Crofton Downs

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Crofton Downs is an inner suburb of Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. It is situated between Ngaio and Wadestown, above where the northern and southern branches of the Kaiwharawhara Stream join to flow down the Ngaio Gorge into the harbour.EtymologyCrofton Downs belonged to Ngaio and takes its name from a house built in the 1860s by then Premier, William Fox. The house was possibly named after his wife's birthplace. The street names in the suburb are a tribute to the life of former British prime minister Sir Winston Churchill.FacilitiesCrofton Downs contains a supermarket, pharmacy, petrol station, hardware store, veterinary clinic and the private Bowen Hospital.Bowen HospitalBowen Hospital is located on Churchill Drive on the south end of Crofton Downs. The hospital was originally situated in Bowen St opposite parliament in 1912. The old hospital was closed in 1965 and the modern location of the hospital was chosen. The hospital is owned and run by listed company Acurity Health Group Limited.EducationSchool enrollment zoneCrofton Downs is within the enrollment zones for Wellington Girls College, Onslow College, St Oran's College and Raroa Normal Intermediate.Primary schoolCrofton Downs Primary school is a decile 10 coeducational contributing state school catering to years 1 - 6. Formerly called Chartwell School, the school was opened in 1970. Its name was changed to Crofton Downs Primary school in 2008 as the surrounding area was more commonly referred to as Crofton Downs rather than Chartwell. The school has a roll of 178 children in 2014 and was one of the first joint venture school between the New Zealand and Japanese government.