Herne Bay, New Zealand

Herne Bay

While not quite typical of Herne Bay, the two rounded skyscrapers rising from the suburb, the Westwater and Shangri-La Apartments, are local landmarks
Basic information
Local authority Auckland City
Population 2,823 (2006)
Facilities
Surrounds
North Waitemata Harbour
East Saint Marys Bay
South Ponsonby, Grey Lynn
Southwest Coxs Bay
West Westmere, Coxs Bay
Northwest Waitemata Harbour

Herne Bay /hɜːrn/ is a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It is located on the southwestern shore of the Waitemata Harbour to the west of the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

Herne Bay is under the local governance of the Auckland City Council.

According to the 2006 census, Herne Bay has a population of 2,823.[1] Its postcode is 1011. It is one of the more socioeconomically upper-class areas of Auckland.

History

The suburb is named after Herne Bay, a fashionable but respectable seaside resort in English county of Kent.

From the 1850s onwards it became apparent that Auckland's Herne Bay was quite handy to the centre of town by a short boat trip. Herne Bay developed as an early commuter suburb and was the location of several large houses belonging to members of the professional classes. Most of these houses (termed 'marine villas') were readily accessible from the water, with their own jetties and boathouses - in some cases there wasn't any land route to them. Some of these early houses still exist, surrounded by later houses which were built as their large properties were subdivided around the turn of the 20th century.

Also located in this area on the shore of Ponsonby (between Argyle Street and the sea) was Kemp's Gardens. This was a popular pleasure resort for Auckland's people during the 1860s. The gardens were "complete with pavilion, gardens and illuminations": "A free hand was given, drinks were sold, music was provided and the least said the better". Later renamed "Cremorne Gardens" after the fashionable pleasure gardens in London, Kemp's gardens boasted a "Dancing Pavilion, ten acres of walks and sports grounds". It is remembered in the name "Cremorne Street".

Local secondary schools include Auckland Girls Grammar School, Western Springs College (Coed), St Paul's College (Catholic boys) and Saint Mary's College (Catholic girls).

In late 2008, Herne Bay became New Zealand's first "$2 million suburb", where the median house price has surpassed the $2 million mark.[2]

The Sultan of Brunei purchased 11 properties in Herne Bay for his visit to the APEC Summit in Auckland in 1999, these were all extensively renovated, although the Sultan never actually lived in any of them. All 11 properties were sold to low profile businessman Gary Lane in 2005.[3]

Notable buildings

References

  1. ↑ Quickstats about Herne Bay
  2. ↑ Phare, Jane (21 December 2008). "NZ's first $2 million suburb". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2008-12-24.
  3. ↑ Phare, Jane (21 December 2008). "The man who bought the Sultan of Brunei's homes". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-24.

External links

Coordinates: 36°51′S 174°44′E / 36.850°S 174.733°E / -36.850; 174.733

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