Auckland Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...

Lucas Creek Lucas Creek is a stream and tidal estuary of Upper Waitematā Harbour in the Auckland Region of New Zealand's North Island. It flows through Albany on the western North Shore, and enters the Upper Waitematā Harbour between Pāremoremo and G ...

portage Portage or portaging ( CA: ; ) is the practice of carrying water craft or cargo over land, either around an obstacle in a river, or between two bodies of water. A path where items are regularly carried between bodies of water is also called a '' ...

Hauraki Gulf The Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana is a coastal feature of the North Island of New Zealand. It has an area of 4000 km2,Westfield Albany and

North Harbour Stadium North Harbour Stadium is a stadium situated in Albany, in North Shore City, New Zealand. It was opened in 1997, after nearly a decade of discussion, planning and construction. Rugby union, association football, rugby league, and baseball are a ...

. Much of the land to the north of Albany is semi-rural. Albany is divided into four areas: Albany, Albany Heights, Albany Village, and Albany Centre. The two former names are official.

Etymologies

From the 1840s until 1890, the settlement was known as Lucas Creek, named after early pioneer Daniel Clucas, who arrived in early 1840s and established a flax mill on the upper

Lucas Creek Lucas Creek is a stream and tidal estuary of Upper Waitematā Harbour in the Auckland Region of New Zealand's North Island. It flows through Albany on the western North Shore, and enters the Upper Waitematā Harbour between Pāremoremo and G ...

at Albany. Over time, the name Lucas Creek developed bad associations, due to the

moonshine Moonshine is alcohol proof, high-proof liquor, traditionally made or distributed alcohol law, illegally. The name was derived from a tradition of distilling the alcohol (drug), alcohol at night to avoid detection. In the first decades of the ...

operations that operated along the waterway. In 1890, the townspeople voted to change the name from Lucas Creek to Albany, a name suggested by Captain Alexander McArthur, which was suggested due to its associations with

Albany, Western Australia Albany ( ; ) is a port city in the Great Southern region in the Australian state of Western Australia, southeast of Perth, the state capital. The city centre is at the northern edge of Princess Royal Harbour, which is a part of King G ...

, then a major horticulture centre. Albany in Western Australia was named after

Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany (Frederick Augustus; 16 August 1763 – 5 January 1827) was the second son of George III, King of the United Kingdom and King of Hanover, Hanover, and his consort Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. A so ...

, second son of

King George III George III (George William Frederick; 4 June 173829 January 1820) was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland, Ireland from 25 October 1760 until his death in 1820. The Acts of Union 1800 unified Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain and ...

, in 1832. The name Lucas Creek was still in popular use in the early 20th century, and for many years the name appeared hyphenated as Albany-Lucas Creek in institutions and businesses. Three

Māori language Māori (; endonym: 'the Māori language', commonly shortened to ) is an Eastern Polynesian languages, Eastern Polynesian language and the language of the Māori people, the indigenous population of mainland New Zealand. The southernmost membe ...

names are associated with the Albany area. is the most commonly used name in modern contexts, including the North Shore Ōkahukura District Court, Albany Community Hub Te Pokapū ā-Hapori o Ōkahukura, and a Fletcher Living housing development in Albany. Originally a name for the

Lucas Creek Lucas Creek is a stream and tidal estuary of Upper Waitematā Harbour in the Auckland Region of New Zealand's North Island. It flows through Albany on the western North Shore, and enters the Upper Waitematā Harbour between Pāremoremo and G ...

estuary, the name refers to the Ngāti Manuhiri (ancestress) Te Kura, the wife of Mataahu, who was the uncle to Manuhiri, the eponymous ancestor of the iwi. The word in Māori usually refers to rainbows or butterflies. Additionally, Lucas Creek is also referred to as ("Stream for Eating

Flounder Flounders are a group of flatfish species. They are demersal fish, found at the bottom of oceans around the world; some species will also enter estuary, estuaries. Taxonomy The name "flounder" is used for several only distantly related speci ...

