Brooklands, Taranaki
Encyclopedia
Brooklands is a suburb of New Plymouth
, in the Taranaki region of the western North Island
of New Zealand
. It is located on the southern edge of the city and east of Vogeltown
. The area is named after Brooklands farm, established in 1842.
. In 1957, its natural amphitheatre and lake were converted into the Bowl of Brooklands, recognised as one of New Zealand's finest outdoor concert venues. The Bowl plays host to many international acts and is the venue for the New Zealand edition of the WOMAD festival.
The park includes a children's zoo, opened in 1965 and operated by the District Council. A former colonial hospital building built in 1847 was moved to the Brooklands estate in 1904. Named "The Gables" it is New Zealand's oldest surviving hospital building, and functions as a gallery for the Taranaki Arts Society.
The world's only Lawn Bowls Museum is located in Brooklands. It was established in 1980 and has more than 8000 exhibits.
New Plymouth's main electricity distribution substation is in the Brooklands area.
, promoters of the New Plymouth settlement. The farmhouse was razed by fire in 1861 at the end of the First Taranaki War
, but its chimney still stands in Brooklands park today.
Between 1875 and 1880 there was an attempt to establish a vineyard in part of the Pukekura stream valley, but it was unsuccessful.
An area of 53 acres (21.5 hectares) became the property of prominent Taranaki businessman Newton King, and a mansion named Brooklands was built there in the first decade of the 20th century. When King died in 1927, he left the sum of £10,000 to the New Plymouth parks and reserves board. However, due to some failed business ventures prior to his death, the money was unavailable, and in 1934 the trustees of his estate gifted the property to the New Plymouth borough instead. Unable to find a use for the house, it was demolished in 1936.
The suburb expanded south to its current limits in the 1950s.
New Plymouth
New Plymouth is the major city of the Taranaki Region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after Plymouth, Devon, England, from where the first English settlers migrated....
, in the Taranaki region of the western North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It is located on the southern edge of the city and east of Vogeltown
Vogeltown, Taranaki
Vogeltown is a suburb of New Plymouth, in the western North Island of New Zealand. It is located to the southeast of the city centre and east of Frankleigh Park. The suburb was named after Sir Julius Vogel, Prime Minister of New Zealand in the 1870s....
. The area is named after Brooklands farm, established in 1842.
Features
A large part of Brooklands is parkland, with Brooklands Park adjoining the New Plymouth racecourse and Pukekura ParkPukekura Park
thumb|right|The main lake at Pukekura, with Poet's Bridge and [[Mount Taranaki/Egmont|Mount Taranaki]] in the backgroundPukekura Park is a Garden of National Significance, covering 52ha near the heart of New Plymouth, Taranaki in New Zealand....
. In 1957, its natural amphitheatre and lake were converted into the Bowl of Brooklands, recognised as one of New Zealand's finest outdoor concert venues. The Bowl plays host to many international acts and is the venue for the New Zealand edition of the WOMAD festival.
The park includes a children's zoo, opened in 1965 and operated by the District Council. A former colonial hospital building built in 1847 was moved to the Brooklands estate in 1904. Named "The Gables" it is New Zealand's oldest surviving hospital building, and functions as a gallery for the Taranaki Arts Society.
The world's only Lawn Bowls Museum is located in Brooklands. It was established in 1980 and has more than 8000 exhibits.
New Plymouth's main electricity distribution substation is in the Brooklands area.
History
Captain Henry King established Brooklands farm in 1842, as a model farm for the New Zealand CompanyNew Zealand Company
The New Zealand Company originated in London in 1837 as the New Zealand Association with the aim of promoting the "systematic" colonisation of New Zealand. The association, and later the company, intended to follow the colonising principles of Edward Gibbon Wakefield, who envisaged the creation of...
, promoters of the New Plymouth settlement. The farmhouse was razed by fire in 1861 at the end of the First Taranaki War
First Taranaki War
The First Taranaki War was an armed conflict over land ownership and sovereignty that took place between Māori and the New Zealand Government in the Taranaki district of New Zealand's North Island from March 1860 to March 1861....
, but its chimney still stands in Brooklands park today.
Between 1875 and 1880 there was an attempt to establish a vineyard in part of the Pukekura stream valley, but it was unsuccessful.
An area of 53 acres (21.5 hectares) became the property of prominent Taranaki businessman Newton King, and a mansion named Brooklands was built there in the first decade of the 20th century. When King died in 1927, he left the sum of £10,000 to the New Plymouth parks and reserves board. However, due to some failed business ventures prior to his death, the money was unavailable, and in 1934 the trustees of his estate gifted the property to the New Plymouth borough instead. Unable to find a use for the house, it was demolished in 1936.
The suburb expanded south to its current limits in the 1950s.
Education
- St Pius X School is a coeducational contributing primary (years 1-6) school with a roll of 108 St Pius X is a state integrated Catholic school. and has a decile ratingSocio-Economic DecileDecile, Socio-Economic Decile or Socio-Economic Decile Band is a widely used measure in education in New Zealand used to target funding and support to more needy schools....
of 8. - Highlands Intermediate School is a coeducational intermediate (years 7-8) school with a roll of 684. It has a decile rating of 7 and was founded in 1955. Facilities include a hockey turf. The uniform consists of a polo shirt, sweatshirt and then for girls a chioce of culottes or a skirt and boys wear shorts.