Epsom, New Zealand

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Epsom is a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It is located in the centre of the Auckland isthmus between Mt Eden and One Tree Hill, south of Newmarket, and five kilometres south of the city centre.

Epsom is also the name of an electorate that includes Epsom, Remuera, Parnell, Broadway Park, and part of Balmoral. Former Auckland Mayor Christine Fletcher, was elected as Member of Parliament for Epsom in 1996. This electorate as of 2005 is the wealthiest in the country, with an average income well above the national average.

The current (2006)MP for Epsom is Rodney Hide, leader of the ACT Party. Epsom suburb comprises roughly 20% of the population of the Epsom electorate. The local councillors for Epsom suburb are split across two council wards, the Eden-Albert Ward represented by centre-left leaning City Vision councillors, and Hobson Ward, which is served by centre-left leaning Action Hobson Councillors and a centre-right leaning Citizens and Ratepayers Now councillor.

[edit] History of Epsom

Named after the town in England noted for its horse-racing the Auckland Epsom also has a race track. The Alexandra Raceway lies slightly to the west of Epsom where it is located next to the Epsom Showgrounds. The broad, flat pastureland here at the intersection of Greenlane and Manukau Roads was used for sporting events from the 1850s onwards but the two venues were only formally established around 1900. The Alexandra Raceway was named after the then Princess of Wales (later Queen Alexandra). The Epsom Showgrounds are the location of the annual Royal Easter Show.

From the 1840s until the 1890s Epsom was noted for its rich pasture land which supported both dairy herds and grain crops. Towards Mt Eden is Windmill road which was the site of the Bycroft Windmill.

Initially large country houses and farms dotted the landscape but from the 1890s onwards suburban development spread southwards from Newmarket across the fields of Epsom. Most of the housing in the area dates from 1900 to 1930, often large houses built solidly of wood, many in the Californian Bungalow or "Stockbroker Tudor" styles.

The area has been long noted for its tree-lined, well-ordered streets, parks and a great variety of architecture, with century-old villas competing with late 20th century modern housing. Following WWII increasing numbers of the larger properties were subivided and smaller houses appeared. Since the early 1990s there has been a considerable amount of "infill" housing with clutches of townhouses altering the streetscapes in some parts of Epsom.

[edit] Education

Epsom is noted for several good schools including St Peter's College, Dilworth School, Diocesan School for girls, St Cuthberts Girls School, Epsom Normal Primary and Auckland Normal Intermediate. Most prominent are Auckland Grammar School and Epsom Girls' Grammar School, resulting in the term "the Grammar Zone". To be in "the Grammar Zone" is a major advantage and has resulted in Epsom being a desirable & expensive place to buy. The University of Auckland Faculty of Education (formerly known as the Auckland College of Education) campus is also situated at this district.