Island Bay, Wellington
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Suburb: | Island Bay |
| City: | Wellington |
| Island: | North Island |
| Surrounded by: | |
| to the north | Berhampore |
| to the east | Houghton Bay |
| to the south | Cook Strait |
| to the west | Owhiro Bay, Happy Valley |
Island Bay is one of the southernmost suburbs of Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. It lies on the Cook Strait and is situated 7km south of the city centre.
Island Bay is settled on the bay which shares its name, one of numerous small bays that lie to the west of the large indentation of Lyall Bay. Some 500m offshore in Island Bay lies small Tapu Teranga Island, a recreational reserve for which the bay is named. The caves of the island were once a hiding place for local Māori, when attacked by other tribes. This island forms a natural breakwater, giving the suburb a sheltered anchorage.
Noted current residents include Bruce Stewart, writer and dramatist, at Tapu Te Ranga Marae.
Noted former residents include artists Rita Angus and John Drawbridge and writer Robin Hyde. Legendary rock frontmen Andrew Fagan of the Mockers and Jon Toogood of Shihad grew up in Island Bay. Also Samuel Flynn Scott frontman of New Zealand group Phoenix Foundation live in the suburb.
[edit] Notable features
- Tapu Te Ranga Motu
- Erskine College. (1906) closed in 1985.
- Erskine Chapel of the Sacred Heart. (26 Oct. 1930) 21 Avon Street. Built by J.H Meyer, designed by John Sydney Swan. French Gothic Style. One of the finest chapel interiors in NZ. Used for weddings, and the TLC, see below.
- Rotunda
- One of the most recognisable features of Island Bay is its Band Rotunda, which stands today in the Island Bay park on the waterfront. The rotunda was built in 1930 and later was covered with plaques remembering the 106 local soldiers who were lost in World War I after being recruited from the area. Further plaques were added after World War II for 46 local soldiers who had died and for the loss of 52 American submarines, 374 officers and 3131 of their men. In the 1930's, local brass bands and the Salvation Army frequently played in the rotunda. However, after the Second World War and the increasing popularity of radio, fewer bands played at the site.
- Festival
- The rotunda is now empty and only used by children in the surrounding playground, and the occasional concert (usually during Island Bay's annual festival).
- To the east of Taputeranga Island lies the final resting place of the HMNZS Wellington (the F69), a decommissioned Royal New Zealand Navy frigate sunk off the coast of Island Bay to provide the starting point for an artificial reef and diving destination. However, a violent storm in early 2006 broke the ship in two and both pieces now reside close to where the ship was sunk.
- Monastry
- A Buddhist monastery is located on the western hills, with the golden Stupa being visible from all around.
- Walkways
- Island Bay is also the starting point for two recreational walkways that cross the city. They cross through the surrounding bushland and connect to numerous sites in Wellington.
- Marine Laboratory
- Victoria University of Wellington maintains an active research and teaching presence on Wellington's south coast at the Island Bay Marine Lab (IBML). IBML is located approximately 8km south of the Kelburn campus, and overlooks spectacular exposed rocky reef systems typical of Cook Strait, with prominent views to the South Island.
- Kupe Marine Reserve
- The waters surrounding Island Bay are to be placed under the proection of the Department of Conservation with the creation of the Kupe Marine Reserve, aprroved in December 2006 by Conservation Minister Chris Carter.
[edit] Gallery
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