"). Another common name for the Albany area is ("Of Te Ha"), referring to Ngāti Manuhiri ancestor Te Ha Kaiaraara, grandson of Manuhiri. was the name of a kāinga in the Ōteha Valley.

Geography

Podocarpus totara at Fernbank Escarpment

Albany is a suburb of the North Shore of New Zealand. It is located in the upper reaches of the

Lucas Creek Lucas Creek is a stream and tidal estuary of Upper Waitematā Harbour in the Auckland Region of New Zealand's North Island. It flows through Albany on the western North Shore, and enters the Upper Waitematā Harbour between Pāremoremo and G ...

, an estuarial arm of the Upper Waitematā Harbour, and in the Ōteha Valley. The Oteha Stream is a tributary of Lucas Creek that flows through southern Albany, which in turn has a tributary, Alexandra Stream, which flows north through Rosedale and joins the Oteha Stream at Albany. Albany is bordered the

Auckland Northern Motorway The Auckland Northern Motorway (known locally as the Northern Motorway, and historically as the Auckland–Warkworth Motorway) in the Auckland Region of New Zealand links Central Auckland and Warkworth in the former Rodney District via th ...

to the east and Rosedale Road in the south. Much of the Albany area is formed from

Early Miocene The Early Miocene (also known as Lower Miocene) is a sub-epoch of the Miocene epoch (geology), Epoch made up of two faunal stage, stages: the Aquitanian age, Aquitanian and Burdigalian stages. The sub-epoch lasted from 23.03 ± 0.05 annum, Ma to ...

Waitemata Group sandstone and mudstone, with areas of conglomerate rock called Albany Conglomerate. The banks of the Lucas Creek were historically

kauri ''Agathis'', commonly known as kauri or dammara, is a genus of evergreen coniferous trees, native to Australasia and Southeast Asia. It is one of three extant genera in the family Araucariaceae, alongside '' Wollemia'' and ''Araucaria'' (being ...

-dominated forests. By the mid-19th century, the area had developed into a mānuka and fern-dominated scrubland. Some forest remnants can be found around Albany, such as the Fernhill Escarpment, which includes

tōtara ''Podocarpus totara'' (), commonly known as the , is a species of Podocarpus, podocarp tree endemism, endemic to New Zealand. It grows throughout the North Island, South Island and rarely on Stewart Island, Stewart Island / Rakiura in lowland, ...

trees estimated to be 800 years old.

Climate

History

Māori history

Māori settlement of the

Auckland Region Auckland () is one of the 16 regions of New Zealand, which takes its name from the eponymous urban areas of New Zealand, urban area. The region encompasses the Auckland, Auckland metropolitan area, smaller towns, rural areas, and the islands o ...

began around the 13th or 14th centuries. The North Shore was settled by Tāmaki Māori, including people descended from the ''

Tainui Tainui is a tribal waka (canoe), waka confederation of New Zealand Māori people, Māori iwi. The Tainui confederation comprises four principal related Māori iwi of the central North Island of New Zealand: Hauraki Māori, Hauraki, Ngāti Maniapo ...

'' migratory canoe and ancestors of figures such as Taikehu and Peretū. Many of the early Tāmaki Māori people of the North Shore identified as Ngā Oho, and the Lucas Creek has significance to modern iwi including Ngāti Manuhiri,

Te Kawerau ā Maki Te Kawerau ā Maki, Te Kawerau a Maki, or Te Kawerau-a-Maki is a Māori ''iwi'' (tribe) of the Auckland Region of New Zealand. Predominantly based in West Auckland (Hikurangi also known as Waitākere), it had 251 registered adult members as of J ...

and

Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara (also known as Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara ki te Tonga) is a Māori iwi (tribe) and hapū (sub-tribe) of New Zealand, which is part of the larger Ngāti Whātua iwi. The iwi's rohe is focused around the southern Kaipara Harb ...

