Kingston
Dependable and affordable central homes from the 60s and 70s
Overview
If you’re seeking maximum affordability but want to be close to central Wellington, Kingston could be for you. Developed in the 1960s the area features typical, Kiwi weatherboard homes, together with a number of budget-built blocks of flats. Kingston appeals to first home buyers for the affordability factor, and to young renters for its handy location to the city. Even though services are somewhat lacking, there is the opportunity to get yourself a well-proportioned home for a fraction of the price you would pay in nearby Brooklyn.
Best Suited To
First home buyers wanting to remain close to the city.
Population Profile
Babies and pre-schoolers, the young workforce, and young parents abound here. There are noticeably fewer secondary students and those of tertiary education/independence age. This suggests that the suburb is popular with first home buyers and families with very young children. People appear to leave the area once their children reach school age. This is likely tied to limited school zoning in the locality, and people ‘moving up’ to more preferred suburbs.
The suburb is ethnically diverse with a strong Asian presence at 19% of the population. The area is attractive to first home buyers because it is close to central Wellington, but significantly more affordable than other near-city alternatives such as Brooklyn, Newtown, and Aro Valley.
Typical Homes
First developed in the 1960s, the dominant building style is the detached three bedroom house, most likely with a weatherboard exterior – the kind of house that was built everywhere in New Zealand during this period. These houses were generally well built and often contain native timber (rimu, matai, tawa) floors and joinery.
The 1970s saw further housing growth, with some added architectural flair, and these homes can be seen in the best streets. Kingston also saw the construction of small blocks of units in this same period. Containing anywhere from two to ten units, these are usually owned by investors and let to young people who work in the city or southern suburbs.
Amenities
Shopping amenities in Kingston are sparse, which is one of the reasons people move to better serviced localities. A small group of shops on Quebec Street includes a superette and takeaway store.
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Ridgeway School is the nearest primary school, located a short distance to the north of the suburb. The school has approximately 200 students and covers years 1 to 8. The school is not zoned; many of its students come from the surrounding suburbs of Brooklyn, Kingston, Mornington and Vogeltown. Secondary schools are all located within the city or surrounding suburbs, the closest likely to be Wellington High School in Mt Cook.
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The City to Sea Walkway passes through Kingston. This portion of the walkway runs along a ridgeline and enjoys wide views in many directions, including an outlook over Cook Strait. Berhampore Golf Course is set on the eastern slopes below Kingston. This challenging hillside course occupies part of the Wellington Town Belt.
Real Estate Trends
Kingston remains a popular locality for those looking for well-proportioned family homes at affordable prices. Recent sales show a trend for medium sized family homes to sell in the $750,000 to $950,000 price bracket. Better homes which sell at higher prices will often have views east over Berhampore, or south toward the Cook Strait.
There are a number of townhouses and flats in the locality. The more basic of these, compact one or two bedroom flats, have sold in the range $350,000 to $600,000.
Best Streets
Kingston Heights Road and the small cul-de-sacs that branch off (Ontario Street, Laurent Place, Stormont Place) enjoy the best views here.
House Prices
Average two bedroom flat or unit, attached to others, from 400,000.
Three bedroom, single level house, no views, from $750,000.
Large home partly or fully renovated, water views, from $1 million.
Travel Times
Central city – driving 5-10 minutes non-peak, up to 20 minutes peak.
Airport – driving 20 minutes non-peak.
Hutt Valley – driving 25 minutes non-peak.
Weather
Houses on the hilltops and ridgelines are very exposed to weather in all directions. It’s the price you pay for a nice view. Houses on the southern side of Quebec Street tend to be sheltered from the northerlies and enjoy views over Cook Strait, but they are exposed to the ferocious Wellington southerly, when it hits. Houses on the western side of the suburb are perhaps best placed for sunlight and shelter.