Frankton, Hamilton#Industry

Frankton covers {{Convert|5.22|km2||abbr=on}}{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Statistical Area 3 2023 (generalised)|access-date=11 April 2025}} and had an estimated population of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Swarbrick|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Kahikatea|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Frankton Junction|y}}|R}}|0}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|({{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Swarbrick|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Kahikatea|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Frankton Junction|y}}|R}})/5.22|0}} people per km².

{{Historical populations|2006|4,788|2013|5,670|2018|7,041|2023|7,314|percentages=pagr|align=left|source={{NZ census 2018|Swarbrick (178700), Kahikatea (178800) and Frankton Junction (178900)}}|footnote=The 2006 population is for a smaller area of 4.83 km².}}

File:Frankton_Hotel,_Commerce_Street.jpg

Frankton had a population of 7,314 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 273 people (3.9%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 1,644 people (29.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 3,609 males, 3,669 females and 36 people of other genders in 2,739 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%2Bdo1.52760%2B178701%2B178800%2B178901.2023&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}} 3.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 30.9 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 1,566 people (21.4%) aged under 15 years, 1,935 (26.5%) aged 15 to 29, 3,138 (42.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 675 (9.2%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 51.5% European (Pākehā); 36.3% Māori; 9.3% Pasifika; 22.4% Asian; 1.7% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.9% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 93.5%, Māori language by 9.8%, Samoan by 1.5%, and other languages by 16.8%. No language could be spoken by 3.4% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 26.6, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 30.3% Christian, 4.4% Hindu, 2.9% Islam, 2.6% Māori religious beliefs, 1.1% Buddhist, 0.6% New Age, and 4.3% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 47.4%, and 6.8% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 1,272 (22.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 2,976 (51.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 1,497 (26.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $42,300, compared with $41,500 nationally. 261 people (4.5%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 3,171 (55.2%) people were employed full-time, 564 (9.8%) were part-time, and 309 (5.4%) 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%2Bib7%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.52760.2013%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=Frankton (Hamilton City) (52760)}}

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File:Weka_St,_Railway_Village,_Frankton.jpg

Frankton is the location of Hamilton's main passenger railway station. The station is sited at the junction of the North Island Main Trunk line (NIMT) and the East Coast Main Trunk line, but passenger services on the East Coast line were discontinued and only the twice a day, Te Huia and the six days a week, Auckland and Wellington, Northern Explorer passenger trains stop.{{Cite web |date=20 October 2023 |title=New services added to Te Huia timetable |url=https://www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/community/whats-happening/news/media-releases/new-services-added-to-te-huia-timetable/ |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=www.waikatoregion.govt.nz}} The station was formerly called Frankton Junction, a very important railway station,{{Cite web |last=Oliver |first=Stacey |date=2015-10-13 |title=Frankton is the Cinderella of Hamilton |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/life-style/72710463/frankton-is-the-cinderella-of-hamilton |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=Stuff |language=en}} and included the now-closed Frankton Tea Rooms, where passenger trains without dining cars would stop to allow passengers to purchase food and drinks. Many workshops and railway workers homes were in the area west of the railway.{{Cite web |last=Lines-MacKenzie |first=Jo |date=2021-02-26 |title=Opening the door on Frankton's Railway Village |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/123497539/opening-the-door-on-franktons-railway-village |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=Stuff |language=en}}

The main street of Frankton, Commerce Street, and the streets surrounding it, form one of Hamilton City's largest suburban non-mall shopping areas. The area is dominated by the well-known, locally owned department store, Forlongs Furnishings of Frankton, established in 1946. In 2015 it closed, but reopened in 2016 in part of the store, as a furniture shop in Rawhiti Street{{Cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/80628746/forlongs-reopens-under-new-ownership-in-hamilton-as-a-smaller-store |title=Forlongs reopens under new ownership in Hamilton as a smaller store |last=Wilkie |first=Kelsey |date=2 June 2016 |website=Stuff |language=en|access-date=12 April 2018}} and further expanded back into part of its Commerce Street store in 2018.{{Cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/99314262/closed-forlongs-department-store-rents-out-half-its-frankton-retail-spaces |title=Closed Forlongs department store rents out half its Frankton retail spaces |last=Davis |first=Gill |date=29 November 2017 |website=Stuff |language=en |access-date=13 April 2018}}

Four hotels once stood near the railway station. Two were to the west in Colombo Street{{Cite web|url=https://natlib.govt.nz/records/35708006|title=Charles Lafferty's Junction and Grand Hotels, Frankton Junction|date=1923-01-01|website=National Library of New Zealand|language=en|access-date=2020-03-24}} and two on the other side of the line on High St.

