Heathcote Valley

Heathcote Valley
—  Suburb  —
View from gondola into Heathcote Valley
Area
 • Total 7.3746 km2 (2.8 sq mi)
Population (2006)
 • Total 1,983
 • Density 268.9/km2 (696.4/sq mi)

Heathcote Valley is a suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand.

Contents

Location

The suburb is dominated by the approaches to the Lyttelton road tunnel, a major arterial that passes through the Port Hills. The road is part of the State Highway 74 network. The Main South Railway line passes through the suburb, before entering the Lyttelton rail tunnel that connects with the port of Lyttelton.

The suburb is nestled at the foot of the steep volcanic crags that form the northern edge of the hills, some eight kilometres southeast of the city centre. Heathcote Valley is also the starting point of the Christchurch Gondola, which goes up to Mount Cavendish on the Port Hills. The Gondola officially opened on 24 November 1992[1].

History

Heathcote Valley has a long history of Malting, the latest being the Canterbury Malting Company. The disused Maltworks, which closed in 1999, dominate the skyline.[2]

Relation to Heathcote River

Despite its name, Heathcote Valley is situated some two kilometres south of the Heathcote River, which does not flow through the suburb but rather flows east across a wide plain.

Naming

The suburb is named after Sir William Heathcote, secretary of the Canterbury Association.

References

External links