Ponsonby, New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ponsonby is an inner-city suburb of Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located two kilometres to the west of the city centre. Ponsonby is surrounded by the suburbs of St. Mary's Bay, Freemans Bay, Herne Bay, and Grey Lynn.
Ponsonby is a highly cultural suburb, known for its many restaurants, cafes, art stores and nightclubs, most of which are situated along Ponsonby Road, which forms the spine of the suburb.
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[edit] History
The suburb was originally called Dedwood in 1845, A farm in Shelly beach road was called Dedwood – named after a Captain in the NZ army. The name was changed to Ponsonby in 1873.
There are various theories where the name Ponsonby comes from:
- Major-General Sir Henry Ponsonby (private secretary to Queen Victoria, 1870-1895)
- The Hon. Ponsonby Peacock. Peacock was a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council and lived in what was then Ponsonby Road (later renamed Jervois road when Vandeleur Road was renamed Ponsonby Rd in the 1880s).
- Colonel Frederick Cavendish Ponsonby, Major-General Sir William Ponsonby. Both men fought at Waterloo. The fact that part of what is now Ponsonby Road was called Vandeleur Road provides evidence for this derivation. Major-General Sir John Vandeleur was a Divisional Commander at Waterloo and Colonel Frederick Ponsonby was a regimental commander under him. Neither Frederick Ponsonby or Vandeleur came to New Zealand but they are the most likely people the streets were named after.
Ponsonby amalgamated with Auckland City Council in 1882.
In the 1950s and 60s a combination of people moving to new outer suburbs, a council policy of "slum" clearances and the construction of the motorway through Freemans Bay, lead to plumeting rents and a drastic downturn in the economic fortunes of the area.
In the 1970s, artists, bohemians, gays and lesbians moved into the area, attracted by the low rents. The presence of so many "creative types" created a distinct culture in the area, and began a process of gentrification that was complete by the 1990s.
[edit] Demographics
According to the 2001 census, Ponsonby has a population of 5697. Ponsonby is the location of several schools including Ponsonby Intermediate.
Statistical information gathered by Auckland City <ref>[1] www.aucklandcity.govt.nz, Demographics</ref> shows that generally speaking, the Ponsonby area is one of:
- low population growth (9 per cent: 1991-2001)
- more households with access to the internet
- more households of unrelated people
- more people with a bachelor or higher degree
- more people with no religious affiliation
- more people employed full-time
- more English language speakers
- fewer people not in the labour force
- high median income
- more New Zealand Europeans
- average median age.
Ponsonby also has a large gay population in comparison to other Auckland suburbs.
[edit] References
- The Lively Capital, Auckland 1840-1865 Una Platts, Avon Fine Prints Limited New Zealand 1971.
- The Heart of Colonial Auckland, 1865-1910. Terence Hodgson. Random Century NZ Ltd 1992.
- Colonial Architecture In New Zealand. John Stacpoole. A.H & A.W Reed 1976
- Decently And In Order, The Centennial History of the Auckland City Council. G.W.A Bush. Collins 1971.
- Auckland Through A Victorian Lens. William Main. Millwood Press 1977.
- Ponsonby Heritage Walks. Tania Mace. Ponsonby Road Productions 2005.
