Electoral ward Onslow-Western Population 1,508 (2013) West Wilton North Mount Kaukau | Land area 262 ha (1.01 sq mi) Railway station(s) Crofton Downs South Kaiwharawhara East Ngaio, New Zealand | |
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Hospitals(s) Bowen Hospital (Private) | ||
Crofton Downs is an inner suburb of Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. It is situated between Ngaio and Wadestown, above where the northern and southern branches of the Kaiwharawhara Stream join to flow down the Ngaio Gorge into the harbour.
Contents
- Map of Crofton Downs Wellington 6035 New Zealand
- Etymology
- Facilities
- Bowen Hospital
- School enrollment zone
- Primary school
- Pre school
- Extracurricular education
- Transport
- Predator Free Crofton Downs
- References
Map of Crofton Downs, Wellington 6035, New Zealand
Etymology
Crofton Downs belonged to Ngaio and takes its name from a house built in the 1860s by then Premier, William Fox. The house was possibly named after his wife's birthplace. The street names in the suburb are a tribute to the life of former British prime minister Sir Winston Churchill.
Facilities
Crofton Downs contains a supermarket, pharmacy, petrol station, hardware store, veterinary clinic and the private Bowen Hospital.
Bowen Hospital
Bowen Hospital is located on Churchill Drive on the south end of Crofton Downs. The hospital was originally situated in Bowen St opposite parliament in 1912. The old hospital was closed in 1965 and the modern location of the hospital was chosen. The hospital is owned and run by listed company Acurity Health Group Limited.
School enrollment zone
Crofton Downs is within the enrollment zones for Wellington Girls College, Onslow College, St Oran's College and Raroa Normal Intermediate.
Primary school
Crofton Downs Primary school is a decile 10 coeducational contributing state school catering to years 1 - 6. Formerly called Chartwell School, the school was opened in 1970. Its name was changed to Crofton Downs Primary school in 2008 as the surrounding area was more commonly referred to as Crofton Downs rather than Chartwell. The school has a roll of 178 children in 2014 and was one of the first joint venture school between the New Zealand and Japanese government.
Pre-school
Ngaio Playcentre is parent led preschool based in Huntleigh Park, Crofton Downs, which caters for children aged 0 to 6 years old. Originally based in Ngaio town hall it moved in to Huntleigh Park in the mid 1970s.
Extracurricular education
The Japan-New Zealand Joint Venture School (ウェリントン補習授業校 Werinton Hoshū Jugyō Kō), a part-time Japanese educational institution, holds its classes in Crofton Downs Primary School normally twice a week in the evenings and during the New Zealand school holidays.
Transport
The suburb is served by the Johnsonville Branch commuter railway which connects it to the central city.
Predator Free Crofton Downs
Crofton Downs was the first New Zealand Suburb to be declared predator free after local community group, Predator Free Crofton Downs, arranged stoat and rat traps for over 200 households throughout the suburb. Since its inception in 2014, the community model has inspired other communities throughout New Zealand to start their own predator free groups.