Kilbirnie, New Zealand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kilbirnie
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Suburb
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 Kilbirnie
Location in New Zealand
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| Country | New Zealand |
| Local authority | Wellington City |
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| • Land | 145 ha (358 acre) |
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(June 2023)
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| • Total | 4,890 |
  Kilbirnie, New Zealand  |
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Kilbirnie is a lively suburb in Wellington, New Zealand. It's located about 3 kilometers (2 miles) south-east of the city center. You can get to Kilbirnie from central Wellington in a few ways. These include going through the Mount Victoria Tunnel and Hataitai, driving over Mount Victoria, or taking the scenic coastal road.
Kilbirnie sits on the eastern side of the hill that becomes Mount Victoria. It's also on the flat land of the Rongotai area. This area is like a narrow strip of land between Evans Bay to the north and Lyall Bay to the south. Evans Bay is part of Port Nicholson, and Lyall Bay is on Cook Strait. Kilbirnie blends into its neighboring suburbs. However, a green space called the town belt separates it from Newtown to the west.
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Kilbirnie's Name Origin
Kilbirnie gets its name from a town in Scotland, also called Kilbirnie. An early landowner named Coutts Crawford chose this name. He owned much of the land here. You can still find two streets in the area named after him today.
Fun Things to Do in Kilbirnie
Kilbirnie is a great place with many things to do. It has a busy shopping area where you can find lots of stores. For sports and swimming, there's the Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre. You can also visit the Ākau Tangi Sports Centre, which used to be called the ASB Sports Centre.
The suburb also has a recreation center and a public library. If you love sports, Kilbirnie Park is a large sports field where many games are played.
Kilbirnie is home to Wellington City's only mosque. There is also a Hindu temple here, which is the main place for the Wellington Indian Association. You can find St Patrick's, a Catholic church, next to St Patrick's primary school. St Giles church used to hold Presbyterian services and later served the Niuean community, but it closed in 2019.
Most people in Kilbirnie live in single-story houses. However, because the population is growing, and it's close to the airport and city center, you'll also find some hotels and apartment buildings. Examples include the Brentwood Hotel and Rongotai Apartments.
Sports in Kilbirnie
Kilbirnie is a major hub for sports in Wellington. Kilbirnie Park is home to several sports clubs. These include the Poneke Football Club, Poneke Kilbirnie Softball Club, and Eastern Suburbs Cricket Club. The Marist Association Football Club also plays here.
The Kilbirnie Bowling Club used to be next to Kilbirnie Park. It closed and was taken down around 2018. The city council plans to make the site into a landscaped area. If you enjoy tennis, the Kilbirnie Tennis Club has courts on Crawford Road.
The ASB Sports Centre opened in Kilbirnie in 2011. In November 2022, it was renamed the Ākau Tangi Sports Centre. This new name reflects an old name for the coastline along Evans Bay. This center has made Kilbirnie a very important place for sports and recreation in Wellington. It's a popular spot for anyone wanting to play sports, whether for fun or in competitions.
Kilbirnie's Population and People
Kilbirnie is made up of two main areas: Kilbirnie Central and Kilbirnie East. Together, they cover about 1.45 square kilometers. As of June 2023, the estimated population is 4890 people.
In the 2018 New Zealand census, Kilbirnie had 4,842 residents. This was a small increase from 2013. About 15% of the people were under 15 years old. The population includes a mix of different ethnic groups. Many people identify as European/Pākehā. There are also significant numbers of Māori, Pasifika, and Asian people living here. About 35% of the people in Kilbirnie were born overseas.
When it comes to religion, many people in Kilbirnie say they have no religion. Others identify as Christian, Hindu, or Muslim. There are also people with Māori religious beliefs, Buddhist beliefs, and other religions.
Schools in Kilbirnie
Kilbirnie has several schools for different age groups.
Public Schools
The closest primary schools are Kilbirnie School in Hataitai to the north and Lyall Bay School to the south.
Evans Bay Intermediate School is a public school for students in Year 7 and 8. It has about 344 students.
The nearest high school for boys is Rongotai College, located in Rongotai.
Catholic Schools
St Patrick's School is a Catholic primary school for students in Year 1 to 6. It has about 84 students.
Nearby, St Catherine's College is a Catholic high school for girls. It serves students from Year 9 to 13 and was founded in 1950. It has about 214 students.
St Patrick's College (Kilbirnie) is a Catholic high school for boys. It serves students from Year 9 to 13 and was founded in 1885. It has about 746 students.
