Bishopdale, Christchurch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bishopdale
|
|
|---|---|
|
Suburb
|
|
Ōrauwhata Bishopdale Library and Community Centre
|
|
 Bishopdale
Location in New Zealand
|
|
| Country | New Zealand |
| Local authority | Christchurch |
| Electoral ward | Harewood |
| Area | |
| • Land | 320 ha (790 acre) |
| Population
(June 2023)
|
|
| • Total | 9,560 |
  Bishopdale, Christchurch  |
||
Bishopdale is a friendly neighbourhood located in the north of Christchurch, New Zealand. It's a great place to live, with lots of homes and green spaces. Bishopdale is also quite close to the Christchurch International Airport and the Orana Wildlife Park, where you can see amazing animals!
Contents
A Look Back: Bishopdale's Story
Bishopdale got its name from three brothers: James, Robert, and William Bishop. They bought land here in 1858 or 1859 and started growing fruit in orchards. At first, the area was called "Bishopsdale," but the second 's' was later removed.
Part of Greers Road, which is a main road in the area, used to be called Bishop's Road. It was renamed in 1948 to avoid confusion with other roads in Christchurch.
Most of the houses in Bishopdale were built from the 1960s onwards. They are often single-storey homes made of brick or wood. The area has many parks and places for fun, plus a handy shopping mall.
Who Lives in Bishopdale?
Bishopdale is divided into three smaller areas: Bishopdale North, Bishopdale West, and Bishopdale South. Together, these areas cover about 3.20 square kilometres.
In 2018, about 9,306 people lived in Bishopdale. This was a small increase from previous years. There were more females than males living here. About 1 in 5 people were under 15 years old, making it a place with many young families.
Most people in Bishopdale are of European background. There are also people from Māori, Pasifika, and Asian backgrounds, making Bishopdale a diverse community. About 23% of the people living here were born outside New Zealand.
Shopping and Business
Bishopdale Village Mall
The Bishopdale Village Mall was built in the 1960s. It was one of the first shopping centres designed with a special outdoor area just for people walking. It was created to provide shops and services like a supermarket, doctor, and post office for the growing neighbourhood.
Today, the mall has about 600 parking spots and 80 different shops, including a large New World supermarket. It's a central spot for the community to shop and meet.
Learning in Bishopdale
Bishopdale has several schools for different age groups:
- Breens Intermediate is a school for students in Years 7 and 8. It opened in 1976.
- Bishopdale School, Cotswold School, and Isleworth School are primary schools for students in Years 1 to 6. Bishopdale School opened in 1957, Cotswold in 1968, and Isleworth in 1962.
- Emmanuel Christian School is a special school for students from Year 1 to Year 10. It is a Christian school that welcomes students from different churches.
All these schools teach both boys and girls. Most of them are state schools, meaning they are run by the government.
Community and Culture
Bishopdale has a community library, which is a great place to find books and learn. There are also several churches in the area, including Presbyterian, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Catholic churches.
Bishopdale in Books and Movies
The famous New Zealand author Margaret Mahy set her popular book The Changeover in Bishopdale. In the book, she called the area Gardendale. A movie based on the book was made in 2016.
