Seatoun
High cost seaside haven for families
Overview
One of Wellington’s most desirable suburban localities, Seatoun is set on a compact area of flat land with an enviable climate and waterfront position. Here you’ll find well-off families, business owners, together with a number of film industry staff. It’s not overtly ostentatious though, keeping a relaxed, holiday feel due to its position on the waterfront, and far enough from the glam of the central city
Best Suited To
Well off families, people who love a home that has a holiday setting.
Population Profile
Seatoun is a family-friendly area where statistics show above average numbers of young children and teenagers, and adults in the 35 plus age group. Typical of these suburban localities the age group that is less prevalent are the 18 to 34 year olds, who have escaped suburbia for the city lights.
Seatoun is European in its ethnic makeup at 87%, and is well educated, with many residents having bachelor or higher degrees. Locals work in varied fields but with strong, recent growth in the creative art sector (likely the result of film industry staff having a strong base here).
Incomes are well above average – 57% of households earn above $100,000 per annum (Wellington average 39%). Seatoun folk tend to be financially literate and many have their own business, reflected in census data that reveals 44% of the population earned income through self-employment and 53% earned income via investments, both figures well above Wellington averages.
Home ownership is also high at 76%, with 39% of these owning their homes outright, without mortgages.
Typical Homes
Initially settled in the late 1800s as a seaside holiday location and accessed primarily by boat (or a trek over the Miramar hill), completion of the Seatoun tunnel opened the area up for expansion from 1900 onward. Many homes date from the period 1900 to 1930. These range from modest bungalows to grander Arts and Crafts style homes.
The feeling remains relaxed, due we believe, to the seaside location. Fort Dorset army base was closed here in the early 2000s, with subsequent development of the vacant land into a mixture of single house sites and some higher density housing.
Amenities
Seatoun has a small village shopping centre in Dundas Street. Here you’ll find the usual amenities for a small suburb of this type including convenience stores, cafes, takeaways, a hair salon, fashion shop, bookshop and real estate agents.
Seatoun School is the main school in the area. Catering for years one to eight, the school has a nearly-new campus on land that was originally part of the army base. Other primary options include St Anthony’s (Catholic) and TKKM o Nga Mokopuna (Maori immersion). Secondary schools are located outside the suburb with some of the nearest options being Rongotai College (boys), St Catherine’s College Kilbirnie (Catholic girls), and those located in the central city.
Seatoun Park is centrally located, and often used as a sports playing field. A strong focus is on the waterfront where walking, fishing, swimming and windsurfing are popular activities. There are walking tracks set on higher land to the southern side of the suburb. These tracks go past a number of historical points-of-interest including World War Two gun battery emplacements and significant sites for early Maori occupation. Wellington’s Eastern Walkway runs just south of the suburb, set on higher ground that enjoys panoramic views, passing Beacon Hill Reserve and the Gallipoli memorial at Ataturk Park.
Real Estate Trends
Seatoun remains one of Wellington’s premium suburban localities. Land is scarce here as the suburb occupies a small area of flat land between hills and the coastline. The most desirable areas are those on the flat, close to the shopping village. Here the land itself, without a house, is worth at least three quarters of a million dollars. Large sites can attract prices well over a $1.5 million dollars.
Reasonable houses on average sized flat sites are typically $1.1 million to $1.4 million. Stretch a bit further and $1.5 million to $2 million will get you something where there’s not a lot that needs doing. Over $2 million and you’ll see larger homes on larger sites again.
Off the flat land and onto the hills, prices tend to be more affordable. Mantell Street to the southern end of the suburb is perhaps one of the most affordable portions of Seatoun, as the land here is steeper, terraced hillside.
Best Streets
Inglis Street, Ventnor Street and Marine Parade are among the most desirable streets here, the latter for its waterfront position.
House Prices
Well-presented, 3 bedroom bungalow, partly upgraded, from $1.2 million.
Larger, family home, upgraded and with generous site, from $1.6 million.
Travel Times
Central city – driving, 15 minutes non-peak, up to 30 minutes peak.
Airport – driving, 5 minutes non-peak.
Hutt Valley – driving, 20 minutes non-peak.
Weather
Seatoun is well known for having one of Wellington’s best climates. It is sheltered from the worst of the northerlies (it faces more north-east). The southerly is felt but there is shelter from the higher land on the southern side.