Hornby is a major residential and retail suburb at the western edge of Christchurch, New Zealand. The suburb is directly connected to other parts of Christchurch and the South Island by a number of main arterial routes, including State Highway 1 and the Christchurch Southern Motorway.

During the early stages of European settlement, Hornby was originally referred to as Southbridge Junction – with the junction acting as the start of the main road south.

Due to rising confusion with the nearby town of Southbridge, a decision was made to rename the area to Hornby in 1878, although the origins of this name are unclear. One explanation holds that the suburb was named after Hornby-with-Farleton in Lancashire by Frederick William Delamain, who came to Christchurch from England in 1852. Delamain owned a nearby homestead, which gave its name to the nearby suburb of Yaldhurst, and was a prominent figure in the area during the latter half of the 19th century. Another version suggests that the name refers to Geoffrey Hornby, who was the Admiral of the British flying squadron and who visited Christchurch in 1870, just prior to the suburb being renamed on 2 September 1878.

In 1922, the suburb was chosen by Kempthorne Prosser to be the location for a new super-phosphate plant, used to develop fertiliser. The plant was the company's first in Christchurch and third overall, developed in response to an 1881 incentive from the New Zealand government to facilitate the construction of a local fertiliser industry. This fertiliser plant remains in operation, and is now run by Ravensdown limited, which bought Kempthorne Prosser in 1978. The plant was the location of a large fire in 2018, which prompted nearby evacuations in fear of an explosion and caused thick black smoke to be visible across the region.

Prior to the development of adjacent suburbs such as Wigram, Hornby's isolation from the rest of Christchurch as a result of Wigram Aerodrome and the industrial estates of Sockburn led to it occasionally being considered a town in its own right, however officially it has always been a suburb of Christchurch. Hornby is home to a velodrome and a BMX track. In the past, it has been the location for "Westside Party in the Park", a free Christmas concert.

In April 2024, a new community centre and swimming pool facility opened. It is called the Matatiki Hornby Centre.

Hornby comprised four statistical areas in 2018.

Individual statistical areas

Name	Area (km)	Population	Density (per km)	Households	Median age	Median income
Hornby Central	2.27	135	59	45	43.4 years	$35,000
Hornby West	0.74	2,493	3,369	894	36.7 years	$32,500
Hornby South	1.37	4,443	3,243	1,692	35.0 years	$31,900
Islington-Hornby Industrial	7.18	342	48	135	50.1 years	$30,800
New Zealand					37.4 years	$31,800

The Hornby Central statistical area covers 2.27 km (0.88 sq mi) on the north side of Hornby. It had an estimated population of 150 as of June 2024, with a population density of 66 people per km.

Historical population for Hornby Central

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	156	—
2013	120	−3.68%
2018	135	+2.38%
Source:

Hornby Central had a population of 135 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 15 people (12.5%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 21 people (−13.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 45 households, comprising 75 males and 57 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.32 males per female. The median age was 43.4 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 15 people (11.1%) aged under 15 years, 30 (22.2%) aged 15 to 29, 75 (55.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 12 (8.9%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 68.9% European/Pākehā, 15.6% Māori, 6.7% Pasifika, 17.8% Asian, and 2.2% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 26.7, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 51.1% had no religion, 33.3% were Christian, 2.2% had Māori religious beliefs and 4.4% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 12 (10.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 24 (20.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $35,000, compared with $31,800 nationally. 12 people (10.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 66 (55.0%) people were employed full-time, 15 (12.5%) were part-time, and 12 (10.0%) were unemployed.

The residential areas of Hornby, comprising the statistical areas of Hornby West and Hornby South in 2018, and also Branston in 2023, cover 2.45 km (0.95 sq mi). They had an estimated population of 8,290 as of June 2024, with a population density of 3,384 people per km.

Historical population for residential areas

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	6,303	—
2013	6,612	+0.69%
2018	6,936	+0.96%
Source:

Before the 2023 census, the residential areas had a smaller boundary, covering 2.11 km (0.81 sq mi). Using that boundary, the residential areas of Hornby had a population of 6,936 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 324 people (4.9%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 633 people (10.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 2,586 households, comprising 3,552 males and 3,387 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.05 males per female, with 1,191 people (17.2%) aged under 15 years, 1,608 (23.2%) aged 15 to 29, 3,114 (44.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,023 (14.7%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 69.1% European/Pākehā, 12.9% Māori, 6.0% Pasifika, 20.8% Asian, and 2.6% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 26.6, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 49.0% had no religion, 36.7% were Christian, 0.7% had Māori religious beliefs, 2.6% were Hindu, 1.0% were Muslim, 1.1% were Buddhist and 2.1% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 711 (12.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 1,419 (24.7%) people had no formal qualifications. 465 people (8.1%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 3,117 (54.3%) people were employed full-time, 684 (11.9%) were part-time, and 219 (3.8%) were unemployed.

The Islington-Hornby Industrial area covers 7.27 km (2.81 sq mi) to the south of Hornby. It had an estimated population of 350 as of June 2024, with a population density of 48 people per km.

Historical population for Islington-Hornby Industrial

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	417	—
2013	381	−1.28%
2018	342	−2.14%
Source:

Before the 2023 census, the industrial area had a smaller boundary, covering 7.18 km (2.77 sq mi). Using that boundary, Islington-Hornby Industrial had a population of 342 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 39 people (−10.2%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 75 people (−18.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 135 households, comprising 189 males and 153 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.24 males per female. The median age was 50.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 30 people (8.8%) aged under 15 years, 60 (17.5%) aged 15 to 29, 192 (56.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 60 (17.5%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 79.8% European/Pākehā, 11.4% Māori, 7.9% Pasifika, 7.9% Asian, and 0.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 16.7, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 58.8% had no religion, 32.5% were Christian, 0.9% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.9% were Muslim, 0.9% were Buddhist and 0.9% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 21 (6.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 102 (32.7%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $30,800, compared with $31,800 nationally. 30 people (9.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 171 (54.8%) people were employed full-time, 33 (10.6%) were part-time, and 9 (2.9%) were unemployed.

Hornby is located on an important road junction on State Highway 1, where southbound traffic turns sharply west, continuing towards to Dunedin and other points south. Northbound connects to Picton via the Christchurch International Airport. This junction also connects traffic to the nearby suburbs of Sockburn and Riccarton towards the central city, and south to the Christchurch Southern Motorway, which forms part of State Highway 76.

Hornby contains two large retail malls, located either side of State Highway 1 to the west of the main junction.

The Hub Hornby opened in 1976. It has a lettable area of 4,000 m. It has more than 800 carparks and 82 tenants, including Pak'nSave and Farmers.

Outlet mall Dress Smart Christchurch opened to the south in 1999. Following an expansion in 2005, it covers 7,117 m, with 53 stores and 347 carparks.

The Hornby area contains many sports clubs. These include : Hornby Netball Club, Christchurch Junior Cricket Association, Hornby Soccer, Westside Sports Club, Hornby Touch Club, ISL Hornby Women's Football Club, Burnham Golf Club, Hornby Working Men's Club and Pegasus Cycling Club.

Hornby High School is a secondary school for years 7 to 13 with a roll of 934 students. The school opened in 1975.

Hornby Primary School and South Hornby School are contributing primary schools catering for years 1 to 6. They have rolls of 248 and 307, respectively. Hornby Primary opened in 1895.

All these schools are coeducational. Rolls are as of August 2024.