Beckenham, New Zealand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Beckenham
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Suburb
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Fisher Avenue, Beckenham
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 Beckenham
Location in New Zealand
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| Country | New Zealand |
| Local authority | Christchurch |
| Electoral ward | Cashmere |
| Area | |
| • Land | 88 ha (217 acre) |
| Population
(June 2023)
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| • Total | 2,430 |
  Beckenham, New Zealand  |
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Beckenham is a friendly neighbourhood in Christchurch, New Zealand. It's about three kilometres south of the city centre. The Ōpāwaho / Heathcote River flows through Beckenham, and a part of it is even called the "Beckenham Loop" by locals! Beckenham is surrounded by other suburbs like Sydenham to the north, Somerfield to the west, Cashmere and Huntsbury to the south, and St Martins to the east.
Contents
Discovering Beckenham's Past
Beckenham has a long history, dating back to when British settlers first arrived in Christchurch. This area was originally known as Middle Heathcote. It was divided into two large farms.
How Beckenham Got Its Name
Brothers Stephen and James Fisher bought one farm. James's father-in-law bought the other. Stephen Fisher decided to name the area Beckenham. He chose this name after a town in England. The name Fisherton was also used for a while, honouring the Fisher brothers.
The Fisher family farmed the land for many years. Later, more people wanted to live in Christchurch. So, in 1906, the farms were divided into smaller sections. This created the new suburbs of Beckenham and Fisherton.
Growing with the Tramway
Beckenham grew bigger as the Christchurch tramway system expanded. Trams made it easy to travel from Beckenham to the city centre. The tram lines reached Devon Street in 1880. They then extended to Tennyson Street and finally to the Port Hills by 1898.
Over time, the name Fisherton was used less and less. The name Beckenham became used for the whole area. Electricity arrived in Beckenham in 1912. A system for wastewater was added in the 1920s.
Exploring Beckenham's Amenities
Beckenham has many useful places for people living there. The main shopping area is on Colombo Street.
Shops and Services
Some buildings in the Beckenham shopping area were damaged in the 2010–2011 earthquakes. However, the area is still busy and has many businesses. You can find a butcher, a café, a pharmacy, and a post shop. The Christchurch South Police Station is also located on Colombo Street.
Places of Worship
Beckenham is home to several churches. These include the Beckenham Methodist Church, Beckenham Baptist Church, and St Peter's Beckenham Catholic Church.
Parks and Recreation
Beckenham Park is a great place to visit. It has duck ponds and is home to sports clubs. The Southern Districts Cricket Club plays here. The Beckenham Tennis Club also uses the park.
The Opawa-Saint Martins Toy Library is located in the old Beckenham Library building. You can find it on Sandwich Road.
Homes in Beckenham
Beckenham has many older houses built between the 1900s and 1950s. You can see single-storey villas and some with two floors. There are also brick houses and wooden bungalows. A few houses even have a cool Art Deco style.
Some of the biggest houses are on Fisher Avenue. Many homes in Beckenham have lovely front gardens. The streets are wide, with lots of mature trees. These include London Plane trees. These trees make the streets look very pleasant.
Understanding Flooding Issues
Beckenham is located right next to the Ōpāwaho / Heathcote River. This means that streets along the river can sometimes flood. This happens during very heavy rain. Many other suburbs along the lower parts of the Ōpāwaho River also experience this.
The Christchurch City Council is working to prevent flooding. They are putting in place special plans to reduce the impact of heavy rain.
Beckenham's Population
Beckenham covers an area of about 0.88 square kilometres. It has an estimated population of 2,430 people. This means there are about 2761 people living in each square kilometre.
| Historical population | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 2006 | 2,451 | — |
| 2013 | 2,442 | −0.05% |
| 2018 | 2,403 | −0.32% |
In 2018, Beckenham had 2,403 residents. The population has changed a little over the years. There are slightly more females than males. The average age of people living here is about 41 years old.
Who Lives in Beckenham?
About 20% of the people in Beckenham are under 15 years old. Most residents are of European background. There are also people from Māori, Pasifika, Asian, and other backgrounds. About 24% of the people living in Beckenham were born outside of New Zealand.
Many people in Beckenham have no religious affiliation. Others identify as Christian. There are also smaller groups who follow Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, and other religions.
Many adults in Beckenham have a university degree. The average income in Beckenham is higher than the national average. Most adults work full-time or part-time.
Local Churches
Beckenham has a few important churches that have served the community for many years.
Beckenham Baptist Church
The Beckenham Baptist Church was built on Colombo Street. It cost 3600 pounds to build and could seat 210 people. The Governor General, Lord Bledisloe, officially opened it. In 1981, a new floor was added inside the church. Sadly, the church was damaged in the 2011 Christchurch Earthquakes and had to be taken down.
Beckenham Methodist Church
The Beckenham Methodist Church is located at 83 Malcolm Avenue in Christchurch. It continues to be a place of worship for the community.
St Peter's Catholic Church
St Peter's Catholic Church and St Peter's School are both on Fisher Avenue. The land for St Peter's School was given by the Fisher family. The school opened in 1927.
In 2019, there were discussions about possibly closing St Peter's Catholic Church. This was part of a plan to combine parishes in Christchurch.
Beckenham Primary School
Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto is a primary school for students from Year 1 to Year 8. It welcomes both boys and girls. The school first opened as Beckenham School on February 8, 1915. It started with 149 students and four teachers.
School Growth and Changes
Local residents had asked for the school. They felt it was too dangerous for children to cross Colombo Street tramlines to get to another school. The school quickly grew, reaching 562 students by 1928. In recent years, the number of students has been around 430 to 510.
The Canterbury Earthquake in February 2011 destroyed the school's swimming pool. A fire in January 2013 also destroyed the library and other rooms.
Culture and Community
About 13% of the students at Beckenham School are Māori. The school and community strongly support te reo Māori (the Māori language) and Tikanga Māori (Māori customs). Students from many other backgrounds also attend, including Cook Island Māori, Samoan, Tongan, Indian, Russian, and more.
The school also has a special class for children with intellectual disabilities. This class is part of Ferndale School.
School Colours and Name
The school's first committee chose red, yellow, and black as the school colours. These colours are from the Belgian flag. They were chosen to honour Belgium's bravery in World War I.
On January 1, 2018, Beckenham School changed its name to Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto. This new name was given by Ngāi Tūāhuriri rūnanga. "Te Kura o Pūroto" means "The School of the Ponds." This name reflects the school's location near the ponds in Beckenham Park, next to the Ōpāwaho / Heathcote River.
South Library
The South Library is located on Colombo Street, right by the Heathcote River. It was designed by famous architects Warren and Mahoney and finished in 2003. The library is a single-storey building with a large space of 2400 square metres. It was built with many features to make it environmentally friendly.
In 2004, the library won a top award for its design. It had temporary repairs after the 2011 earthquake. However, in 2022, it was decided that the library would be taken down and rebuilt in 2024. This new project is expected to cost almost $25 million.
Images for kids
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The Heathcote River and Beckenham Park on Eastern Terrace.
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Weekend cricket in Beckenham Park.
