Cannabis Ruderalis

Shortland Street
Map
Length0.35 km (0.22 mi)
LocationAuckland CBD, New Zealand
Postal code1010
West endQueen Street
East endPrinces Street

Shortland Street was the initial commercial street of Auckland[1] and remains a key financial and legal centre for Auckland city.[2] It runs east from Queen Street up to Princes Street, providing a connection from the business district to the Auckland High Court and University of Auckland.

History[edit]

Shortland Street, initially called Shortland Crescent, was the initial main street of Auckland, built close to the shoreline of Commercial Bay (since reclaimed),[3] established and metalled by 1844.[4] Fore Street (now Fort Street) was built a block north on the shore of Commercial Bay in 1850.[3] The street was named for Willoughby Shortland, the first Colonial Secretary of New Zealand.[5][6]

Shortland Street was the earliest commercial hub of Auckland.[7][4] John Logan Campbell, David Nathan, and other early business figures in Auckland established their first stores on Shortland Street in the 1840s. The street was also ceremonially used as a way to visit Point Britomart (then a military camp), by figures such as Governor William Hobson.[5] In 1858, a major fire broke out on the street, destroying the wooden buildings in the area.[5]

By the 1860s, Queen Street had eclipsed Shortland Street as the primary commercial street for the township, after the land reclamation of Commercial Bay.[7][4] The street was home to the Auckland Star, one of the major newspapers for Auckland in the late 19th and 20th centuries, as well as the Auckland Club, a gentlemen's club.[5]

Soap opera Shortland Street was named for the street,[5] after it was originally planned to be filmed in a TVNZ-owned studio at 74 Shortland Street.

Demographics[edit]

The statistical area of Shortland Street, which includes Fort Street and the area between Lorne Street and Kitchener Street, covers 0.13 km2 (0.050 sq mi)[8] and had an estimated population of 2,020 as of June 2023,[9] with a population density of 15,538 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006816—    
20131,722+11.26%
20181,602−1.43%
Source: [10]

Shortland Street had a population of 1,602 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 120 people (−7.0%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 786 people (96.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,071 households, comprising 834 males and 768 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.09 males per female. The median age was 32.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 42 people (2.6%) aged under 15 years, 627 (39.1%) aged 15 to 29, 810 (50.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 120 (7.5%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 50.9% European/Pākehā, 3.7% Māori, 1.9% Pacific peoples, 40.4% Asian, and 8.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 68.7, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 57.5% had no religion, 24.3% were Christian, 3.4% were Hindu, 3.4% were Muslim, 3.0% were Buddhist and 2.8% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 819 (52.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 45 (2.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $43,600, compared with $31,800 nationally. 432 people (27.7%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 966 (61.9%) people were employed full-time, 180 (11.5%) were part-time, and 78 (5.0%) were unemployed.[10]

Notable locations[edit]

Auckland Star building c.1910
  • Blacketts Building, corner of Queen Street and Shortland Street, 1879, South British Insurance building.[11]
  • South British Insurance Company building, 5–13 Shortland Street, 1920s.[12]
  • Jean Batten Place Departmental Building, 12 Shortland Street, 1942. Government office/Post Office until 1989.[13]
  • Hotel DeBrett, 15–19 Shortland Street, 1860 but rebuilt 1920s, called the Commercial Hotel until 1959.[14]
  • Auckland Star building, 28 Shortland Street, c.1889–1989.[15]
  • General Buildings, 29–27 Shortland Street, 1928.[16]
  • Auckland Club, 34 Shortland Street, 1883–2010, gentleman's club.[17]
  • Vero Centre, 48 Shortland Street, 2000, 38-storey office tower.[18]
  • Kenneth Myers Centre, 74 Shortland Street, built 1934 as a broadcasting studio for 1YA, and later used by Television New Zealand.[19]
  • Shortland Flats, 93 Shortland Street, 1924, apartment building.[20]
  • Churton Memorial, corner of Shortland Street and Emily Place, 1909, memorial to Reverend John Churton, first minister of St Paul's Church.[21]

References[edit]

  1. ^ McClure, Margaret (5 August 2016). "Auckland places—Auckland central business district". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
  2. ^ "Land Yourself on Shortland". Bayleys. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Auckland's Original Shoreline Heritage Walk Brochure" (PDF). Auckland City. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  4. ^ a b c "The Early Days of Auckland". Heart of the City Auckland. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d e Haworth, Jenny (2016). Auckland Then and Now. United Kingdom: Pavilion Books. p. 16-17. ISBN 978-1-910904-79-4. Wikidata Q116870435.
  6. ^ Bush, G. W. A. (1971). Decently and in Order: The Centennial History of the Auckland City Council. Collins. p. 26.
  7. ^ a b Campbell, Dr Nerida; Truttman, Lisa; Auckland City Council; Ngāti Pāoa; Ngāti Whātua-o-Ōrākei. "Auckland's Original Shoreline" (PDF). Auckland Council. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  8. ^ "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  9. ^ "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  10. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Shortland Street (133700). 2018 Census place summary: Shortland Street
  11. ^ "Blackett's Building". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  12. ^ "South British Insurance Building (Former)". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  13. ^ "Jean Batten Place Departmental Building (Former)". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  14. ^ "Hotel DeBrett". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  15. ^ LaHatte, Deborah (9 May 2013). "Orphan Auckland CBD sites on the block". National Business Review.
  16. ^ "General Buildings (including Yorkshire House)". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  17. ^ Mace, William (24 September 2010). "All change for the Auckland Club". Stuff.
  18. ^ "Vero Centre". The Scyscraper Center. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  19. ^ "1YA Radio Station Building (Former)". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  20. ^ "Shortland Flats". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  21. ^ "Churton Memorial". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 20 July 2020.

36°50′47″S 174°46′00″E / 36.8465°S 174.7668°E / -36.8465; 174.7668

Leave a Reply