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 Council
Population 2,823 (2006)
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 an extremely affluent suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It is located on the southwestern shore of the Waitemata Harbour to the west of the Auckland Harbour Bridge. It is known for its extensive harbour views, marine villas and Edwardian age homes. Herne Bay has been a prosperous area since the 1850s due to its outlook over the Waitemata Harbour. It continues to be an exclusive suburb, as it ranked as the most expensive suburb in New Zealand in 2015.[1]

Herne Bay is under the local governance of Auckland Council.

According to the 2006 census, Herne Bay had a population of 2,823.[2] Its postcode is 1011.

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 was not 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). Local Primary schools are Bayfield Primary and Ponsonby Primary

In late 2008, Herne Bay became New Zealand's first "$2 million suburb", where the median house price has surpassed the $2 million mark.[3]

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.[4]

Notable buildings

References

  1. ↑ "Herne Bay is New Zealand's first $2 million suburb". New Zealand Herald. 2015-06-11. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 2017-01-04.
  2. ↑ Quickstats about Herne Bay
  3. ↑ Phare, Jane (21 December 2008). "NZ's first $2 million suburb". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2008-12-24.
  4. ↑ Phare, Jane (21 December 2008). "The man who bought the Sultan of Brunei's homes". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-24.

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

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