. The poor clay soils of the area were not suitable for Māori traditional gardening techniques, but the creek was a good source for eels, crayfish and flounder. An (traditional path) connected Lucas Creek and the Ōkura River to the north, which led to Long Bay and the upper

Hauraki Gulf The Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana is a coastal feature of the North Island of New Zealand. It has an area of 4000 km2,portage Portage or portaging ( CA: ; ) is the practice of carrying water craft or cargo over land, either around an obstacle in a river, or between two bodies of water. A path where items are regularly carried between bodies of water is also called a '' ...

, where waka could be hauled overland between the two bodies of water, Numerous archaeological sites are found on the banks of the Lucas Creek and the Ōteha valley, because of its importance as a transportation node, which follows the ridge line of Lonely Track Road. The upper Lucas Creek area was the location of several kāinga, of which one had the name ("Of Te Ha"), referring to Ngāti Manuhiri ancestor Te Ha Kaiaraara, grandson of Manuhiri. The warrior Maki migrated from the Kawhia Harbour, Kāwhia Harbour to his ancestral home in the

Auckland Region Auckland () is one of the 16 regions of New Zealand, which takes its name from the eponymous urban areas of New Zealand, urban area. The region encompasses the Auckland, Auckland metropolitan area, smaller towns, rural areas, and the islands o ...

, likely sometime in the 17th century. Maki conquered and unified many the Tāmaki Māori tribes as

Te Kawerau ā Maki Te Kawerau ā Maki, Te Kawerau a Maki, or Te Kawerau-a-Maki is a Māori ''iwi'' (tribe) of the Auckland Region of New Zealand. Predominantly based in West Auckland (Hikurangi also known as Waitākere), it had 251 registered adult members as of J ...

, including those of the North Shore. After Maki's death, his sons settled different areas of his lands, creating new

hapū In Māori language, Māori and New Zealand English, a ' ("subtribe", or "clan") functions as "the basic political unit within Māori society". A Māori person can belong to or have links to many hapū. Historically, each hapū had its own chief ...

. His younger son Maraeariki settled the North Shore and

Hibiscus Coast The Hibiscus Coast is a populated area on a stretch of the Hauraki Gulf coast in New Zealand's Auckland Region. It has a population of making it the List of New Zealand urban areas by population, 10th most populous urban area in New Zealand, ...

, who based himself at the head of the Ōrewa River. Maraeariki's daughter Kahu succeeded him, and she is the namesake of the North Shore, ("The Greater Lands of Kahu"), Many of the iwi of the North Shore, including Ngāti Manuhiri, Ngāti Maraeariki, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Poataniwha,

Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki is a Māori people, Māori tribe that is based in the area around Clevedon, New Zealand, Clevedon, part of the Auckland region (''Tāmaki'' in the Māori language). It is one of the twelve members of the Hauraki Collective ...

and

Ngāti Whātua Ngāti Whātua is a Māori iwi (tribe) of the lower Northland Peninsula of New Zealand's North Island. It comprises a confederation of four hapū (subtribes) interconnected both by ancestry and by association over time: Te Uri-o-Hau, Te Roroa ...

, can trace their lineage to Kahu. By the first half of the 19th century, the mouth of the Lucas Creek to the southwest of Albany was one of the most densely settled areas of the North Shore by Tāmaki Māori peoples. During the early 1820s, most Māori of the North Shore fled for the

Waikato The Waikato () is a region of the upper North Island of New Zealand. It covers the Waikato District, Waipā District, Matamata-Piako District, South Waikato District and Hamilton City, as well as Hauraki, Coromandel Peninsula, the nort ...

or Northland due to the threat of war parties during the

Musket Wars The Musket Wars were a series of as many as 3,000 battles and raids fought throughout New Zealand (including the Chatham Islands) among Māori people, Māori between 1806 and 1845, after Māori first obtained muskets and then engaged in an inte ...

. When Tāmaki Māori returned in greater numbers to the Auckland Region in the mid-1830s, Te Kawerau ā Maki focused settlement at Te Henga / Bethells Beach.

