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 today, as it ranks as the most expensive suburb in New Zealand.
Map of Herne Bay, Auckland, New Zealand
Herne Bay is under the local governance of the Auckland City Council.
According to the 2006 census, Herne Bay has a population of 2,823. Its postcode is 1011..
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).
In late 2008, Herne Bay became New Zealand's first "$2 million suburb", where the median house price has surpassed the $2 million mark.
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.
Baptist Church, 43 Jervois Road. A wooden building in the Classical style. This church contains an organ reputed to be the oldest in Australsia, possibly used by Queen Charlotte at Windsor Castle or Kew Palace it was given by Queen Victoria to the St Paul's Church in Emily Place, here in Auckland. After that building was demolished and rebuilt on Symonds Street with a new big up-to-date organ this chamber organ made its way into the possession of the Baptist Church here.
St Stephen's Presbyterian Church. Corner of Jervois Road and Shelly Beach Road. Wooden Gothic Church with impressive interior.
Stitchbury Terrace. Corner of Jervois Road and Curran Street. Neo-Classical Apartment Block from around 1915.
Ponsonby Primary School. 44 Curran Street. The main building is an intact example of the Arts & Crafts style employed for educational facilities just around the First World War. Reinforced concrete construction with Brick and stucco detailing, Marsailles tile roof and metal windows. Prior to 1920 this property was occupied by a Chinese Market Garden.
Shangri-la Apartments. 97-103 Jervois Road. Late 1980s High-rise apartment block; this building contains a mere 16 apartments many of which occupy an entire floor.
Turret House 4 Shelly Beach Road. Large Edwardian Mansion with a roof top turret. Currently a Bed & breakfast hotel.
Westwater Apartments. 10 Shelly Beach Road. High rise apartment block from the 1980s.
Dome House. 11 Shelly Beach Road (corner Cameron Street). Unusual large Edwardian house in the American Queen Anne Style - a landmark due to its large domed corner turret.
Stebbing Recording Studios. 108-114 Jervois Road.
Art-Deco Flats. 175-183 Jervois Road. Four Apartment blocks built in the 1930s on land previously owned by the tram company.
The Gables. 248 Jervois Road. Dating from the early 1970s this is the first pub to be built in this previously dry area. The building was designed to harmonise with the surrounding bay villas and so imitated their roof line, hence the name "The Gables". Up until this time pubs had a very bad reputation not helped by the six o'clock closing culture which was in extistant between 1917 and 1969. This pub was intended to be a new type of establishment with outdoor dining facilities where family groups could socialise along the lines of continental European cafes & beer gardens.
Former Bayfield School. 272 Jervois Road. Wooden Edwardian school now used for preschool activities. Typical example of the building created by the Ministry of Works for schools of the period.
Sea Breeze Motel. 213 Jervois Road. Interesting example of 1950s exotica architecture.
286 Jervois Road. Large two storied Edwardian Italianate house. Recently restored.
235 Jervois Road. Arts & Crafts Cottage by Basil Hooper. Single storied wooden house from around 1928 by a prominent Arts & Crafts architect. Probably done in conjunction with the Chapman Taylor house next door. Wood, Brick and Marsailles Tile roof.
Williamson House. 237 Jervois Road. Important 1928 Arts & Crafts house by Jame Walter Chapman Taylor for Francis H. Williamson.. Two storied masonry house with stucco facades, Marseilles tile roof and metal framed windows.
Hawke Sea Scout Hall, 55 West End Road. First built in 1928 on this site, rebuilt 1952 after a fire in a vernacular site by local volunteers with timber donated by US Marine Corps. Recently restored in traditional style.
