Crofton Downs
Suburb
Coordinates: 41°15′25″S 174°45′50″E / 41.257°S 174.764°E / -41.257; 174.764
CountryNew Zealand
CityWellington City
Local authorityWellington City Council
Electoral ward
Area
[1]
 • Land131 ha (324 acres)
Population
 (June 2022)[2]
 • Total1,690
Railway stationsCrofton Downs
Airportsnsp
HospitalsBowen 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. Chequers Way is from Chequers the official residence of the UK Prime Minister. Doris Gordon Crescent is named after the New Zealand doctor who, as a child, resided nearby.[7]

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 1,690 as of June 2022,[2] with a population density of 1,290 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20061,410—    
20131,548+1.34%
20181,641+1.17%
Source: [8]

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, comprising 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% Pasifika, 13.5% Asian, and 2.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

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

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 56.5% had no religion, 30.3% were Christian, 0.2% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.5% were Hindu, 0.5% were Muslim, 1.6% were Buddhist and 2.6% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 699 (53.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 57 (4.3%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $54,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 495 people (37.8%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% 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.[8]

Local facilities

Crofton Downs has its own railway station (with coffee shop) on the Johnsonville Line for commuters to Wellington Station to the South and going to Ngaio, Khandallah and Johnsonville to the north.[9]

Near the station on Churchill Drive is Churchill Drive Shopping Centre with a supermarket, cafe, pharmacy and a hairdresser. Next door is a Mitre 10 DIY hardware store,.[10] The adjacent petrol station was closed in late 2022. The veterinary clinic [11] which was part of the supermarket complex has moved nearby to Thatcher Crescent.

The Countdown supermarket was expanded in 2013 and now covers an area of 3,400 m2.[12][13]

Bowen Hospital

Bowen Hospital is run by a private charitable trust.[14] Now located on Churchill Drive on the southern part of Crofton Downs, it was established on Bowen Street opposite Parliament in 1912.[15] The old building was closed in 1965 and it moved here.

A BUPA retirement village opened in Crofton Downs next to Bowen Hospital in 2022.[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.

Huntleigh Park

Huntleigh Park provides a backup community water facility in case emergency event such as a quake that disrupt supplies.[17]

Huntleigh Guide Centre in Huntleigh park off Silverstream Road is a community facility that can seat up to 100 people.[18]

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.[19]

Primary school

Crofton Downs Primary school is a Decile 10 coeducational contributing state school catering to years 1 to 6.[20] 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.[21][22] It has a roll of 151 as of April 2023.[20]

Pre-school

Ngaio Playcentre is parent led preschool based in Huntleigh Park, Crofton Downs, which caters for children aged 0 to 6 years old.[23] Originally based in Ngaio town hall it moved into Huntleigh Park in the mid-1970s.[24]

Transport

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.[25] Since its inception in 2014,[26] the community model has inspired other communities throughout New Zealand to start their own predator free groups.

References

  1. 1 2 "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  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. ↑ Bolitho, Elaine (2013). "Who was Doris Gordon?" (PDF). Onslow Historian. 43: 6–24. ISSN 0110-4896.
  8. 1 2 "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Crofton Downs (249100). 2018 Census place summary: Crofton Downs
  9. ↑ "Crofton Downs Station". Archived from the original on 22 May 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  10. ↑ "Find your nearest Mitre 10 store". 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  11. ↑ "Crofton Downs Veterinary Clinic". 2020. Archived from the original on 14 January 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  12. ↑ Romanos, Joseph (11 February 2013). "Supermarket expansion concerns Crofton Downs residents". Stuff. Dominion Post.
  13. ↑ Judson, Natasha (8 March 2012). "Landmark fruit shop closing". Stuff. Dominion Post.
  14. ↑ "Contact Us". Bowen Hospital. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  15. ↑ "Our History". Bowen Hospital. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  16. ↑ "Crofton Downs Retirement Villagw". BUPA. 2022.
  17. ↑ "Where are the water stations?". www.wellingtonwater.co.nz.
  18. ↑ "WELLINGTON HUNTLEIGH". 2021. Archived from the original on 28 January 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  19. ↑ "eLearning Schools Search". Ministry of Education.
  20. 1 2 "Crofton Downs Primary School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  21. ↑ "Crofton Downs Primary School Official School Website". croftondownsprimary.school.nz.
  22. ↑ "Crofton Downs Primary School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office. Archived from the original on 21 February 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  23. ↑ "Welcome to Ngaio Playcentre". Ngaio Playcentre. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  24. ↑ "Ngaio Playcentre - Preschool Education". Yelp. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  25. ↑ Olivia, Wannan (3 December 2015). "Pest-free Wellington spreads beyond fence".
  26. ↑ Thomas, Rachel (1 October 2016). "Wellington's predator-free hero Kelvin Hastie - the smiling assassin".
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