Early European settlement: kauri logging and gum digging

The Albany area was a part of the Mahurangi Block, which was purchased by the

New Zealand Government The New Zealand Government () is the central government through which political authority is exercised in New Zealand. As in most other parliamentary democracies, the term "Government" refers chiefly to the executive branch, and more specifica ...

in 1841. While

kauri ''Agathis'', commonly known as kauri or dammara, is a genus of evergreen coniferous trees, native to Australasia and Southeast Asia. It is one of three extant genera in the family Araucariaceae, alongside '' Wollemia'' and ''Araucaria'' (being ...

logging was one of the first industries in the area, the supply of kauri was exhausted by the early 1840s. By the late 1840s,

kauri gum Kauri gum is resin from kauri trees (''Agathis australis''), which historically had several important industrial uses. It can also be used to make crafts such as jewellery. Kauri forests once covered much of the North Island of New Zealand, bef ...

digging had become a more prominent industry for the Lucas Creek area. Itinerant gum diggers would scour the area for kauri resin to sell at stores, including one located at Schnapper Rock. The first permanent resident in modern-day Albany was William Webster. Daniel Clucas arrived early 1840s, setting up a flax mill at Lucas Creek. While Lucas Creek is names after Clucas, he had left the Auckland area by 1846. Gradually a small settlement developed at the Lucas Creek headwaters; in 1844 three permanent residents lived here, which had increased to 24 by 1857. Lucas Creek township was the local commercial centre for the upper west North Shore, due to the Lucas Creek wharf acting as the main link to the outside world. Ferries took goods and passengers along the Lucas Creek, which connected the village and surrounding areas to Auckland, and a rough overland track connected Lucas Creek township to

Birkenhead Birkenhead () is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, Merseyside, England. The town is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the west bank of the River Mersey, opposite Liverpool. It lies within the Historic counties of England, historic co ...

and Northcote. By the 1860s a church, hotel, school and post office had opened in the village. Most early residents of Lucas Creek came from

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-west coast of continental Europe, consisting of the countries England, Scotland, and Wales. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the List of European ...

and

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

, with a small number arriving from

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard also form part of the Kingdom of ...

in the 1870s. Albany School, which first began operating in 1865 out of a building called Bruce's Shed, had a permanent school build built in 1876. By the 1880s, the school building had become a community hub for events attended by members of the surrounding communities, such as social dances and

phrenology Phrenology is a pseudoscience that involves the measurement of bumps on the skull to predict mental traits. It is based on the concept that the Human brain, brain is the organ of the mind, and that certain brain areas have localized, specific ...

lectures, much to the objection of the Board of Education, who disapproved of the school being used for entertainment purposes.

Fruit growing and rural Albany

While the first orchards were established at Albany in the 1850s, fruit growing only became a major industry for the village in the 1880s, after gum digging and flax processing industries became less prominent. Fruit crops were varied, and included peaches, apples, pears, plums, loquats, cherries, quince and almonds. On 1 December 1890, the township of Lucas Creek officially changed its name to Albany. The name Lucas Creek had developed an unsavory reputation during the 19th century, associated with rough living, and illicit

moonshine Moonshine is alcohol proof, high-proof liquor, traditionally made or distributed alcohol law, illegally. The name was derived from a tradition of distilling the alcohol (drug), alcohol at night to avoid detection. In the first decades of the ...

breweries located along the creek. The name Albany was suggested by Captain Alexander McArthur, referencing

Albany, Western Australia Albany ( ; ) is a port city in the Great Southern region in the Australian state of Western Australia, southeast of Perth, the state capital. The city centre is at the northern edge of Princess Royal Harbour, which is a part of King G ...

