Riccarton, New Zealand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Riccarton |
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Riccarton House, a prominent homestead and the suburb's namesake, in 2008
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| Basic information | |
| Local authority | Christchurch |
| Electoral ward | Riccarton |
| Date established | 1840 |
| Land area | 232 ha (0.90 sq mi)* |
| Coordinates | 43°31′48″S 172°35′51″E / 43.52998°S 172.59744°E |
| Population | 10410 (June 2022) |
| Postcode(s) | 8041 |
| Surrounds | |
| North | Fendalton |
| East | (Hagley Park) |
| South | Addington |
| Southwest | Wigram |
| West | Upper Riccarton |
| Northwest | Ilam |
Riccarton is a busy suburb in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is located just west of the main city centre. A large park called Hagley Park separates Riccarton from the city. To the west of Riccarton, you'll find another area called Upper Riccarton.
Contents
Riccarton's Early History
Riccarton has a long history, dating back to the early days of European settlement.
First European Settlers
On April 12, 1840, a ship named "Sarah and Elizabeth" arrived. Some of the first European settlers on the Canterbury plains landed here. They tried to start a farm in Riccarton. However, by January 1841, they decided to leave the area.
The Deans Family and Riccarton House
The Deans brothers, John and William, were very important to Riccarton's history. They arrived in 1843 and were the second group of Europeans to settle in Christchurch. They built a large home called Riccarton House around 1855. You can still see a copy of their first small house, which was made from a material called cob, on the grounds.
Today, Riccarton House is a restaurant and a place for events. You can also take tours there to learn about its past. The Deans brothers named the suburb "Riccarton" after their hometown in Scotland. They also named the River Avon in Christchurch after a river in Scotland.
Antonio Hall's Story
Antonio Hall is another interesting old building on Riccarton Road. It's a very large property with many rooms. It was once considered one of the most beautiful homes in Christchurch. Even though it's protected by Heritage New Zealand, it has been left to decay over time.
Riccarton Bush: A Special Forest
Right next to Riccarton House is a very special forest called Riccarton Bush. It's also known as Deans Bush or by its Māori name, Pūtaringamotu.
What Pūtaringamotu Means
The Māori name Pūtaringamotu has two meanings. It can mean 'the place of an echo'. It can also mean 'the severed ear', which is a way of saying 'a bush that is cut off from other forests'.
A Unique Forest Remnant
Riccarton Bush is incredibly important because it's one of only two small parts of the original forest that once covered the entire Canterbury plains. Most of the other forests were destroyed by huge fires long ago, during the time of the moa hunters. The other remaining forest, in Papanui, was cut down in the 1850s.
The bush is mostly filled with tall kahikatea trees. To protect the wildlife, a special fence has been built around the bush. The hope is to bring kiwi birds back to live there again!
Protecting Riccarton Bush
In 1848, the Deans brothers made an agreement with the New Zealand Company. They promised to protect about 22 hectares of the kahikatea forest at Pūtaringamotu. Later, in 1914, the 6.4 hectares that remained of Deans Bush were officially protected. Important people from Christchurch, like Harry Ell and botanist Dr. Leonard Cockayne, helped make this happen.
Insects of Riccarton Bush
Riccarton Bush is also famous for its insects. Many native insects were first found and named here. For example, a type of plume moth called Pterophorus monospilalis was collected here in 1859. Its specimen is now kept at the Canterbury Museum.
New Zealand has 39 families of Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies). A remarkable 27 of these families can be found in Riccarton Bush! Most of the moths of Riccarton Bush belong to these families. One type of moth, the bag moth Mallobathra metrosema, is only known to live in Riccarton Bush.
Riccarton's Economy
Riccarton is a busy place with lots of shops and businesses.
Westfield Riccarton Shopping Mall
One of the biggest shopping malls in New Zealand is located here: Westfield Riccarton. It's about 54,000 square metres in size! The mall first opened in 1965 as Riccarton Mall. Since then, it has been made bigger and better many times. In 2009, a second floor and a new car park were added. There are even plans to expand it more in the future.
This large mall is a major reason why Riccarton is so busy. The nearby part of Riccarton Road is also full of shops and motels.
Education in Riccarton
Riccarton has several schools for students of different ages.
Christchurch Girls' High School
Christchurch Girls' High School is a secondary school for girls. It teaches students from Year 9 to Year 13. The school opened in 1877 and has about 1,291 students.
Wharenui School
Wharenui School is a full primary school. It teaches students from Year 1 to Year 8. This school opened in 1907 and has about 400 students.
St Teresa's School
St Teresa's School is a Catholic full primary school. It also teaches students from Year 1 to Year 8. The school opened in 1936 and has about 161 students.
The number of students listed for each school is from February 2024. .
Notable People from Riccarton
Many interesting people have connections to Riccarton, including:
- Charlotte Godley
- Vicki Buck
- John Britten
- Kate Dewes
