Belmont, Auckland

The first references to Belmont on the North Shore date from the mid-1880s.{{cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18841114.2.43 |via=Papers Past|title=Auckland Suburbs. |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |volume=XXI |issue=7175 |date=14 November 1884 |page=6}}{{cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18850130.2.39.3 |via=Papers Past|title=Page 8 Advertisements Column 3 |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |volume=XXII |issue=7239 |date=30 January 1885 |page=8}} The likely origin of the name (which means "Beautiful Mountain" in French) is that it is a reference to Reverend Roberts' property on Roberts Avenue. The property included a racing stable, which he named after Belmont Park racing track in New York.{{LINZ |id=350 |name=Belmont |access-date=14 December 2023}}{{sfn|Bartlett, Jean|2001|pp=95}} Roberts held Sunday school services at his home, which the local Presbyterian church continued to use for the Sunday school after a church building had been constructed in 1910.{{sfn|Bartlett, Jean|2001|pp=95}} Alternatively Belmont may be a reference to Belmont Heim, the home of the Bull family.{{LINZ |id=350 |name=Belmont |access-date=14 December 2023}}

Belmont is an isthmus on the Devonport Peninsula of the North Shore, located between Shoal Bay and the Rangitoto Channel of the Hauraki Gulf. The suburb is bordered by Hauraki to the north, Bayswater to the southwest and Narrow Neck to the southeast. Saint Leonards Beach is located north of the suburb.{{LINZ |id=39280 |name=Saint Leonards Beach |access-date=14 December 2023}}

The North Shore is primarily uplifted Waitemata Group sandstone, that was deposited on the sea floor during the Early Miocene, between 22 and 16 million years ago.{{cite report|url=https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/arts-culture-heritage/heritage/heritagesurveys/north-shore-heritage-thematic-review-volume-1.pdf |title=North Shore Heritage - Thematic Review Report Volume 1 |author=Heritage Consultancy Services |publisher=Auckland Council |date=1 July 2011 |isbn=978-1-927169-21-6 |access-date=18 April 2024}} Prior to human settlement, much of Belmont was a kauri-dominated northern broadleaf podocarp forest, with Pōhutukawa trees being a major feature of the coastline.{{cite report|title=The Māori Archaeology of Te Raki Paewhenua/North Shore|first=Dave|last=Veart|publisher=Auckland North Community and Development|year=2018|isbn=978-0-9941358-4-1|page=7-11}}

{{main|North Shore, New Zealand#History}}

Māori settlement of the Auckland Region began around the 13th or 14th centuries.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/about-auckland-council/how-auckland-council-works/local-boards/all-local-boards/puketapapa-local-board/docsheritagestudies/waikowhai-coast-heritage-study.pdf |title=Waikōwhai Coast Heritage Study |first1=Elizabeth |last1=Pishief |first2=Brendan |last2=Shirley|date=August 2015|publisher=Auckland Council|access-date=14 February 2023}}{{cite report|url=https://nzta.govt.nz/assets/projects/penlink/docs/penlink-cultural-and-environmental-context-cultural-environmental-design-framework.pdf |title=Penlink Cultural & Environmental Design Framework: Penlink Cultural and Environmental Context |author=Boffa Miskell |publisher=Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency |access-date=4 July 2023}} The Devonport-Takapuna area was one of the earliest settled in the region, known to be settled by the Tāmaki Māori ancestor Peretū. Toi-te-huatahi and his followers settled and interwed with these early peoples.{{Cite web|author1=Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki |author2=The Trustees of the Ngāi Tai Ki Tāmaki Trust |author3=The Crown|date=7 November 2015|title=Deed of Settlement Schedule Documents|url=https://www.govt.nz/assets/Documents/OTS/Ngai-Tai-ki-Tamaki/Ngai-Tai-ki-Tamaki-Documents-Schedule-Nov-2015.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=31 October 2021|website=NZ Government|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213154038/https://www.govt.nz/assets/Documents/OTS/Ngai-Tai-ki-Tamaki/Ngai-Tai-ki-Tamaki-Documents-Schedule-Nov-2015.pdf |archive-date=13 February 2020}}