, then a major horticulture centre, as McArthur saw similarities between the two areas. By the 1890s, Albany had become the leading fruit growing area in Auckland. 30,000 to 50,000 cases of apples and pears were being produced each year, with many being exported to Australia. The Albany Fruitgrowers Association formed in 1893, and became a major influencing force in the township, including the establishment of a new post office, and lobbying for road widening projects. 1894 saw the first Fruit & Flower Show, an important local event which grew into the Albany A&P Show. In 1895, Albany resident George Pannill created the Albany Surprise, a variety of grape based on the American isabella. The variety was a success, becoming the most commonly eaten table grape in New Zealand in the early 20th century. The success of the Albany Surprise was followed by the Albany Beauty apple, created by Mark Phillips on Gills Road, at the turn of the century after discovering the variety growing on what was meant to be a Gravenstein apple tree. In addition to these popular crops, large blackberry and strawberry farms became a major fixture of rural Albany by the early 1900s. Albany fell under the jurisdiction of the

Waitemata County The Waitemata County, historically also known as Waitamata County, was one of the counties of New Zealand in the North Island. Established in 1876, the county covered West Auckland, New Zealand, West Auckland, Rodney (local board area), Rodney a ...

, a vast local government area covering West Auckland, Rodney and the North Shore. Residents strongly objected to the actions of the county council, feeling ignored and frustrated at the lack of roading infrastructure in Albany. The first metalled road to Albany was constructed in 1890. In 1911, the George V Coronation Hall was opened as a local community centre, and operated as a venue for the annual Albany Agricultural Show. This was joined in 1922 with the Albany War Memorial Library, constructed to remember the fallen

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

soldiers of Albany and surrounding areas. By 1915, North Shore roads had improved enough that regular vehicle traffic began. Over the next 15 years, river traffic decreased, and in 1930 the Kaipatiki ferry ceased operation, and the historic Albany wharf, known as the Landing, was demolished soon after. In the 1930s, dairy farms began replacing Albany's orchards and strawberry farms.

Suburbanisation

Albany site aerial - 1989 - scan from Feasibility Study

Albany saw a population influx post

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, including many British and Dutch migrants to New Zealand. Many new residents in Albany sought out the area in order to live on semi-rural lifestyle blocks close to Auckland. New shops began opening in the township, including the two-storey Hillinds Building, and the Albany Pony Club began operating in 1954. In 1959, the

Auckland Harbour Bridge The Auckland Harbour Bridge is an eight-lane motorway bridge over Waitematā Harbour in Auckland, New Zealand. It joins Saint Marys Bay, New Zealand, St Marys Bay on the Auckland city side with Northcote, Auckland, Northcote on the North Shore, ...

opened, leading to widescale development across the North Shore. Compared to surrounding areas, most notably the East Coast Bays, growth was much slower in Albany. After the construction of the bridge, the

Auckland Northern Motorway The Auckland Northern Motorway (known locally as the Northern Motorway, and historically as the Auckland–Warkworth Motorway) in the Auckland Region of New Zealand links Central Auckland and Warkworth in the former Rodney District via th ...

was gradually opened, leading to Albany being much more closely connected to Auckland City. During this period, the North Shore Golf Club was established in Albany, after the Municipal Golf Course had been removed during motorway construction. In 1963, the

Second National Government of New Zealand The Second National Government of New Zealand (also known as the Holyoake Government, after head of government Keith Holyoake) was the government of New Zealand from 1960 to 1972. It was a conservative government which sought mainly to preserv ...

requisitioned of Albany under the Public Works Act, in order to construct state housing. Earthworks were carried out and topsoil removed, but in 1969 work stopped, and plans for the state housing area were abandoned. The former farmland was left idle and unused for the next 20 years, until the establishment of

North Shore City North Shore City was a territorial authority unit in the Auckland Region of New Zealand that was governed by the North Shore City Council. It existed from 1989 until November 2010, when the council was incorporated into Auckland Council. It ha ...

. In 1974, after Albany had become a rural area of Takapuna City, Labour Minister of Works

Hugh Watt Hugh Watt (19 March 1912 – 4 February 1980) was a New Zealand politician who was a Labour member of Parliament and the acting prime minister of New Zealand between 31 August and 6 September 1974, following the death of Prime Minister Norma ...

