Bayswater, New Zealand
Geography
Bayswater is a peninsula on the southern North Shore of Auckland, surrounded by Shoal Bay to the north, Ngataringa Bay to the south, and the wider Waitematā Harbour to the southwest. Bayswater borders the suburb of Belmont to the east. The westernmost point of the peninsula is known as O'Neills Point.
Shoal Bay is a Department of Conservation high priority site of special wildlife interest, SSWI, because of its significance for wading birds. Many shore birds graze in this significant estuary. Every year, the bar-tailed godwit migrates from Alaska to New Zealand. About 200 come to the Shoal Bay estuary in March to feed, relax, and then return. Shoal Bay is also home to the New Zealand Dotterel, which builds its nests above high tide and descends to the estuary at low tide to forage.
History
Bayswater was originally named O'Neill's Point after the first European settlers in the area, brothers Allan and James O'Neill. Originally settling at the point (which still bears their name) at the end of the peninsula in the 1840s, by the 1850s the O'Neill's owned much of the peninsula. The name is a descriptive one.
O'Neill's Point Cemetery
O'Neill’s Point Cemetery is located at 122 Bayswater Avenue. It was opened in 1891 and named after James F. O'Neill. The cemetery contains the official war graves of 41 men who served in the New Zealand forces and one man who served with the UK forces during World War I and who died before September 1, 1921. A number of World War I graves (returned soldiers and soldiers who died of the flu and other causes at the nearby Narrow Neck army camp) can be found here.
Takapuna Boating Club
Opened in 1923, this notable building was the clubhouse for the Takapuna Boating Club until they relocated to Takapuna Beach in the 1970s.
St Michael's and All Angels Church
In 1910, the Anglican church of St. Michael and All Angels was moved to Bayswater from its original position on Church Street, Devonport, where Holy Trinity Church now stands. The church was dedicated in 1865. It took the place of the first St. Michael's church, which was also constructed in 1865 but was destroyed by fire in 1908.
In 2011 the church was deconsecrated and in 2013 it was repurposed as a martial arts studio .
Takapuna Tramways and Ferry Company Ltd
The company ran steam trams from the ferry terminal in Bayswater to Takapuna.
Gallery
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View of O'Neill's Point Cemetery towards Shoal Bay
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Takapuna Boating Club
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St. Michael's and All Angels Anglican Church, Bayswater
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Image of Steam Tram leaving Bayswater Wharf
Demographics
Bayswater covers 1.10 km (0.42 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 2,880 as of June 2024, with a population density of 2,618 people per km.
Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
---|---|---|
2006 | 2,643 | — |
2013 | 2,823 | +0.95% |
2018 | 2,865 | +0.30% |
Source: |
Bayswater had a population of 2,865 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 42 people (1.5%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 222 people (8.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,038 households, comprising 1,365 males and 1,503 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.91 males per female. The median age was 37.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 564 people (19.7%) aged under 15 years, 669 (23.4%) aged 15 to 29, 1,281 (44.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 354 (12.4%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 80.6% European/Pākehā, 11.7% Māori, 6.3% Pacific peoples, 10.3% Asian, and 3.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 32.5, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 54.6% had no religion, 32.9% were Christian, 0.3% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% were Hindu, 0.7% were Muslim, 1.0% were Buddhist and 2.3% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 783 (34.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 222 (9.6%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $43,000, compared with $31,800 nationally. 684 people (29.7%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,257 (54.6%) people were employed full-time, 315 (13.7%) were part-time, and 72 (3.1%) were unemployed.
Education
Bayswater School is a coeducational contributing primary (years 1–6) school with a roll of 166 as of August 2024. The school celebrated its 50th Jubilee in 2003. Yachtsman Peter Blake was an alumnus of the school.
Sport
- Bayswater Park, community football pitches. The park, along with Stanley Bay Park, is home to North Shore United AFC.
- Belmont Park Racquets Club. Established in 1935 the club provides tennis and squash courts.
- Belmont Park Bowling Club crown green bowling.
- Takapuna Grammar School Rowing Club have their boathouse at Bayswater Marina.
Local government
The first local government in the area was the Lake Highway District, also known as the Takapuna Highway District, which began operating 1867. In June 1889 the road board was dissolved, in favour of Takapuna being under the direct control of the Waitemata County Council. The Borough of Takapuna, which included Bayswater, was established on 1 July 1913, after 73% of electors in Takapuna voted for independence from the Waitemata County.
After significant growth in population, Takapuna Borough became Takapuna City in 1961. In 1989, Takapuna City was merged into the North Shore City. North Shore City was amalgamated into Auckland Council in November 2010.
Within the Auckland Council, Bayswater is a part of the Devonport-Takapuna local government area governed by the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board. It is a part of the North Shore ward, which elects two councillors to the Auckland Council.
References
- ^ "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
- ^ "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ Council, Auckland. "Auckland Council explained". Auckland Council. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
- ^ "Place name detail: Bayswater". New Zealand Gazetteer. New Zealand Geographic Board. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
- ^ "Place name detail: O'Neills Point". New Zealand Gazetteer. New Zealand Geographic Board. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
- ^ Williams, David (13 June 2022). "Marina Development Threatens Shoal Bay Birds, Say Residents". tewahanui.nz. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ^ Wises New Zealand Guide (7 ed.). Wises Publications. 1979. p. 316.
- ^ Wises New Zealand Guide (7 ed.). Wises Publications. 1979. p. 29.
- ^ "Gone and forgotten - Aucklander News". NZ Herald. 29 May 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ^ "Place name detail: 327". New Zealand Gazetteer. New Zealand Geographic Board.
- ^ "O'Neill's Point Cemetery". Welcome to Heritage New Zealand. 7 July 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- ^ "The shining white building perched over Shoal Bay". heritageetal.blogspot.com. 17 March 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
- ^ Titchener, Paul (25 September 1979). "Bishop Selwyn dedicated Bayswater Church". natlib.govt.nz. North Shore Times Advertiser. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ Willis, Liz (22 October 2013). "North Shore Church Sales Finalised". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ Willis, Liz (10 March 2011). "St Michaels to Close". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Bayswater (129400). 2018 Census place summary: Bayswater
- ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
- ^ Education Counts: Bayswater School
- ^ "Bayswater School 50th Jubilee Reunion". Education Gazette New Zealand. 82 (16). 1 September 2003.
- ^ "Blake, PeterJames". Teara.govt.nz. 3 April 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
- ^ Heritage Consultancy Services (1 July 2011). North Shore Heritage - Thematic Review Report Volume 1 (PDF) (Report). Auckland Council. ISBN 978-1-927169-21-6. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ Bartlett, Jean (2001). Takapuna: People and Places (2nd ed.). Auckland: North Shore City Council. p. 51. ISBN 978-0-473-07877-5. OCLC 973591276. Wikidata Q123755661.
- ^ McClure, Margaret (6 December 2007). "Auckland places - The North Shore". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ Blakeley, Roger (2015). "The planning framework for Auckland 'super city': an insider's view". Policy Quarterly. 11 (4). doi:10.26686/pq.v11i4.4572. ISSN 2324-1101.
External links
- Takapuna Grammar School Rowing Club
- Photographs of Bayswater held in Auckland Libraries' heritage collections.