Narrow Neck, New Zealand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Narrow Neck
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Suburb
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Narrow Neck Beach with Rangitoto island
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 Narrow Neck
Location in New Zealand
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| Country | New Zealand |
| Local authority | Auckland |
| Electoral ward | North Shore ward |
| Local board | Devonport-Takapuna Local Board |
| Area | |
| • Land | 182 ha (450 acre) |
| Population
(June 2023)
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| • Total | 4,240 |
| Postcode(s) |
0624
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  Narrow Neck, New Zealand  |
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Narrow Neck is a cool suburb located on the North Shore of Auckland, New Zealand. It is managed by the Auckland Council. This area is famous for its beautiful beach and interesting past.
Contents
History of Narrow Neck
For a long time, until the mid-1800s, Devonport was connected to the rest of the North Shore by a narrow strip of land. This strip was like a natural bridge between Ngataringa Bay and the Hauraki Gulf. It looked like a "narrow neck" of land, which is how the area got its name!
On the eastern side of this narrow strip is the lovely Narrow Neck beach. On the western side, there used to be a huge mangrove swamp. A pioneer settler named William Cobley started a garden here in the 1870s. He called it Vauxhall Gardens, just like the famous gardens in London.
From Swamp to Sports Fields
In the late 1800s, most of the big mangrove swamp was drained and filled in. This created new land. This new land was first used as a racecourse for the Takapuna Jockey Club until the 1930s. After that, it became the Waitamata golf club.
Military Past
Narrow Neck is also home to Fort Takapuna. From 1927 to the mid-1930s, the Royal New Zealand Navy stored ammunition here. Later, the ammunition was moved to the Kauri Point Armament Depot. During both World War I and World War II, the area was used as a military training camp.
A new road was built close to the western edge of the reclaimed land. This road made it easier and quicker to travel between Devonport and Takapuna.
Education in Narrow Neck
Narrow Neck has a great school called Vauxhall School. It's a primary school for students in years 1 to 6. The school celebrated its 100th birthday in 2020! It has a roll of 179 students as of February 2024. .
Images for kids
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A postcard of a Winter meeting at Takapuna Jockey Club
