Strowan
Suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Strowan is an inner city suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand, located approximately 5 km north-west of Christchurch's central business district. It had a population of 3,705 at the 2013 census. It is located between the suburbs of Merivale, Papanui, Bryndwr, Fendalton, and St Albans.
Strowan | |
|---|---|
Strowan House, the administration building of St. Andrew's College | |
 Interactive map of Strowan | |
| Coordinates: 43°30′30″S 172°36′35″E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| City | Christchurch |
| Local authority | Christchurch City Council |
| Electoral ward | Fendalton |
| Community board | Waimāero Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood |
| Area | |
| • Land | 144 ha (360 acres) |
| Population (June 2025)[2] | |
• Total | 3,620 |
| • Density | 2,510/km2 (6,510/sq mi) |
| Hospitals | St George's |
| Papanui | ||
| Bryndwr |
  Strowan  |
St Albans |
| Fendalton | Merivale |
The area is predominantly residential, containing mostly parks and schools and few retail or commercial buildings. A small shopping centre exists at the intersection of Wairakei and Normans Roads, in the centre of the suburb. There is a private hospital located in the south-eastern corner of Strowan near the border of Merivale, called St. George's Hospital. The main train line north of Christchurch runs through the western part of the suburb - crossings exist on Blighs, Wairakei and Glandovey Roads.[3]
Most of the suburb's housing is large and expensive, with a generally older architecture than many newer areas of Christchurch. There was little earthquake damage in Strowan after the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.
St George's Hospital, opened in 1928 and now one of New Zealand's largest private hospitals, is at 249 Papanui Road.[4]
Demographics
Strowan covers 1.44 km2 (0.56 sq mi).[1] It had an estimated population of 3,620 as of June 2025,[2] with a population density of 2,514 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 3,645 | — |
| 2013 | 3,399 | −0.99% |
| 2018 | 3,507 | +0.63% |
| Source: [5] | ||
Strowan had a population of 3,507 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 108 people (3.2%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 138 people (−3.8%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,275 households, comprising 1,707 males and 1,803 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.95 males per female. The median age was 43.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 690 people (19.7%) aged under 15 years, 615 (17.5%) aged 15 to 29, 1,611 (45.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 594 (16.9%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 91.4% European/Pākehā, 6.9% Māori, 1.4% Pasifika, 5.8% Asian, and 1.7% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 20.7, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 48.8% had no religion, 44.3% were Christian, 0.2% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.1% were Hindu, 0.3% were Muslim, 0.7% were Buddhist and 1.6% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 1,026 (36.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 264 (9.4%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $40,000, compared with $31,800 nationally. 810 people (28.8%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,380 (49.0%) people were employed full-time, 483 (17.1%) were part-time, and 72 (2.6%) were unemployed.[5]
Education
Waimairi School is a contributing primary school catering for years 1 to 6.[6] It has a roll of 355. The school opened in 1914 as Blair's Road School and was renamed Waimairi School in 1920.[7]
Heaton Normal Intermediate is an intermediate school catering for years 7 to 8.[8] It has a roll of 525. Heaton was established as a boys' school in 1948, and became coeducational in 1953.[9]
St Andrew's College is a private Presbyterian composite school catering for years 1 to 13.[10] It has a roll of 1,599. It opened as a boys' school in 1917 and became coeducational in 1991.[11]
All these schools are coeducational. Rolls are as of October 2025.[12]
