Bayswater, New Zealand facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bayswater
Suburb
Bayswater marina with Takapuna in the background
Bayswater Location in New Zealand
Country	New Zealand
Local authority	Auckland
Electoral ward	North Shore ward
Local board	Devonport-Takapuna Local Board
Established	1850s (Approx.)
Area
• Land	110 ha (270 acre)
Population  (June 2023)
• Total	2,760
Postcode(s)	0622
Ferry terminal(s)	Bayswater Marina

	Bayswater, New Zealand

Bayswater is a cool suburb located on the North Shore of Auckland, New Zealand. It sits on a piece of land called a peninsula, which sticks out into the Waitematā Harbour. Bayswater is part of the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board and the North Shore ward of the Auckland Council.

Exploring Bayswater's Geography

A New Zealand Dotterel, a special bird found in Bayswater.

Bayswater is a peninsula on the southern North Shore of Auckland. It's almost surrounded by water! To the north is Shoal Bay, to the south is Ngataringa Bay, and to the southwest is the bigger Waitematā Harbour. Bayswater shares a border with the suburb of Belmont to the east. The very tip of the peninsula is called O'Neills Point.

Shoal Bay is a really important place for birds. It's a high-priority site for wildlife because many wading birds like to feed there. Every year, a special bird called the bar-tailed godwit flies all the way from Alaska to New Zealand! About 200 of them come to Shoal Bay in March to eat and rest before flying back home. The New Zealand Dotterel also lives here. These birds build their nests above the high tide line and then go down to the bay at low tide to find food.

A Look Back at Bayswater's History

Bayswater was first called O'Neill's Point. This name came from the first European settlers, two brothers named Allan and James O'Neill. They settled at the point in the 1840s. By the 1850s, the O'Neill brothers owned most of this peninsula. The name "Bayswater" simply describes a place with water and bays.

O'Neill's Point Cemetery: A Place of Remembrance

O'Neill’s Point Cemetery is a burial ground located at 122 Bayswater Avenue. It opened in 1891 and was named after James F. O'Neill. This cemetery is special because it holds the graves of 41 New Zealand soldiers and one UK soldier who died during World War I. Many of these soldiers died from the flu or other illnesses at a nearby army camp.

Takapuna Boating Club: A Building with a Past

This interesting building opened in 1923. It used to be the clubhouse for the Takapuna Boating Club. The club moved to Takapuna Beach in the 1970s, so the building has had a long history.

St Michael's and All Angels Church: A Moving Story

In 1910, an Anglican church called St. Michael and All Angels was actually moved to Bayswater! It used to be in Devonport. The church was first built in 1865. It replaced an earlier St. Michael's church that burned down in 1908. In 2011, the church was no longer used for religious services. By 2013, it was changed into a martial arts studio.

Takapuna Tramways and Ferry Company: Old Ways to Travel

This company used to run steam trams from the ferry terminal in Bayswater all the way to Takapuna. Trams were like small trains that ran on tracks in the street, a popular way to get around a long time ago.

Gallery

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  View of O'Neill's Point Cemetery towards Shoal Bay

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  The old Takapuna Boating Club building.

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  St. Michael's and All Angels Anglican Church, Bayswater.

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  A steam tram leaving Bayswater Wharf long ago.

Bayswater's People: Demographics

Bayswater covers about 1.10 square kilometers. In 2023, about 2,742 people lived here. The population has changed a little over the years.

In the 2023 New Zealand census, there were slightly more females than males. The average age of people in Bayswater was about 39.7 years old.

• About 19% of the people were under 15 years old.
• About 21.9% were between 15 and 29 years old.
• About 43.8% were between 30 and 64 years old.
• About 15.4% were 65 years or older.

Most people in Bayswater identify as European (about 81.3%). Other groups include Māori (11.8%), Pasifika (5.8%), and Asian (10.6%). Most people speak English.

When it comes to religion, about 26.5% of people are Christian. Many people (63%) said they had no religion.

Many adults in Bayswater have a good education. About 38.4% have a university degree or higher. The average income for people aged 15 and over was $53,500. Most adults (about 52.8%) work full-time.

Learning in Bayswater: Education

Bayswater School, where kids learn and grow.

Bayswater School is a primary school for students in years 1 to 6. It's a coeducational school, meaning both boys and girls attend. The school celebrated its 50th birthday in 2003! A very famous New Zealand sailor, Peter Blake, used to go to Bayswater School.

Fun and Games: Sport in Bayswater

Bayswater has some great places for sports:

• Bayswater Park has football pitches. This park, along with Stanley Bay Park, is home to the North Shore United AFC football club.
• Belmont Park Racquets Club was started in 1935. It has courts for tennis and squash.
• Belmont Park Bowling Club is a place for crown green bowling.
• The Takapuna Grammar School Rowing Club has its boathouse at Bayswater Marina. This is where their rowing boats are kept.