- Newtown, New Zealand
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Newtown Basic information Local authority Wellington City Population 8,409 (2006 [1]) Facilities Hospitals(s) Wellington Hospital Surrounds North Mount Cook[2] Northeast Hataitai East Evans Bay Southeast Kilbirnie, Melrose South Berhampore Southwest Berhampore West Vogeltown Northwest Mount Cook The suburb of Newtown lies in the southern part of Wellington in New Zealand. The population at the last census (2006) was recorded as 8,409.
The suburb lies east of Vogeltown, between Mount Cook and Berhampore. The main thoroughfares of Newtown are Riddiford St., leading from Mount Cook to Berhampore and Melrose, and Constable St., leading from Newtown to Kilbirnie.
Originally a working-class suburb, Newtown has followed gentrification trends in recent years, attracting large numbers of immigrants, students and young professionals and resulting in an ethnically diverse population. The Wellington City Council District Plan identifies Newtown as a suburb with an "identifiable or distinct character". Because of Newtown;s special character only one household units are allowed in certain areas. Resource consent is needed to put two or more household units on a site.
Government House on Rugby Street, Wellington Hospital located on Riddiford Street and Wellington Zoo all lie within the boundaries of Newtown. Newtown Park is located next to the Zoo, off Roy Street and provides a venue for athletics and football. The Park consists of a 400m all-weather running track, grandstand, changing rooms, community rooms and play area. Wellington City Council has spent $3.6 million on modernising facilities at Newtown Park to meet current and future needs for the athletics and soccer sports codes, and the wider community.
Newtown School is a state primary school located in the heart of the suburb. For more than 127 years, this school has educated the children of Newtown and its neighbouring suburbs. The school has a Maori immersion class – Ngati Kotahitanga – providing an 80 per cent immersion environment, an indoor heated swimming pool, computer suite, and separate junior and senior playgrounds.
The annual Newtown Festival takes place over ten days, culminating in the Newtown Festival Street Fair which is usually held on Internation Children's Day. Organised by The Newtown Residents' Association for the past 11 years, the festival has continued to grow. The 2008 Newtown Festival was attended by an estimated 60,000 people[3].
Notes
- ^ The population is the sum of the populations for the census areas of Newtown West (Quickstats about Newtown West) and Newtown East (Quickstats about Newtown East)
- ^ "Wellington City Suburb Boundaries, Feb. 2008
- ^ http://www.newtownfestival.org.nz/why.php
References
- Newtown! Community in a Wellington Suburb edited by Martin Doyle (1998, Wellington Safer Community Council, Wellington City Council) ISBN 0-909036-73-X
External links
- History of Newtown & Berhampore
- Smart Newtown Community Web Site
- Newtown Community & Cultural Centre
- Newtown Residents Association
- Wellington Zoo
Coordinates: 41°18′49″S 174°46′47″E / 41.3137°S 174.7798°E
Categories:- Suburbs of Wellington City
- Wellington Region geography stubs
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