Two traditional names are associated with Belmont. {{Lang|mi|Wai-o-Roka}}, the small tidal inlet of Shoal Bay that separates Belmont from Hauraki, and {{Lang|mi|Takawhenua}} ("The Fall of the Land"), a place located along the cliffs of the northern shores of the suburb.{{cite q|Q58677091}}

File:Earnscliff House in the 1890s.jpg

The Belmont area was purchased by the Crown on 13 April 1841 as a part of the Mahurangi Block.{{sfn|Bartlett, Jean|2001|pp=19-22}}{{sfn|McClure, Margaret|1987|pp=14}}{{sfn|Christmas, Judith|1983|pp=8}} The first European farmers arrived in the wider area in the late 1840s.{{sfn|Verran, David|2010|pp=33}} In 1859, a brickworks was established in the suburb on the Shoal Bay coast,{{sfn|Verran, David|2010|pp=91}} and by the 1860s the area between Belmont and O'Neills Point had become important locations where kauri gum diggers could uncover the resource.{{cite report|url=https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/arts-culture-heritage/heritage/heritagesurveys/north-shore-heritage-thematic-review-volume-1.pdf |title=North Shore Heritage - Thematic Review Report Volume 1 |author=Heritage Consultancy Services |publisher=Auckland Council |date=1 July 2011 |isbn=978-1-927169-21-6 |access-date=18 April 2024}}

By the late 1880s, Takapuna had developed into a destination for tourists, and large summer residences were constructed in the area. One of these residences was Earnscliffe, a Victorian eclectic manor constructed in 1882 for journalist Charles Robert Williamson.{{cite report|url=https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/UnitaryPlanDocuments/02-pc82-reviews-devonport-takapuna-local-board-part-2.pdf |first=Rebecca|last=Freeman|title=EARNSCLIFFE - ID 01143 |publisher=Auckland Council |access-date=20 December 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/31431 |title=Earnscliff House. |publisher=Auckland Libraries |access-date=20 December 2023}} Sections of Belmont (which covered modern Belmont and Hauraki

File:Aerial view of Belmont.jpg

In 1910, a private tramway was established, which conveyed passengers from Milford to the ferry at Bayswater. The plan was a success, leading to rapid suburban development in Takapuna and Belmont.{{cite report|url=https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/arts-culture-heritage/heritage/heritagesurveys/north-shore-heritage-thematic-review-volume-2.1.pdf

|title=North Shore Heritage - Thematic Review Report |author=Heritage Consultancy Services |publisher=Auckland Council |date=1 July 2011 |access-date=15 December 2023}} The tramway soon became unpopular due to competition,{{cite web|url=https://milford.org.nz/site/webpages/general/history-of-milford |title=History of Milford |publisher=Milford Residents Association |access-date=19 December 2023}} and closed 17 years later on 26 April 1927.{{cite book|title=The End of the Penny Section: When Trams Ruled the Streets of New Zealand|first=Graham|last=Stewart|year=1973|publisher=Grantham House|location=Wellington|isbn=1-86934-037-X|pages=95–96, 204}}

A Presbyterian church called St Margaret's Church was constructed in May 1910. Belmont Primary School was established in June 1912, first operating from the St Margaret's church hall, until a purpose-build school was opened in 1913. In 1927, Takapuna Grammar School was opened in Belmont.{{cite book|title=The First Fifty Years: Takapuna Grammar School 1927-1977 |last1=Minogue |first1=W. J. D.|last2=Hutton |first2=Mary O.|last3=Armstrong|first3=R. A.|last4=Titchener |first4=I. P. |publisher= Takapuna Grammar School Jubilee Yearbook Committee 1977}}

During the 1950s, the New Zealand Government constructed housing for the staff of Devonport Naval Base at Belmont and Bayswater. In 1952, Belmont Intermediate School was constructed adjacent to Takapuna Grammar, and in 1960 St Luke's Catholic church was built.

