The suburb takes its name from the three Bishop brothers, James (1826–1910), Robert (1827–1909) and William (1829–1903), who bought land in the area in 1858 or 1859 and established pipfruit orchards. Initially, the area was called "Bishopsdale", but the second 's' was dropped from the name.[3][4] Part of Greers Road (the section between Harewood Road and Sawyers Arms Road) was formerly called Bishop's Road.[5] It was renamed in 1948 to avoid confusion with Bishops Road in Papanui and Bishop Street in St Albans.[4]
Much of the residental housing dates from the 1960s and decades following, and use either brick or wood, single-storey designs. The area boasts a lot of parks and recreational areas, and a small shopping mall.
Demographics
Bishopdale, comprising the statistical areas of Bishopdale North, Bishopdale West and Bishopdale South, covers 3.20 km2 (1.24 sq mi).[1] It had an estimated population of 9,850 as of June 2024, with a population density of 3,078 people per km2.
Bishopdale had a population of 9,306 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 249 people (2.7%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 354 people (4.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 3,504 households, comprising 4,569 males and 4,734 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.97 males per female, with 1,788 people (19.2%) aged under 15 years, 1,839 (19.8%) aged 15 to 29, 4,092 (44.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,590 (17.1%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 79.8% European/Pākehā, 8.9% Māori, 4.3% Pasifika, 13.1% Asian, and 2.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 22.9, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 49.9% had no religion, 38.3% were Christian, 0.3% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.8% were Hindu, 0.9% were Muslim, 1.0% were Buddhist and 1.9% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 1,575 (20.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 1,425 (19.0%) people had no formal qualifications. 1,122 people (14.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 3,795 (50.5%) people were employed full-time, 1,116 (14.8%) were part-time, and 249 (3.3%) were unemployed.[6]
Bishopdale Village Mall was established in Bishopdale in the 1960s.[10] Bishopdale Mall was designed in the 1960s as a planned centre by the Ministry of Works, built around a central, pedestrianised and open air shopping area.[11] One of the first major tenants was a Farmers Co-operative store.[12] The mall provided supermarket, doctor, post office, and general retail services to the growing suburb.
Breens Intermediate is an intermediate school catering for years 7 to 8.[14] It has a roll of 177. The school, initially named Fendalton Intermediate, opened in 1976.[15]: 21
Bishopdale School, Cotswold School and Isleworth School are contributing primary schools catering for years 1 to 6.[16][17][18] They have rolls of 177, 532 and 237, respectively. Bishopdale School opened in 1957,[15]: 19 Cotswold in 1968[15]: 48 and Isleworth in 1962.[15]: 86
Emmanuel Christian School is a state-integrated interdenominational school for years 1 to 10.[19] It has a roll of 267.
All these schools are coeducational, and all except Emmanuel Christian School are state schools. Rolls are as of August 2024.[20]
Margaret Mahy has set her book The Changeover in Bishopdale; it is called Gardendale in that popular book, and production of a film of the same name began in 2016.[22]
^Harper, Margaret (July 2011). "Christchurch Place Names"(PDF). Christchurch City Libraries. p. 25. Retrieved 30 September 2011. The family bought land on an accommodation road (later Bishop's Road) near Harewood Road. They planted pipfruit orchards there. The name Bishopdale was first used with the establishment of Bishopdale School which was built on the old Bishop property. The name became official when the Ministry of Works named the Bishopdale Shopping Centre.
^ abReed, A. W. (2010). Peter Dowling (ed.). Place Names of New Zealand. Rosedale, North Shore: Raupo. p. 49. ISBN978-0-14-320410-7.
