Strathmore
A sunny suburb with diverse residents and property styles
Overview
Sought after for its fantastic sunny aspect and popular shopping village, Strathmore is one of Wellington’s most diverse housing neighbourhoods. Solid and dependable ex-state housing from the 1940s is hugely popular here, among first home buyers. Interspersed are a number of attractive (but expensive) Art Deco dwellings. Mixed in are streets which feature newer homes from the 1990s. To top it all off, a number of streets overlooking the airport are dominated by social housing. This is a suburb that is truly diverse in its housing styles, people and price levels.
Best Suited To
​First home buyers, sunshine lovers, airport workers.
Population Profile
Parents with young families are the mainstay here, with above average numbers in the 0-17, and the 35 to 49 age bracket. Typical of other outer suburbs, there is a shortage of 18-34 year olds, as they tend to move closer to the central city for social and work opportunities. Strathmore is ethnically diverse. Europeans make up 59% of the population, Maori 13%, Pacific 15% and Middle Eastern/Latin American/African 7%.
Typical Homes
Originally developed from about 1930 onward, Strathmore is home to New Zealand’s first state house, still there in Fife Lane (well, it’s technically in Miramar). Homes from the 1930s and 1940s predominate on the valley floor and lower slopes. There are a number of ornate, Art Deco homes in this part of the suburb, many now restored to their original glory.
State housing commenced on the valley floor but soon spread into the hills. Some of these were sold to private investors and first home buyers in the 1990s, thereafter restored and extended by their new owners. Sought after original features include native timber floors and window joinery.
Higher up and at the top of the hill, you’ll find newer homes developed in the 1990s. Some of these have suffered from weathertightness issues – a combination of faulty monolithic cladding and the exposed nature of the sites.
Social housing is set on the high terraces overlooking Miramar Golf Course. Here you can find entire streets of State built duplexes. However – and reflecting again the huge diversity here – a new street was created amoung the state housing, where you’ll find privately owned family homes, which can sell for a well over a million dollars.
Amenities
Strathmore has a thriving shopping village on Broadway, helped along by a number of long-term businesses and enthusiastic newcomers. Here you’ll find convenience stores, takeaways, a pharmacy, a couple of cafes, and barbershop.
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Kahurangi School is a relatively new school (established circa 2013), set on Strathmore Avenue and catering for years one to eight. Scots College is a long-standing, private boys’ primary school and college, catering for years one to 13. Other secondary school options are available in nearby Kilbirnie, or in the central city.
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Strathmore has a number of outdoor recreation opportunities either within, or close to the suburb boundaries. The Eastern walkway runs along undulating hillside to the east and southern portions of the suburb, and accessible from a number of adjoining streets. It offers various walking tracks with many enjoying spectacular views over the outer Wellington Harbour and Cook Strait. Some of the tracks link to the waterfront around Breaker Bay. Miramar Golf Course is set on land to the lower, western slopes of the suburb, adjoining the airport.
Real Estate Trends
Strathmore is a popular locality, for all prices brackets. Entry level ex-state houses hit the market here with reasonable regularity. Those that are original and needing full restoration can be picked up from about the $700,000 mark. However, at that price level you will probably be stuck with walk-on access and no off street parking.
Options for better presented, character homes, kick in closer to the $900,000 mark. Those wanting a larger family home on the flat, are likely to need at least $1 million. Renovated character homes in sought after streets close to the shopping village (Cavendish Square and Bentinck Avenue) will typically sell above $1.2 million.
If you’re looking for a newer home you could head uphill to the 1990s developments around Signallers Grove and Paratu Way. But keep an eye out for monolithic cladding and possible leaky homes in these areas.
Best Streets
Cavendish Square has a number of large character homes, many renovated and retaining larger sites, all enjoying a sunny northwest aspect.
House Prices
Small 1940s ex-state house, in need of renovation, from $700,000.
Well-presented character home, on the hill with views, from $900,000.
Larger family home, close to village shopping, from $1.1 million.
Travel Times
Central city – driving, 10 minutes non-peak, up to 25 minutes peak.
Airport – driving, five minutes non-peak.
Hutt Valley – driving, 20 minutes non-peak.
Weather
It will depend on where you are in the suburb. Lower down you’ll be more sheltered. This is another reason why the lower streets are more desirable and hence, more expensive. Higher up you’ll get a wider view, but you’ll get much more wind. All of Strathmore is particularly well orientated for afternoon and evening sun.