Cashmere, New Zealand
Encyclopedia
The suburb of Cashmere rises above the southern end of the city of Christchurch
in New Zealand
’s South Island
.
, immediately above the southern terminus of Christchurch’s main street, Colombo Street
. Five kilometres south of the city centre
, a commanding view of the city can be had from Victoria Park, at the upper end of the suburb. Above Victoria Park is Sugarloaf
, a 496 m peak, which is the location of the 119 m transmission tower for local radio and TV stations.
(Cashmere is an early British spelling of Kashmir). The house Wilson built for his Indian workers is today a function centre known as The Old Stone House.
Cashmere was voted the top suburb in a recent survey in the Christchurch Press due to its fabulous views over the city, sea, Southern Alps and Canterbury Plains.
and the Sign of the Kiwi
, are located in Cashmere. Both are Category I heritage buildings. Dame Ngaio Marsh
's former house in Valley Road is a museum run in her memory. It is registered by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust
as a Category I heritage item.
Schools include Cashmere Primary School and Cashmere High School
. Princess Margaret Hospital, built in 1959, was once thought to become the main hospital of Christchurch, but it was too far from the central city.
The Cashmere Club is home to many local sports groups including rugby, soccer, bowls, badminton, darts, squash and small bore rifle shooting.
The Canterbury Ring Laser facility is located in the Cracroft Caverns
, an underground bunker complex built during World War II
.
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
in 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...
’s South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
.
Geography
Cashmere is situated on the north side of the Port HillsPort Hills
The Port Hills form the northern rim of the ancient Lyttelton volcano, separating the port of Lyttelton from the city of Christchurch in Canterbury, New Zealand...
, immediately above the southern terminus of Christchurch’s main street, Colombo Street
Colombo Street
Colombo Street is a main road of the city of Christchurch, New Zealand. It runs south-north through the centre of Christchurch with a break at Cathedral Square. As with many other central Christchurch streets, it is named for a colonial Anglican bishopric, Colombo, in what at the time was known as...
. Five kilometres south of the city centre
Christchurch Central City
Christchurch Central City is the geographical centre and the heart of Christchurch, New Zealand. It is defined as the area within the four avenues and thus includes the densely built up central city, some less dense surrounding areas of residential, educational and industrial usage, and green...
, a commanding view of the city can be had from Victoria Park, at the upper end of the suburb. Above Victoria Park is Sugarloaf
Christchurch Sugarloaf
The Sugarloaf in Christchurch's Port Hills is a landmark to the south of the city. The Sugarloaf communications tower is an iconic transmission mast located on top of the hill.-Geography:...
, a 496 m peak, which is the location of the 119 m transmission tower for local radio and TV stations.
History
Cashmere takes its name from Sir John Cracroft Wilson's farm, which originally occupied the present suburb. Wilson was born in India and named his farm after KashmirKashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
(Cashmere is an early British spelling of Kashmir). The house Wilson built for his Indian workers is today a function centre known as The Old Stone House.
Cashmere was voted the top suburb in a recent survey in the Christchurch Press due to its fabulous views over the city, sea, Southern Alps and Canterbury Plains.
Buildings
Two of Harry Ell's rest houses, the Sign of the TakaheSign of the Takahe
The Sign of the Takahe is today a restaurant and function centre built in the style of an English Manor House. Designed by J. G. Collins, construction was carried out between 1918 and 1948...
and the Sign of the Kiwi
Sign of the Kiwi
The Sign of the Kiwi, originally called Toll House, is a small café and shop at Dyers Pass on the road between Christchurch and Governors Bay. It was built in 1916/1917 by Harry Ell as a staging post and opened as a tearoom and rest house...
, are located in Cashmere. Both are Category I heritage buildings. Dame Ngaio Marsh
Ngaio Marsh
Dame Ngaio Marsh DBE , born Edith Ngaio Marsh, was a New Zealand crime writer and theatre director. There is some uncertainty over her birth date as her father neglected to register her birth until 1900...
's former house in Valley Road is a museum run in her memory. It is registered by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust
New Zealand Historic Places Trust
The New Zealand Historic Places Trust is a non-profit trust that advocates for the protection of ancestral sites and heritage buildings in New Zealand...
as a Category I heritage item.
Schools include Cashmere Primary School and Cashmere High School
Cashmere High School
Cashmere High School is a large co-educational state secondary school in Christchurch, New Zealand. The 2008 roll was approximately 1800 making it the second-largest school in Christchurch, after Burnside High School.The School has a Conductive Education Unit....
. Princess Margaret Hospital, built in 1959, was once thought to become the main hospital of Christchurch, but it was too far from the central city.
The Cashmere Club is home to many local sports groups including rugby, soccer, bowls, badminton, darts, squash and small bore rifle shooting.
The Canterbury Ring Laser facility is located in the Cracroft Caverns
Cracroft Caverns
Cracroft Caverns, also known as the Cashmere Caverns, are a series of large chambers in the hill of the Cashmere suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand....
, an underground bunker complex built during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Notable residents
- John Cracroft Wilson (1808-1881), Member of Parliament
- Ngaio MarshNgaio MarshDame Ngaio Marsh DBE , born Edith Ngaio Marsh, was a New Zealand crime writer and theatre director. There is some uncertainty over her birth date as her father neglected to register her birth until 1900...
(1895–1982), world-renowned crime writer who lived in 37 Valley Road from 1907 until her death