Merivale is a suburb of Christchurch

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...

, 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...

, north 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...

. Its boundaries are defined by Statistics New Zealand

Statistics New Zealand

Statistics New Zealand is the national statistical office of New Zealand.-Organisation:New Zealand's Minister of Statistics is Maurice Williamson who serves as a member of the New Zealand House of Representatives and holds several other posts within government...

 as being Heaton Street to the north, Papanui Road to the east, Harper and Bealey Avenues to the south and Rossall Sreet to the west, although Real Estate advertising often will claim residences outside this area, especially St Albans

St Albans, New Zealand

St Albans is one of Christchurch, New Zealand's largest suburbs. It is a short walk from the central city. To the east of St Albans is Shirley and to the west is Fendalton...

 to the east of Papanui Road, as being Merivale due to the perceived desirability of the area.

Early history

Charlotte Jackson of Rugby

Rugby, Warwickshire

Rugby is a market town in Warwickshire, England, located on the River Avon. The town has a population of 61,988 making it the second largest town in the county...

 arrived in 1851 for her two rural sections which went from Merivale Lane to Aikmans Road and from Papanui Road to Boundary Road. She named the 100 acre (0.404686 km²) block Merevale. Her brother-in-law, the Rev. Thomas Jackson, was the vicar of Merevale

Merevale

Merevale is a Village and Civil Parish in the North Warwickshire district of the county of Warwickshire in England. Located about one and a half miles west of Atherstone, it is the site of a medieval Cistercian Abbey and Merevale Hall, .-Merevale Abbey:An abbey was built in Merevale in 1148 by...

, near Atherstone

Atherstone

Atherstone is a town in Warwickshire, England. The town is located near the northernmost tip of Warwickshire, close to the border with Staffordshire and Leicestershire and is the administrative headquarters of the borough of North Warwickshire.-History:...

 in Warwickshire

Warwickshire

Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...

. Charlotte Jackson later sold the sections. In December 1859 she sold the northern 50 acres (202,343 m²) to Capt. T. H. Withers of Deptford

Deptford

Deptford is a district of south London, England, located on the south bank of the River Thames. It is named after a ford of the River Ravensbourne, and from the mid 16th century to the late 19th was home to Deptford Dockyard, the first of the Royal Navy Dockyards.Deptford and the docks are...

, and in 1862 the southern 50 acres (202,343 m²) to William Sefton Moorhouse

William Sefton Moorhouse

William Sefton Moorhouse was a New Zealand politician. He was the second Superintendent of Canterbury Province.-Early life:...

. Moorhouse build a magnificent home on Merevale farm of which half still stands today on Naseby Street.

A hotel has stood at the intersection of Papanui Road and Bealey Avenue since 1865. Carlton Hotel

Carlton Hotel, Christchurch

The Carlton Hotel in Christchurch was an historic pub on the corner of Papanui Road and Bealey Avenue. Built in 1906 for the New Zealand International Exhibition, it was registered by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust as a Category II heritage building...

 was built in its place in 1906 in time for the New Zealand International Exhibition

International Exhibition (1906)

The New Zealand International Exhibition opened 1 November 1906 in Hagley Park, Christchurch, New Zealand. Nearly two million people visited the exhibition during the next few months. A branch railway line was built across North Hagley Park to service the exhibition...

. The hotel was demolished in April 2011.

Today

Merivale has retained much of the charm and graciousness of the early estates. There are still a few of the narrow streets and lanes and many of the original cottages have been restored. The Mall with supermarket, boutiques and upmarket shops is close to the city. The area is predominantly residential.

Rangi Ruru

Rangi Ruru

Rangi Ruru Girls' School is a school located in Christchurch, New Zealand for girls aged 11 to 18 .It is an independent day and boarding school in the inner suburb of Merivale, close to the central city, parks, museum and airport.-History:...

 is located in Merivale.
St Margaret's College is also located in Merivale.