Balmoral, New Zealand facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Balmoral
Suburb
Balmoral Location in New Zealand
Country	New Zealand
Local authority	Auckland
Electoral ward	Albert-Eden-Puketāpapa ward
Local board	Albert-Eden Local Board
Area
• Land	238 ha (588 acre)
Population  (June 2023)
• Total	10,040

	Balmoral, New Zealand

Balmoral (which is called Pamorere in Māori) is a busy suburb in Auckland, New Zealand. It's about 5 kilometers away from the very center of Auckland city. Balmoral is surrounded by other suburbs like Mount Eden, Epsom, Mount Roskill, and Sandringham.

This area got its name around the year 1900. It was named after Balmoral Castle, which is a famous castle in Scotland where the Royal family lives. Many of the houses in Balmoral were built in the 1920s and 1930s. A popular style for these homes was the Californian Bungalow, which often has a low-pitched roof and a wide front porch.

Balmoral used to be part of the Mount Eden Borough Council. Later, in 1989, it became part of Auckland City. In 2010, it joined the new Auckland Council as part of the Albert-Eden-Puketāpapa ward. One of the most famous things about Balmoral today is its many different Asian restaurants. You'll find them in the main shopping area and around the Dominion Road intersection.

What's in a Name?

Balmoral gets its name from Balmoral Castle. This is a royal home in Scotland that belonged to Queen Victoria and is still used by the British Royal family today.

Who Lives in Balmoral?

Balmoral covers an area of about 2.38 square kilometers. As of 2023, it has an estimated population of 10040 people. This means there are about 4218 people living in each square kilometer.

In 2018, the population of Balmoral was 10,164 people. This was an increase of 444 people since 2013. The community is very diverse, with people from many different backgrounds living there. This includes people of European, Māori, Pacific, and Asian heritage. Many people living in Balmoral were born overseas, which adds to its rich mix of cultures.

Cool Buildings and Places

Balmoral has several interesting buildings and spots:

Churches and Halls

• Methodist Church on Dominion Road: This church was built in 1915. It has a cool red brick design in the Gothic style.
• Symphonia Hall: Located at the corner of Dominion Road and St Albans Avenue. This building used to be a cinema. Now, it's the main office for the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, a big music group.
• St Albans Church: You can find this Anglican church at 443 Dominion Road. The oldest wooden part of the church was built in 1884. A brick section was added in 1905. Many different groups worship here, including Hindi-speaking Anglicans and Eritrean Orthodox Christians.
• Russian Orthodox Church of the Resurrection (ROCOR): This small wooden church at 447A Dominion Road is easy to spot. It has a special onion-shaped dome, which is a classic part of old Russian architecture.
• The Mount Eden War Memorial Hall: This building at 489 Dominion Road was built in 1957. It has a modern design with cream bricks. The Auckland Theatre Company uses the lower floor for their offices and rehearsal rooms.
• Balmoral Baptist Church: At 682 Dominion Road, this church was built in the 1960s. It has a modern look with concrete and red brick.
• Church of the Nazarene: This church is at 675 Dominion Road, at the corner of Dominion Road and Telford Avenue.

Other Interesting Spots

• Mont-le-Grand Flats: These apartments are at the corner of Dominion and Mont le Grand Roads. They were built in the 1930s using concrete.
• Potter's Park: This park is at the corner of Dominion and Balmoral Roads. It's named after Frederick Potter, an early landowner in Balmoral who gave this land to the community.
• The Christmas Tree House: Located at 112 Balmoral Road, this is a 19th-century wooden house. It stands on a large property where Christmas trees are grown. It's a unique sight, like a white Victorian house surrounded by green trees.
• Paddington Square: At 149-157 Balmoral Road, this area has modern townhouses built in the 1970s. It used to be the site of an old factory.
• The Capitol Picture Theatre: This cinema at 614 Dominion Road was built in the 1920s in a Greek-inspired style. In the 1980s, it was a popular place to watch art films. Today, it's still a cinema, showing movies after being refurbished. Part of the building is also used for indoor climbing!
• Brazier Bookshop: At 714 Dominion Road, this bookshop was run by the parents of Graham Brazier, a famous New Zealand musician.
• Cheapside: These are two blocks of shops at 727 and 771 Dominion Road. They were built in the 1920s in the Spanish Mission style, which has a distinct look with stucco walls and red tile roofs.

Schools in Balmoral

Balmoral has several schools for young people:

• Balmoral School: This is a full primary school for students in Years 1 to 8. It has about 590 students. It first opened in 1926 as Brixton School.
• Maungawhau School: This primary school is for Years 1 to 6. It has about 612 students and was founded in 1912.
• Good Shepherd School: This is a Catholic primary school for Years 1 to 6. It has about 187 students and opened in 1912.
• Balmoral Seventh-day Adventist School: This is a primary school for Years 1 to 8, run by the Seventh-day Adventist church. It has about 64 students. It started in 1950 when three smaller schools joined together.

All these schools welcome both boys and girls.

For older students, the local secondary schools include Mount Albert Grammar School, Marist College, Auckland Grammar School, and St Peter's College.