100). 2018 Census place summary: Crofton Downs
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b Romanos, Joseph (11 February 2013). "Supermarket expansion concerns Crofton Downs residents". Stuff. Dominion Post.
  9. ^ Judson, Natasha (8 March 2012). "Landmark fruit shop closing". Stuff. Dominion Post.
  10. ^ "Crofton Downs Station". Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  11. ^ "Z Croften Downs". z.co.nz. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  12. ^ "Find your nearest Mitre 10 store". 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  13. ^ "Crofton Downs Veterinary Clinic". 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  14. ^ "Contact Us". Bowen Hospital. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  15. ^ "WELLINGTON HUNTLEIGH". 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  16. ^ "Where are the water stations?". www.wellingtonwater.co.nz.
  17. ^ "Our History". Bowen Hospital. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  18. ^ "eLearning Schools Search". Ministry of Education.
  19. ^ Jump up to: a b "Crofton Downs Primary School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  20. ^ "Crofton Downs Primary School Official School Website". croftondownsprimary.school.nz.
  21. ^ "Crofton Downs Primary School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  22. ^ "Welcome to Ngaio Playcentre". Ngaio Playcentre. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  23. ^ "Ngaio Playcentre - Preschool Education". Yelp. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  24. ^ Olivia, Wannan (3 December 2015). "Pest-free Wellington spreads beyond fence".
  25. ^ Thomas, Rachel (1 October 2016). "Wellington's predator-free hero Kelvin Hastie - the smiling assassin".

External links[]

Coordinates: 41°15′25″S 174°45′50″E / 41.257°S 174.764°E / -41.257; 174.764

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