Glendowie, New Zealand

Glendowie is located on the north-eastern extent of the Auckland isthmus. Its northern and eastern boundaries are defined by the Waitematā Harbour and the Tamaki Estuary.

The suburbs exhibit an affluent suburban residential character.

Historically, the area of Glendowie around Taylors Hill was a forest of mostly puriri trees.[3] The eastern edge of Glendowie bordering the Tāmaki River was called Tauoma, and was the Eastern edge of the area settled by Te Waiohua, the largest settlement of which was called Te Taurere (located at Taylors Hill).[3] Around 1750, Ngāti Whātua expanded their territory further into Tāmaki Makaurau, and gifted the land to Ngāti Pāoa in the late 1700s.[3][4]

The suburb of Glendowie was established in the 1920s, when George Riddell created a loop road through the area.[5] It takes its name from one of the much earlier Taylor Brothers' farm estates, Glen Dowie, owned by Richard James Taylor. Two of his brothers also had farms in this area and built houses,; Charles John Taylor at Glen Orchard (now St. Heliers) and William Innes Taylor at Glen Innes (gave its name to the suburb Glen Innes).[6] Their brother, Allen Kerr Taylor, lived near Mount Albert in a house called Alberton.[7]

Glendowie covers 4.05 km² (1.56 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 8,920 as of June 2022,[2] with a population density of 2,202 people per km².

Roberta Reserve in Glendowie

Glendowie had a population of 8,832 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 381 people (4.5%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 861 people (10.8%) since the 2006 census. There were 2,877 households, comprising 4,359 males and 4,476 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.97 males per female, with 1,932 people (21.9%) aged under 15 years, 1,515 (17.2%) aged 15 to 29, 3,987 (45.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,398 (15.8%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 81.0% European/Pākehā, 4.8% Māori, 3.7% Pacific peoples, 15.0% Asian, and 3.6% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 36.2, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 44.6% had no religion, 44.4% were Christian, 0.2% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.2% were Hindu, 1.4% were Muslim, 1.3% were Buddhist and 1.9% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 2,886 (41.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 576 (8.3%) people had no formal qualifications. 2,268 people (32.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 3,324 (48.2%) people were employed full-time, 1,149 (16.7%) were part-time, and 204 (3.0%) were unemployed.[8]

Glendowie College

Glendowie College is a secondary school (years 9–13) with a roll of 1151.[11]

Glendowie School (an IB World School), Churchill Park School and Glen Taylor School are full primary schools (years 1–8) with rolls of , 388 and 200 students, respectively.[12]

Sacred Heart College is a state-integrated Catholic boys' school (years 7–13) with a roll of 1286.[13]

Apart from Sacred Heart, all of these schools are co-educational. Rolls are as of April 2023.[14]

Glendowie has a tennis club, bowls club and taekwondo club, all located adjacent to Churchill Park. The Eastern Suburbs soccer club and Bayside Westhaven baseball clubs hold matches at Crossfield Reserve.

• Graeme Hart, businessman[15]
• Don Brash, former New Zealand leader of the opposition (National Party 2003–2006)[16]

• Delving into The Past Of Auckland's Eastern Suburbs; Section 6, St.Heliers, Elizabeth T. Jackson

• Photographs of Glendowie held in Auckland Libraries' heritage collections.