Frankton Hotel remains on the corner of Commerce and High Streets. It was built in 1929 as a 35-room hotel{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19290401.2.90|title=NEW FRANKTON HOTEL. NEW ZEALAND HERALD|date=1 April 1929|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2020-03-24}} to a design by Jack Chitty{{Cite web|url=https://heritageequip.govt.nz/funding-your-project/heritage-equip-funding/funded-projects/frankton-hotel-hamilton|title=Funded project: Frankton Hotel|website=Heritage EQUIP|language=en|access-date=2020-03-24}} and is listed as a category 2 historic place.{{Cite web|url=https://www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/details/4211|title=Frankton Hotel|website=www.heritage.org.nz|access-date=2020-03-24}} An earlier hotel was moved about {{Convert|75|ft||abbr=on}} by horses to make way for the current building.{{Cite web|url=http://www.franktonhotel.co.nz/history|title=Frankton Hotel|website=www.franktonhotel.co.nz|access-date=2020-03-24}} During the move, the bar was in a temporary shed.{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT19290904.2.21|title=LOCAL AND GENERAL. WAIKATO TIMES|date=15 June 1929|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2020-03-24}}

The New Empire Hotel was on the corner of Empire and High Streets. It was renovated in 1974, the original Empire Hotel having been built in February 1913.{{Cite web|url=https://heritage.hamiltonlibraries.co.nz/objects/1712/new-empire-hotel|title=New Empire Hotel|website=Hamilton Libraries Heritage Collection Online|language=en|access-date=2020-03-24}} In 1995 it was burnt down by an arsonist, killing six residents.{{Cite web|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/ephemera/46568/empire-hotel-fire-1995|title=Empire Hotel fire, 1995|website=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |language=en|access-date=2020-03-24}} In 1946 the Grand Hotel on Colombo St had also burnt down.{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NA19460103.2.7|title=Frankton Hotel Destroyed By Fire NORTHERN ADVOCATE|date=3 Jan 1946|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2020-03-24}}

Frankton has long been one of Hamilton's industrial centres.{{Cite web|url=https://haveyoursay.hamilton.govt.nz/city-planning/frankton-neighbourhood-plan/supporting_documents/Frankton%20Plan%20booklet%20for%20citizenspace.pdf|title=The Frankton Neighbourhood Plan|date=2014|website=Hamilton City Council}} In addition to the Railway House Factory, another major employer was a factory on a {{Convert|3.4|ha|abbr=on}} site, beside the railway, on the corner of Massey and Lincoln streets, specializing in brawn, sausages and polonies{{Cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hamilton-news/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503366&objectid=11509527|title=Hutton's history ready to be written|work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=2017-07-06|language=en-NZ}} from 1901{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WAIGUS19011023.2.8|title=WAIKATO BACON COMPANY'S FACTORY. (Waikato Argus, 1901-10-23)|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz National Library of New Zealand|language=en|access-date=2017-07-06}} to 2014. Pigs were slaughtered there from 1911 to 1999. It had a railway siding from 1912 until the 1990s. The factory had several owners, including Waikato Farmers' Bacon Co,{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MT19260610.2.86.2|title=A BACON VENTURE (Manawatu Times, 1926-06-10)|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz National Library of New Zealand|language=en|access-date=2017-07-06}} W.Dimock & Co Ltd{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT19160909.2.36|title=AMALGAMATED BACON COMPANIES (Waikato Times, 1916-09-09)|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz National Library of New Zealand|language=en|access-date=2017-07-06}} and J.C.Hutton Australia from 1926 to 1986. Hutton's then merged with Kiwi Bacon Co to become Hutton's Kiwi. In 2007 Goodman Fielder were warned for misleading labels, as some of its pork was imported.{{Cite web|url=http://www.comcom.govt.nz/the-commission/media-centre/media-releases/2007/companieswarnedoverbaconandhamlabe|title=Companies warned over bacon and ham labelling {{!}} Commerce Commission|website=www.comcom.govt.nz|access-date=2017-07-06|archive-date=4 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204002317/https://www.comcom.govt.nz/the-commission/media-centre/media-releases/2007/companieswarnedoverbaconandhamlabe|url-status=dead}} In 2014 they sold their meat brands to Hellers and 125 staff lost their jobs.{{Cite web|url=http://www.firstunion.org.nz/content/gates-closed-hutton-workers|title=Gates closed on Hutton workers|website=www.firstunion.org.nz|access-date=2017-07-06|archive-date=6 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406190936/http://www.firstunion.org.nz/content/gates-closed-hutton-workers|url-status=dead}}

