Khandallah

Origin of the name

The suburb's name, which supposedly means "Resting place of God" in an unspecified language, is said to come from a homestead built in the area in 1884 by Captain James Andrew, who had recently returned from duty in India. Khandallah is named after Khandela, Rajasthan. For this reason the suburb and those surrounding it have many place names connected with the Indian subcontinent. When the railway was laid through the area by the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company, Andrew is reported as insisting that the railway station be named Khandallah with the h on the end of the name.

However Edward Battersbee (also spelt Battersby) was listed in the 1864-1865 Province of Wellington electoral roll as living at Khandalah, Porirua Road on 23 April 1864 some 20 years earlier than Andrew. In addition Battersby had worked for the East India Company, thereby making him the more likely originator of the suburbs name. In January 1868 Battersbee placed his 450-acre property, named in the advertisement as Khrandalah, on the market for sale. When the formation of Onslow Borough was proposed in 1889, Khandallah was already described as a District.

Description

The northeastern part of the suburb is dominated by a large area of parkland, which stretches north towards Johnsonville. Three parks that make up this reserve land total almost 2 km² (0.77 sq mi) of the slopes of Mount Kaukau. The summit of this 445-metre (1,460 ft) peak, which is topped by Wellington's main television transmitter tower, provides impressive views of the harbour. Khandallah has a reputation for being one of the most affluent of Wellington's suburbs.

The village of Khandallah is a popular location, in that it holds various facilities, such as a supermarket, restaurants, a dairy and a pub.

Box Hill was named after a sentry post that was established in 1846.

During the peak development of Khandallah itself, much focus was put into Torwood Road.

Library

Khandallah library was opened in 1953 in the middle of Khandallah village on Ganges road. The library serves an average of 1600 customers a week.

Town hall

The Khandallah town hall has a capacity of over 350 people, including 140 seats and 20 tables and has a stage, kitchen and gallery.

Recreation Centre and park

Nairnville Recreation Centre features a multi-purpose sports hall suitable for basketball, netball, volleyball, and badminton. A squash court is available for hire and an upstairs community room with kitchen facilities.

Nairnville park features sports fields that are used for football, rugby and cricket. An artificial turf was added in March 2009. The park also includes a children's playground, cricket training nets and a skateboard half pipe.

Nairnville park and recreation center are named after James and Louisa Nairn who owned farm land in the area.

Swimming pool

Khandallah summer pool is a 30-meter non-heated outdoor summer pool at 45 Woodmancote Road.

Transport

The suburb is served by the Johnsonville Branch commuter railway which connects it to the central city and surrounding suburb. It has three railway stations; Khandallah Railway Station, Box Hill Railway Station, Wellington and Simla Crescent Railway Station. Parts of the suburb nearer the harbour and some distance from the stations are served by several Metlink bus routes: number 43 and 44 Khandallah - Strathmore (Blue Route) buses and number 45 Khandallah via Ngaio.

School enrollment zone

Khandallah is within the enrollment zones for Wellington Girls College, Onslow College, Raroa Normal Intermediate and St Oran's College.

Primary schools

Khandallah has three primary schools, Khandallah school, Cashmere Avenue school and St Benedict’s school.

Cashmere Avenue school is a decile 10 contributing state primary school catering to years 0–6 with a school roll of 354 in 2014.

Khandallah school is a decile 10 contributing state primary school catering to years 0–6 with a school roll of 402 in 2014. The school is on Clark St and the site was first occupied by a school in January 1893. Khandallah School does not have a uniform.

St Benedict's school is a decile 10 state integrated Catholic full primary school catering to years 0–8 with a school roll of 239 in 2014. The school is on Nicholson Road and was opened in 1952 by Archbishop Peter Cardinal McKeefry. The school was integrated with the state school system in 1981.