Western Springs

By CHARLOTTE COSSAR

If any suburb in Auckland is ripe for the picking with regard to enhanced investment opportunities, an excellent central location, truly vibrant character homes and period villas and a population, which can only be described as cosmopolitan chic, then it is Western Springs.

This area of Auckland is easily the city's next most happening thing with its proximity to the trendiest cafes, ethnic eateries and boutique retail outlets along New North Rd and over the hill in Grey Lynn and Ponsonby. Character housing is in abundance, with villas dating back to the turn of the century as well as 1920s and 1930s bungalows and some fine solid examples of 1950s brick and tile dwellings. While many of these homes have been subject to renovations, there is still rare (for suburbs so close to the city) potential to buy historical houses in their raw state.

Then there is the large number of contemporary homes built - or being built - in the area. Although many of the houses are constructed on larger sections, especially for what is essentially an inner-city suburb, subdivision opportunities are scarce.

Lesley Hawes, an agent for Ray White, Mt Albert - who lives and works in Western Springs - is passionate about the area. During her 10 years as a resident, she has watched the suburb transform from an area with lots of rental properties and long-term owners to an affordable alternative to the inner-city suburbs of Ponsonby and Grey Lynn.

"It is now predominantly owner-occupied and has many younger professional couples who have initially bought into the Springs as first-home buyers. They love the convenience and community feel of the area so much that instead of moving on they have chosen to renovate and enlarge their present homes and start their families," she says.

"A decade ago you saw very few young families wheeling their pushchairs around the streets. Now that has all changed and young families are a regular sight."


For these families, the enchanting Western Springs Park is literally a stone's throw away. An entire Saturday or Sunday morning's entertainment for the children can be spent feeding the ducks, geese, water fowl, sea gulls and sparrows.

The free entertainment of the park is enough for many, but the ever-popular Auckland Zoo, MOTAT and the famous Western Springs Stadium also add to the suburb's many drawcards.

Quality shopping is nearby in the form of Westfield St Lukes, Newmarket and Lynn Mall, while the trendy specialist stores of Kingsland, Grey Lynn and Ponsonby are considered local.

Education is not a problem for locals, with the local primary schools gaining in popularity - especially Grey Lynn and Mt Albert. There is also the rapidly developing Western Springs College and Unitec as the tertiary education destination.