Frankton had dairy factories from 1894{{Cite web|title=Frankton Butter Factory|url=https://heritage.hamiltonlibraries.co.nz/objects/140/frankton-butter-factory|access-date=2021-07-03|website=Hamilton Libraries Heritage Collection Online|language=en}} and still has a cool store in the former dairy and bacon factories.{{Cite web|title=Cool Storage Express|url=https://coolstorageexpress.co.nz/our-company/|url-status=|access-date=2021-07-03|language=en-NZ}}

File:Swarbrick_Park.jpg

Swarbrick Park was formed when {{Convert|17|acre}} were acquired from Frankton School in 1936.{{Cite web |date=11 November 1936 |title=Park at Frankton. Waikato Times |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT19361111.2.33 |access-date=2024-10-13 |website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}} It was formerly the Rifle Range Reserve{{Cite web |date=1927 |title=Hamilton Borough map |url=https://natlib.govt.nz/records/31864040 |access-date=2024-10-13 |website=natlib.govt.nz}} and has 5 sports fields, used by Frankton Rugby Club, and 3 astroturf cricket pitches.{{Cite web |title=Swarbrick Park |url=https://hamilton.govt.nz/parks-recreation-and-community-spaces/sports-parks/detail/swarbrick-park/ |access-date=2024-10-13 |website=Hamilton City Council |language=en-US}}

Frankton Railway Combined Sports Club, in the railway model village, was built in 1923, with bowling, cricket, croquet and tennis grounds.{{Cite web |date=22 October 1923 |title=Railway sports club. Auckland Star |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19231022.2.125 |access-date=2024-10-13 |website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}} It was formally opened in 1925.{{Cite web |date=24 October 1925 |title=Happy railwaymen. New Zealand Herald |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19251024.2.91 |access-date=2024-10-13 |website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}

The New Zealand leg of the Australian V8 Supercars centred on Hamilton Street Circuit in and around Frankton, yearly from April 2008 to 2012.

File:Frankton_Tornado,_August_1948_(20737069362).jpg

Three people were killed, seven victims were badly injured and damage to property was heavy after a tornado swept across Hamilton from the north-west shortly before midday on Wednesday 25 August 1948.[http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~sooty/franktontornado.html NZ Disasters and Tragedies]

The tornado, which appears to have originated in the Frankton or Forest Lake area, went through the business area of Frankton then over the hill into Hamilton West where it passed between Hamilton Lake and Victoria Street (the main street). Then, it travelled across the Waikato River to Hamilton East where damage occurred in Wellington, Naylor and Grey streets.

Buildings were lifted off their piles, chimneys were snapped off, houses were unroofed, trees uprooted, and power and telephone lines were left hanging in the streets. The air was filled with flying corrugated iron, branches of trees, timber and other debris. Heavy rain accompanied the storm and overhead lightning flashed and thunder boomed. The storm passed quickly and was succeeded by a strange calm.

Rhode Street School is a full primary school for years 1 to 8 with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|1924|y}} students.{{TKI|1924|Rhode Street School}} It was established in 1959.{{cite web|url=https://sites.google.com/rhodestreet.school.nz/rhodestreet/home|title=Rhode Street School|publisher=Rhode Street School|access-date=22 October 2020}}

Frankton School is a contributing primary school for years 1 to 6 with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|1721|y}} students.{{TKI|1721|Frankton School}} Frankton School opened in 1911{{Cite web|url=https://www.franktonschool.ac.nz/3/pages/47-history-of-frankton-school|title=History of Frankton School|publisher=Frankton School|access-date=17 October 2020}}

Both schools are coeducational. Rolls are as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|y||.}}

{{commons category|Frankton, Hamilton}}

• List of streets in Hamilton
• Suburbs of Hamilton, New Zealand
• [https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/Gov12_03Rail-fig-Gov12_03Rail063a.html Photo of Frankton Junction Station, early 1890s]
• [http://www.stcolumbas.school.nz/ St Columbas Catholic School, Hamilton, New Zealand]

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• [https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1923/I-II/1349 View of interior of housing factory 1923]

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Category:Populated places in Waikato

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