Cashmere, New Zealand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cashmere |
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Sign of the Kiwi at Dyer's Pass
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| Basic information | |
| Local authority | Christchurch |
| Electoral ward | Cashmere |
| Land area | 472 ha (1.82 sq mi)* |
| Coordinates | 43°34′22″S 172°37′52″E / 43.572751°S 172.631100°E |
| Population | 6720 (June 2022) |
| Facilities | |
| Hospitals(s) | Princess Margaret Hospital |
| Surrounds | |
| North | Somerfield |
| Northeast | Beckenham |
| East | Huntsbury |
| South | (Port Hills) |
| West | Cracroft |
| Northwest | Hoon Hay |
Cashmere is a suburb which rises above the southern end of the city of Christchurch in New Zealand's South Island.
Geography
Cashmere is situated on the north side of the Port Hills, immediately above the southern terminus of Christchurch’s main street, Colombo Street. Five kilometres south of the city centre, a commanding view of the city can be had from Victoria Park, at the upper end of the suburb. Above Victoria Park is Sugarloaf, a 496 m peak, which is the location of the 119 m transmission tower for local radio and TV stations.
History
Cashmere takes its name from Sir John Cracroft Wilson's farm, which originally occupied the present suburb. Wilson was born in India and named his farm after Kashmir (Cashmere is an early British spelling of Kashmir). The house Wilson built for his Indian workers is today a function centre known as The Old Stone House (currently under repair after the Canterbury earthquakes).
Cashmere has a reputation as one of the country's more well-to-do and refined suburbs, and the 2006 census revealed there was generally a higher income concentration in the suburb.
Buildings and infrastructure
Two of Harry Ell's rest houses, the Sign of the Takahe and the Sign of the Kiwi, are located in Cashmere. Both are Category I heritage buildings. Dame Ngaio Marsh's former house in Valley Road is a museum run in her memory. It is registered by Heritage New Zealand as a Category I heritage item.
Princess Margaret Hospital, built in 1959, was once thought to become the main hospital of Christchurch, but it was too far from the central city.
The Cashmere Club is home to many local sports groups including rugby, soccer, bowls, badminton, darts, squash and small bore rifle shooting. The Canterbury Ring Laser facility is located in the Cracroft Caverns, an underground bunker complex built during World War II. Christchurch Adventure Park is a mountain bike park that opened in December 2016.
Demographics
Cashmere covers 4.72 km2 (1.82 sq mi). It had an estimated population of 6720 as of June 2022, with a population density of 1424 people per km2.
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 2006 | 6,333 | — |
| 2013 | 6,135 | −0.45% |
| 2018 | 6,453 | +1.02% |
Cashmere, comprising the statistical areas of Cashmere West and Cashmere East, had a population of 6,453 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 318 people (5.2%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 120 people (1.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 2,394 households. There were 3,198 males and 3,255 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.98 males per female, with 1,206 people (18.7%) aged under 15 years, 1,017 (15.8%) aged 15 to 29, 3,084 (47.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,149 (17.8%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 92.4% European/Pākehā, 4.4% Māori, 0.8% Pacific peoples, 5.3% Asian, and 2.4% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).
The proportion of people born overseas was 24.9%, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people objected to giving their religion, 55.9% had no religion, 34.6% were Christian, 0.3% were Hindu, 0.5% were Muslim, 1.0% were Buddhist and 2.2% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 2,274 (43.3%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 411 (7.8%) people had no formal qualifications. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 2,658 (50.7%) people were employed full-time, 990 (18.9%) were part-time, and 120 (2.3%) were unemployed.
| Name | Population | Households | Median age | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cashmere West | 3,060 | 1,116 | 44.6 years | $45,300 |
| Cashmere East | 3,393 | 1,278 | 43.4 years | $45,500 |
| New Zealand | 37.4 years | $31,800 |
Education
Cashmere Primary Te Pae Kererū is a full primary school for years 1 to 8 with a roll of 396 students. It opened in 1900 as Port Hills Aided School and moved to the current site in 1905. The name changed to Cashmere School in 1907.
Te Kura o Huriawa Thorrington is a contributing primary school for years 1 to 6 with a roll of 391 students. It opened in 1958.
Both schools are coeducational. Rolls are as of February 2024.
Notable residents
- Ursula Bethell (1874–1945), poet
- Fanny B. Cole (1860-1913), national president of Women's Christian Temperance Union New Zealand
- Ruth Dyson (born 1957), politician
- Norman Hardie (born 1924), mountaineer
- T.E. "Tommy" Taylor (1862-1911)], politician
- John Cracroft Wilson (1808–1881), Member of Parliament