announced further land in Albany would be requisitioned for housing projects, which Albany residents strongly objected to. The 1970s saw significant businesses and organisations come to Albany. Allan Clarks Motors was founded 1974 and became the largest private car dealership in New Zealand in the 1980s and 1990s. In the same year, Graeme Platt established the first commercial native plant nursery in New Zealand. Many of his plants were local to the Albany area, including the

tōtara ''Podocarpus totara'' (), commonly known as the , is a species of Podocarpus, podocarp tree endemism, endemic to New Zealand. It grows throughout the North Island, South Island and rarely on Stewart Island, Stewart Island / Rakiura in lowland, ...

cultivar Aurea, also known by the name Albany Gold. In 1978, the private school

Kristin School Kristin School is a private school, private co-educational composite school located in Albany, North Shore, New Zealand, North Shore, New Zealand. Kristin is an IB World School with approximately students. The school was established in 1973 by ...

moved its campus from Campbells Bay to Albany. Centrepoint was established as a commune in 1977, and at its peak had over 200 residents. In the 1990s, commune leaders including founder Bert Potter were charged on child sexual abuse and drug charges. The commune was shut down in 2000.

Intense development

Albany became the fastest developing area of the North Shore in the 1990s. Strawberry and dairy farms were redeveloped into lifestyle blocks and intensive housing, beginning in the late 1980s, and in 1994 the Albany Fruitgrowers Association disbanded, after operating for 100 years. In 1993, the North Shore City Council unveiled a 20 year plan for developing Albany, which included the New Zealand Housing Corporation selling the land requisitioned under the Public Works Act in the 1960s to private developers. Albany's population increased from 9,000 in 1991 to 14,000 in 1998. In March 1993,

Massey University Massey University () is a Public university, public research university in New Zealand that provides internal and distance education. The university has campuses in Auckland, Palmerston North, and Wellington. Data from Universities New Zealand ...

's Albany Campus was opened, and 1997 saw the construction of both the

North Harbour Stadium North Harbour Stadium is a stadium situated in Albany, in North Shore City, New Zealand. It was opened in 1997, after nearly a decade of discussion, planning and construction. Rugby union, association football, rugby league, and baseball are a ...

and the Albany Shopping Centre (now known as Westfield Albany). Further intensive developments were announced in 2005, and the Albany Shopping Centre was greatly expanded by 2007 to cover , including over 140 retailers including

Farmers A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, raising living organisms for food or raw materials. The term usually applies to people who do some combination of raising field crops, orchards, vineyards, poultry, or other livestock. A farmer mi ...

,

Kmart Kmart ( ), formerly legally registered as Kmart Corporation, now operated by Transformco, is a department-store chain and online retailer in the United States and Territories of the United States, its territories. It operates four remaining Kma ...

,

New World The term "New World" is used to describe the majority of lands of Earth's Western Hemisphere, particularly the Americas, and sometimes Oceania."America." ''The Oxford Companion to the English Language'' (). McArthur, Tom, ed., 1992. New York: ...

and

JB Hi-Fi JB Hi-Fi Limited is an Australian consumer electronics retail company. It is publicly listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. Its headquarters are located in Southbank, Melbourne, Victoria. As of June 2024, the company operates 330 sto ...

. Development in Albany slowed with the

2008 financial crisis The 2008 financial crisis, also known as the global financial crisis (GFC), was a major worldwide financial crisis centered in the United States. The causes of the 2008 crisis included excessive speculation on housing values by both homeowners ...

. In 2007, the Upper Harbour Motorway was opened, creating a motorway connection between West Auckland and the North Shore via Greenhithe. In 2008, the Northern Busway was opened along the Northern Motorway, which included the Albany busway station.

Local government

From 1876 until 1954, the area was administered by the

Waitemata County The Waitemata County, historically also known as Waitamata County, was one of the counties of New Zealand in the North Island. Established in 1876, the county covered West Auckland, New Zealand, West Auckland, Rodney (local board area), Rodney a ...

, a large rural county north and west of the city of Auckland. On 1 August 1974, the Waitemata County was dissolved, and Albany became a rural area incorporated into Takapuna City. In 1989, Albany was merged into the

North Shore City North Shore City was a territorial authority unit in the Auckland Region of New Zealand that was governed by the North Shore City Council. It existed from 1989 until November 2010, when the council was incorporated into Auckland Council. It ha ...

