Rosebank, Auckland Explained

Rosebank
Caption1:The suburb seen over the tidal flats surrounding it on most sides
City1:Auckland
Ward:Whau ward
Council:Auckland Council
Board:Whau Local Board
Area:237
Map:
Zoom:13

Rosebank (or the Rosebank Peninsula) is a peninsula and industrial suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It is the westernmost point of the Auckland isthmus. The peninsula runs from the southeast in a northerly direction, with the Whau River on its west. Pollen Island and Traherne Island lie nearby in the Waitematā Harbour to the north-eastern side of the peninsula. Traherne Island is connected to the peninsula by a causeway that is part of the Northwestern Motorway.

The Northwestern Motorway cuts across the top of the peninsula, with flyover ramps connecting at Rosebank Road and Patiki Road. The Northwestern Cycleway also runs across it, parallel to the motorway.

The suburb is a large employment area mainly composed of industrial (manufacturing, with some office) properties off Rosebank Road (with 813 businesses operating here in 2009).[1] There is one "open space" area, the Rosebank Park Domain in the northwest of the peninsula, almost solely used for go-karting and as a speedway (leased from Council).[1]

The Motu Manawa (Pollen Island) Marine Reserve covers all of the harbour adjacent to the north and east of the peninsula, including Pollen and Traherne Islands.

History

A number of archeological remains exist along the northern part of the peninsula, including old Maori middens, a tramway and remnants of a limeworks and early housing sites. However, most of these have been destroyed by development and past motorway construction.[1]

In 1852, Dr. Daniel Pollen opened the first brickworks in West Auckland, at Rosebank on the shores of the Whau River.[2] Pollen engaged with British potter James Wright to create the first commercial scale crockery kiln in New Zealand at the location.[2] Shells taken from the banks of Motumānawa / Pollen Island were processed at the brickworks, in order to create lime for the brick and concrete industries.[2]

Demographics

Rosebank Peninsula statistical area covers 2.37km2[3] and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.

Rosebank Peninsula had a population of 9 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 21 people (−70.0%) since the 2018 census, and a decrease of 6 people (−40.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 3 males and 6 females. The median age was 39.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally).

English was spoken by 100.0%. The percentage of people born overseas was 33.3, compared with 28.8% nationally.

The median income was $16,100, compared with $41,500 nationally.[4]

Sport

Rosebank Speedway is a motorcycle speedway venue located in the Rosebank Park Domain, on the Patiki Road.[5] [6] [7] The track is a significant venue for important speedway events and has held the final of the New Zealand Solo Championship in 2006, 2011, 2013, 2016 and 2019.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Waterview Connection - Assessment of Environmental Effects: Part C. August 2010. NZ Transport Agency. 8.10–8.12.
  2. Book: James. Northcote-Bade . West Auckland Remembers, Volume 2 . 1992 . West Auckland Historical Society . 0-473-01587-0 . The Brick and Pottery Industry in the Western Districts . John T. . Diamond . J. T. Diamond . 45, 47, 48.
  3. Web site: Stats NZ Geographic Data Service. Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). 5 January 2025.
  4. Web site: 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.128700.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001 Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses]. Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. 3 October 2024. Rosebank Peninsula (128700).
  5. Web site: Track Info . Sporty . 13 February 2024.
  6. Web site: Rosebank Speedway, Auckland . Speedway Racing New Zealand . 13 February 2024.
  7. Web site: Home . Welcome to Rosebank Motorcycle Speedway . 13 February 2024.
  8. Web site: Historyczne Zestawienie Wynikow 1929-2023 . Speedway History . 13 February 2024.