Wilton, New Zealand

Wilton is a small suburb in Wellington. It is best known for Otari-Wilton's Bush, a large reserve that is situated in the suburb. Otari-Wilton's bush is the only public botanic garden in New Zealand dedicated solely to native plants. It features 14 km of walking tracks and a 'canopy walkway'. The canopy walkway is a raised walkway that provides a unique chance to view life in, and from, the top level of trees such as mature tawa, rewarewa and hinau.

Wilton
Suburb
Playing cricket in Wilton
Playing cricket in Wilton
Coordinates: 41°16′05″S 174°45′25″E
CountryNew Zealand
CityWellington City
Local authorityWellington City Council
Electoral ward
Area
[1]
 • Land126 ha (311 acres)
Population
 (June 2022)[2]
 • Total2,190
Postcode(s)
6012
Crofton Downs
Wilton
 Wadestown, Thorndon
Northland Karori

History

Job Wilton was a sheep farmer; in 1861 he had a flock of 165 sheep, to be washed in the Kaiwharawhara Stream before shearing.[3] He subdivided his farm in 1915, but Wilton was semi-rural to the 1930s with little housing development until after World War II. A Sunday trip to Wilton's Bush and Chapman's Gardens (now the Otari Plant Museum) required walking from the Wadestown tram terminus. From 1944 a feeder bus ran from the terminus. A school opened in 1956. Wilton House in Blackbridge Road was built for Courtenay Place chemist Mr O'Connor and his sister in 1925.[4]

Demographics

Wilton statistical area covers 1.26 km2 (0.49 sq mi).[1] It had an estimated population of 2,190 as of June 2022,[2] with a population density of 1,738 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20062,034—    
20132,049+0.11%
20182,205+1.48%
Source: [5]

Wilton had a population of 2,205 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 156 people (7.6%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 171 people (8.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 876 households, comprising 1,059 males and 1,146 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.92 males per female. The median age was 38.5 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 387 people (17.6%) aged under 15 years, 474 (21.5%) aged 15 to 29, 1,062 (48.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 282 (12.8%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 83.9% European/Pākehā, 9.8% Māori, 5.0% Pasifika, 9.3% Asian, and 3.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 27.3, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 56.6% had no religion, 31.0% were Christian, 0.4% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.7% were Hindu, 1.8% were Muslim, 1.0% were Buddhist and 2.7% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 957 (52.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 90 (5.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $46,600, compared with $31,800 nationally. 600 people (33.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,041 (57.3%) people were employed full-time, 261 (14.4%) were part-time, and 72 (4.0%) were unemployed.[5]

Education

School enrollment zone

Wilton is within the enrollment zones for Wellington College, Wellington Girls' College, Wellington High School, Onslow College, St Oran's College and the Otari School.[6]

Primary schools

Otari School (Te Kura o Otari) is a state-funded full-primary school nestled next to the Otari-Wilton's Bush.[7] The school encompasses three teaching styles. Montessori, Māori Immersion and the standard New Zealand curriculum. It has a roll of 195 as of April 2023.[8]

Cardinal McKeefry Catholic Primary School (which opened in 1970, but has origins back to 1876) is a primary school for Year 1 to Year 8 (5 to 13 years old),[9] with a roll of 46 as of April 2023.[8]

Further reading
  • Bremner, Julie (1983). Wellington’s Northern Suburbs 1840-1918. Wellington: Millwood Press. ISBN 0-908582-59-5.
  • Bremner, Julie (1987). Wellington’s Northern Suburbs 1919-1945. Wellington: Millwood Press. ISBN 0-908582-80-3.

References
  1. "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  2. "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  3. Bremner 1983, p. 28.
  4. Bremner 1987, pp. 22, 36, 67.
  5. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Wilton (250100). 2018 Census place summary: Wilton
  6. "eLearning Schools Search". Ministry of Education.
  7. Education Counts: Otari School
  8. "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  9. Education Counts: Cardinal McKeefry School
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