In 1992, a performing arts theatre called the Rose Centre was founded in Belmont.{{cite web|url=https://www.rosecentre.co.nz/the-history-2/ |title=The History |website=The Rose Centre |access-date=20 December 2023}} Originally founded as a partnership between Belmont School and the Company Theatre, the venue has a 110 seat theatre, pre-school facilities and community meeting rooms.{{cite web|url=https://devonportflagstaff.co.nz/a-rose-centre-by-any-other-name/|title=A Rose Centre by any other name?|publisher=The Flagstaff|accessdate=22 May 2023}}

In the early 2020s, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei developed Oneoneroa, a housing development on the coast of Shoal Bay in Belmont.{{cite news|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/real-estate/129712678/buying-offtheplan-is-not-an-option-for-the-next-stage-of-ngti-whtua-rkeis-housing-development |title=Buying off-the-plan is not an option for the next stage of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei's housing development |first=Miriam |last=Bell |date=6 September 2022 |access-date=20 December 2023}}

Belmont covers {{Convert|1.15|km2||abbr=on}}{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised)|access-date=6 January 2025}} and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Belmont (Auckland)|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Belmont (Auckland)|y}}|R}}/1.15|0}} people per km².

{{Historical populations|2006|2,808|2013|2,946|2018|3,027|2023|3,012|percentages=pagr|align=left|source={{NZ census 2018|Belmont (Auckland) (129300)|belmont-auckland|Belmont (Auckland)}}}}

Belmont had a population of 3,012 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 15 people (−0.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 66 people (2.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,440 males, 1,557 females and 15 people of other genders in 1,104 dwellings.{{cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_005&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.129300.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses}} 3.2% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 38.0 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 609 people (20.2%) aged under 15 years, 573 (19.0%) aged 15 to 29, 1,386 (46.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 441 (14.6%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 72.0% European (Pākehā); 7.3% Māori; 4.6% Pasifika; 22.2% Asian; 3.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 0.9% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 94.2%, Māori language by 1.6%, Samoan by 0.6%, and other languages by 25.7%. No language could be spoken by 2.1% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.2%. The percentage of people born overseas was 40.7, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 28.8% Christian, 1.3% Hindu, 0.6% Islam, 0.1% Māori religious beliefs, 1.2% Buddhist, 0.3% New Age, 0.6% Jewish, and 0.8% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 60.4%, and 5.9% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 951 (39.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 993 (41.3%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 453 (18.9%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $50,100, compared with $41,500 nationally. 534 people (22.2%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,248 (51.9%) people were employed full-time, 309 (12.9%) were part-time, and 75 (3.1%) were unemployed.{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.129300.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Belmont (Auckland) (129300)}}

• Northboro Reserve, a nature reserve and park in western Belmont, along the shoes of Shoal Bay.{{cite web|url=https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/parks-recreation/Pages/park-details.aspx?Location=844 |title=Northboro Reserve |website=Auckland Council |access-date=20 December 2023}} The reserve is a part of the Takapuna to Devonport Path, a walking and cycling route,{{cite web|url=https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/parks-recreation/get-outdoors/aklpaths/Pages/path-detail.aspx?ItemId=145 |title=Takapuna to Devonport Path|website=Auckland Council |access-date=20 December 2023}} The path includes the Bayswater Bridge which connects to Bayswater in the south, which replaced a narrow bridge over a pipeway in 2013.{{cite web|url=https://www.bikeauckland.org.nz/new-bayswater-bridge-pure-delight-after-a-long-wait/ |title=New Bayswater Bridge – pure delight after a long wait! |date=19 September 2013 |website=Bike Auckland |access-date=20 December 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bikeauckland.org.nz/cyclists-letting-the-team-down-on-new-bayswater-bridge-and-path/ |title=Cyclists Letting the Team Down on New Bayswater Bridge and Path |date=6 March 2013 |website=Bike Auckland |access-date=20 December 2023}}
• George Gair Lookout, a clifftop lookout behind Takapuna Grammar School
• Belmont Baptist Church, located on Lake Road in Belmont
• St Margaret's Church, a Presbyterian church constructed in May 1910.
• The Rose Centre, a community performing arts centre, which features a community park adjacent to the centre.