. North Shore City was amalgamated into

Auckland Council Auckland Council () is the local government council for the Auckland Region in New Zealand. It is a territorial authority that also has the responsibilities, duties and powers of a regional council and so is a unitary authority, according to t ...

in November 2010. Within the Auckland Council, Albany is a part of the Upper Harbour local government area governed by the

Upper Harbour Local Board The Upper Harbour Local Board is one of the 21 local boards of the Auckland Council, and is one of the two boards overseen by the council's Albany Ward councillors. The board is named for the upper reaches of Auckland's Waitematā Harbour. ...

. It is a part of the Albany ward, which elects two councillors to the Auckland Council.

Demographics

Albany covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km². Albany had a population of 11,961 in the

2023 New Zealand census The 2023 New Zealand census, which took place on 7 March 2023, was the thirty-fifth national census in New Zealand. It implemented measures that aimed to increase the Census' effectiveness in response to the issues faced with the 2018 census, i ...

, an increase of 1,980 people (19.8%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 3,615 people (43.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 5,835 males, 6,081 females and 48 people of other genders in 4,215 dwellings. 3.7% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 1,932 people (16.2%) aged under 15 years, 2,631 (22.0%) aged 15 to 29, 5,691 (47.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,713 (14.3%) aged 65 or older. People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 43.2% European (

Pākehā ''Pākehā'' (or ''Pakeha''; ; ) is a Māori language, Māori-language word used in English, particularly in New Zealand. It generally means a non-Polynesians, Polynesian New Zealanders, New Zealander or more specifically a European New Zeala ...

); 4.8%

Māori Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the Co ...

; 2.1% Pasifika; 51.1% Asian; 4.0% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.0% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 89.8%, Māori language by 0.9%, Samoan by 0.3%, and other languages by 45.5%. No language could be spoken by 2.0% (e.g. too young to talk).

New Zealand Sign Language New Zealand Sign Language or NZSL () is the main language of the deaf community in New Zealand. It became an official language of New Zealand in April 2006 under the New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006. The purpose of the act was to create rights ...

was known by 0.2%. The percentage of people born overseas was 62.0, compared with 28.8% nationally. Religious affiliations were 29.6%

Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...

, 2.9%

Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...

, 2.5%

Islam Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...

, 0.3%

Māori religious beliefs Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the Co ...

, 2.8%

Buddhist Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...

, 0.3%

New Age New Age is a range of Spirituality, spiritual or Religion, religious practices and beliefs that rapidly grew in Western world, Western society during the early 1970s. Its highly eclecticism, eclectic and unsystematic structure makes a precise d ...

, 0.2%

Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

, and 1.2% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 54.4%, and 6.1% of people did not answer the census question. Of those at least 15 years old, 3,117 (31.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 3,774 (37.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 2,385 (23.8%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 1,335 people (13.3%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 5,133 (51.2%) people were employed full-time, 1,170 (11.7%) were part-time, and 285 (2.8%) were unemployed.

Parks

The

North Shore City North Shore City was a territorial authority unit in the Auckland Region of New Zealand that was governed by the North Shore City Council. It existed from 1989 until November 2010, when the council was incorporated into Auckland Council. It ha ...

council expanded Albany's parkland; in 2007, it paid $3 million for new land totalling . Kell Park reserve next to the new Albany Village Library was known for its free-range bantam chicken population, and pirate ship flying fox playground. The bantams have led to bantam-themed logos and a rooster statue in Albany. By 2008, the free-roaming chicken population had been removed. The Fernhill Escarpment is a large nature reserve in Albany, on the north-east bank of the Oteha Stream. Large

tōtara ''Podocarpus totara'' (), commonly known as the , is a species of Podocarpus, podocarp tree endemism, endemic to New Zealand. It grows throughout the North Island, South Island and rarely on Stewart Island, Stewart Island / Rakiura in lowland, ...

trees can be found here, with some estimated to be 800 years old. Adjacent to the Fernhill Escarpment is a forested area owned by

Massey University Massey University () is a Public university, public research university in New Zealand that provides internal and distance education. The university has campuses in Auckland, Palmerston North, and Wellington. Data from Universities New Zealand ...

