Ellerslie is a suburb (neighbourhood) of the city of Auckland in the North Island of New Zealand. It is seven kilometres to the southeast of the city centre, close to State Highway 1, and is surrounded by the suburbs of Remuera, Greenlane, St Johns, Oranga, Mt Wellington and Penrose. For other uses, see Auckland (disambiguation). ... North Island The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, the other being the South Island. ... The New Zealand State Highway Shield. ... Remuera is a suburban area within Auckland city, in the North Island of New Zealand. ... Greenlane is an Auckland suburb. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Oranga Community Centre. ... Mount Wellington may refer to either: Mount Wellington, New Zealand Mount Wellington, Tasmania Category: ... Penrose may refer to: Penrose, New Zealand, a suburb of Auckland Penrose, Philadelphia, a neighborhood in Philadelphia Penrose, Colorado, a town in the United States Lionel Penrose (1898-1972), English geneticist, father of Roger and Jonathan Penrose Roger Penrose (born 1931), English mathematical physicist, son of Lionel Penrose Jonathan Penrose...

A largely residential suburb, the area's best known feature is Auckland's main horse racing course, Ellerslie Racecourse. The racecourse is also the venue for Auckland's biggest car fair for used vehicles, every Sunday. Also situated in the racecourse is the Ellerslie Convention Centre, Novotel Hotel and Ibis Hotel. Horse-racing is an equestrian sporting activity which has been practiced over the centuries; the chariot races of Roman times were an early example, as was the contest of the steeds of the god Odin and the giant Hrungnir in Norse mythology. ... Ellerslie Racecourse is the main racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand for thoroughbred racehorses. ... Novotel Logo Novotel is one of a number of hotel chains owned by the French hotel group Accor. ... Ibis is an international hotel company, owned by Accor hotels. ...

Ellerslie is under the local governance of the Auckland City Council, with the current mayor being John Banks. The Ellerslie Town District was established in 1908. The Borough of Ellerslie was formally declared on 1 April 1938. In 1989 Ellerslie was amalgamated into Auckland City. Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest urban area in New Zealand. ... There have been several people named John Banks. ... is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ...

In the 2001 census Ellerslie has a population of 7,263.

History of Ellerslie

The suburb was named by early local politician and entrepreneur Robert Graham, after his father's home in Lancashire, England. Adjacent to his home, "Ellerslie House", was a track along which Mrs Graham was in the habit of riding her horse every morning, now a street called Ladies Mile. Robert Graham was a New Zealand politician. ... Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England, bounded to the west by the Irish Sea. ...

In 1873 construction of the railway from Auckland had reached the area. Possibly this was what induced Graham to develop part of his property as the "Ellerslie Gardens", a pleasure garden with flower beds, fountains, bandstand and dance pavilion. Although it was popular to a certain degree it failed to prosper. In 1886 much of the Graham farm was subdivided for housing but the landscaped grounds became the setting for the Racing Club, which remains located here to this day. The racecourse had its own railway station for racedays.

Next to Ellerslie Train Station developed a small township servicing not only the local residents but also the raceday crowds. As the 20th century progressed the surrounding rural land disappeared and the small town of Ellerslie became absorbed into the suburbs of Auckland. Ellerslie Train Station is on the Southern Line of the Auckland railway network. ...

Ellerslie shops are on Main Highway near where it intersects with the Great South Road. The construction in the 1960s of the Southern Motorway meant that Ellerslie was less easily accessible from nearby Greenlane, resulting in a downturn in trade, but the shops have continued as a centre for the local community.

Notable buildings in the area

• Christ Church 1883, a wooden gothic building in Ladies Mile. Its most significant feature is a full set of windows gifted to the congregation by the English firm of Clayton and Bell..

• Former Ellerslie Post Office 1909 John Campbell architect. Decommissioned in the 1980s.

• Former Southern Cross Picture Theatre 1925, converted into squash courts in the 1970s.

• Former Municipal Offices 1926, (corner of Ramsgate St and Main Highway).

• "Aborfield" (corner of Ramsgate St and Main Highway). A two-storey wooden Italianate house, the residence of Lieut. Col Charles Dawson (18th Royal Irish Regiment), Chairman of the Mount Wellington Road Board and Master of the Pakuranga Hunt.

John Campbell is the name of: John Campbell, 1st Earl of Loudoun (died 1933) John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll (1680–1743) John Campbell of Cawdor (1695–1777), minor British politician John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun (1705–1782), British general in North America John Campbell, 5th Duke of Argyll...

Events

In June 12, 2004 a 1.3 kg chondrite-type meteorite struck the house of Phil and Brenda Archer in Ellerslie causing serious damage but no injuries. The meteorite is 4,600 million years old and from the Asteroid Belt, a ring of space debris between the Mars and Jupiter. The meteorite destroyed part of the roof of the house and crashed in to the living room, also damaging a leather sofa. is the 163rd day of the year (164th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• Ellerslie Racecourse
• Ellerslie Flower Show

Ellerslie Racecourse is the main racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand for thoroughbred racehorses. ... Wildflowers surround a marquee at the 2005 Ellerslie Flower Show The Ellerslie Flower Show is an annual garden show held in November at the Auckland Botanic Gardens in Manukau, New Zealand. ...

References

• Ellerslie Town Heritage Walk, Ellerslie Business Association Mainstreet Programme 2005

External links

• Ellerslie, Auckland Online - [1]