File:Takapuna_Grammar_School.jpg

Takapuna Grammar School is a secondary (years 9–13) school with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|36|y}} students.{{TKI|36|Takapuna Grammar School}} The adjacent Belmont Intermediate is an intermediate (years 7–8) school with a roll of 518.{{TKI|1225|Belmont Intermediate}}

Belmont School is a contributing primary (years 1–6) school with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|1226|y}}.{{TKI|1226|Belmont School}} It was founded in 1912 and moved to its current siate in 1913.{{cite news|url=https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/akldpeople/id/139311|title=Steam tram to Belmont School|publisher=North Shore Times Advertiser|date=11 April 1978|page=30|access-date=18 April 2024}}

Wilson School is a special school for students with intellectual or physical disabilities.{{cite web|url=https://www.ero.govt.nz/review-reports/wilson-school-04-10-2018/|title=Education Review Report: Wilson School|publisher=Education Review Office|date=4 October 2018}} It has a roll of {{NZ school roll data|1574|y}} students.{{TKI|1574|Wilson School}} It was previously called the Wilson Home.{{cite web|url=https://wilsonhometrust.org.nz/about-us/our-history/|title=The Wilson Home Trust's History|publisher=The Wilson Home Trust|accessdate=7 July 2020}}

All these schools are co-educational. Rolls are as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|y||.}}

• Corrella — New Zealand roots reggae band who formed on Corrella Road, Belmont{{Cite web|url=https://nzmusic.org.nz/news/artist/nzs-corrella-drop-fun-and-powerful-debut-album-roa/ |title=NZ’s Corrella drop fun and powerful debut album - ROAD FROM 26|website=New Zealand Music Commission|date=26 May 2023|access-date=5 January 2024}}

The first local government in the area was the Lake Highway District, also known as the Takapuna Highway District, which began operating 1867. In June 1889 the road board was dissolved, in favour of Takapuna being under the direct control of the Waitemata County Council. The Borough of Takapuna was established on 1 July 1913, after 73% of electors in Takapuna voted for independence from the Waitemata County, which included Belmont.{{sfn|Bartlett, Jean|2001|pp=51}}

After significant growth in population, Takapuna Borough became Takapuna City in 1961. In 1989, Takapuna City was merged into the North Shore City.{{cite web|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/auckland-places/page-5|first=Margaret |last=McClure|title=Auckland places - The North Shore |website=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |date=6 December 2007 |access-date=13 November 2023}} North Shore City was amalgamated into Auckland Council in November 2010.{{Cite journal| doi = 10.26686/pq.v11i4.4572| issn = 2324-1101| volume = 11| issue = 4| last = Blakeley| first = Roger| title = The planning framework for Auckland 'super city': an insider's view| journal = Policy Quarterly| date = 2015| doi-access = free}}

Within the Auckland Council, Belmont is a part of the Devonport-Takapuna local government area governed by the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board. It is a part of the North Shore ward, which elects two councillors to the Auckland Council.

{{Reflist}}{{sfn whitelist|CITEREFChristmas, Judith1983}}{{sfn whitelist|CITEREFVerran, David2010}}{{sfn whitelist|CITEREFMcClure, Margaret1987}}{{sfn whitelist|CITEREFBartlett, Jean2001}}

• {{cite q|Q123755661}}
• {{cite q|Q123591383}}
• {{cite q|Q120679112|author1=McClure, Margaret|date=1987}}
• {{cite q|Q120520385}}

• [https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/search/searchterm/Belmont/field/title/ Photographs of Belmont] held in Auckland Libraries' heritage collections.

{{Devonport-Takapuna Local Board Area}}

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Category:Suburbs of Auckland

Category:North Shore, New Zealand

Category:Populated places around the Hauraki Gulf

Category:Populated places around the Waitematā Harbour