. This was formerly home to the Royal Albany Trail, a private cycle trail in use by the public from 2004 until 2018, when it was closed by the university.

Transport

The Albany busway station connecting to the Northern Busway was opened in 2005.

Education

Albany Primary School is a contributing primary (years 1–6) school with a roll of .

Kristin School Kristin School is a private school, private co-educational composite school located in Albany, North Shore, New Zealand, North Shore, New Zealand. Kristin is an IB World School with approximately students. The school was established in 1973 by ...

is an independent composite school offering the International Baccalaureate. It has a roll of . Pinehurst School is a private composite (years 1–13) school offering the Cambridge Assessment Examination with a roll of . Albany Junior High School at Rosedale was opened in 2005, and has a roll of . Albany Senior High School opened in 2009 for year 11–13 students. Due to delays in completing the Senior campus, the Senior High School initially shared the Albany Junior High School site. There was controversy about cost overruns when Albany Senior High school was under construction in 2008. The new building opened in 2009 to serve 1400 students. It has a roll of . All schools are

coeducational Mixed-sex education, also known as mixed-gender education, co-education, or coeducation (abbreviated to co-ed or coed), is a system of education where males and females are educated together. Whereas single-sex education was more common up to ...

. The rolls are as of Albany contains the northern campus of

Massey University Massey University () is a Public university, public research university in New Zealand that provides internal and distance education. The university has campuses in Auckland, Palmerston North, and Wellington. Data from Universities New Zealand ...

. It offers 70 majors plus specialised programmes including Mathematics and Information Sciences, Fundamental Sciences, Food Technology, Engineering, Design, Jazz, Social Sciences, Business, Philosophy and Education. The school has three areas: East Precinct off State Highway 17; Oteha Rohe, off the Albany Highway; Albany Village Precinct off Kell Drive and State Highway 17, where the Schools of Engineering, Design and Psychology are. It has a campus shuttle bus between the three campuses leaving every 40 to 45 minutes. There are bus routes to Albany. The former Centrepoint commune was converted into a research centre for natural medicine, offering courses in

aromatherapy Aromatherapy is a practice based on the use of aromatic materials, including essential oils and other aroma compounds, with claims for improving psychological well-being. It is used as a complementary therapy or as a form of alternative medic ...

,

nutrition Nutrition is the biochemistry, biochemical and physiology, physiological process by which an organism uses food and water to support its life. The intake of these substances provides organisms with nutrients (divided into Macronutrient, macro- ...

,

naturopathy Naturopathy, or naturopathic medicine, is a form of alternative medicine. A wide array of practices branded as "natural", "non-invasive", or promoting "self-healing" are employed by its practitioners, who are known as naturopaths. Difficult ...

,

herbalism Herbal medicine (also called herbalism, phytomedicine or phytotherapy) is the study of pharmacognosy and the use of medicinal plants, which are a basis of traditional medicine. Scientific evidence for the effectiveness of many herbal treatments ...

,

yoga Yoga (UK: , US: ; 'yoga' ; ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines that originated with its own philosophy in ancient India, aimed at controlling body and mind to attain various salvation goals, as pra ...

and

ayurvedic Ayurveda (; ) is an alternative medicine system with historical roots in the Indian subcontinent. It is heavily practised throughout India and Nepal, where as much as 80% of the population report using ayurveda. The theory and practice of ayur ...

medicine.

References

Bibliography

* * * *

External links

Photographs of Albany
held in Auckland Libraries' heritage collections. {{Subject bar, auto=y, d=y Suburbs of Auckland North Shore, New Zealand Populated places around the Waitematā Harbour Populated places established in the 1840s

Etymologies

Geography

Climate

History

Māori history

Early European settlement: kauri logging and gum digging

Fruit growing and rural Albany

Suburbanisation

Intense development

Local government

Demographics

Parks

Transport

Education

References

Bibliography

Further reading

External links