Somerfield, New Zealand

Somerfield is a suburb in the south of Christchurch, New Zealand. It is nominally bordered by the Ōpāwaho / Heathcote River to the south and west, Strickland and Colombo Streets to the east, and Milton Street to the north. The suburb includes Somerfield School, Somerfield Park and a small number of shops which service the local area, although it is predominantly residential. Somerfield is also known for its wide variety of trees, especially along the banks of the Ōpāwaho / Heathcote River.

Somerfield
Suburb
Somerfield Park
Somerfield
Somerfield
Coordinates: 43°33′43.34″S 172°37′26.26″E
CountryNew Zealand
Local authorityChristchurch
Electoral wardCashmere[1]
Area
 • Land241 ha (596 acres)
Population
 (2018)[2]
 • Total6,783
Barrington Spreydon Sydenham
Hillmorton
Somerfield
 Beckenham
Hoon Hay Cashmere

Etymology

Edward Bishop, an early Mayor of Christchurch, was born at Somerfield House in Maidstone, Kent, England in 1811. He came to Christchurch on the Charlotte Jane with all his siblings, and together with his youngest brother Frederick Augustus Bishop (1818–1894) bought land south of Christchurch along the Ōpāwaho / Heathcote River. They called their farm Somerfield, after their birthplace,[3] and they appear on both the 1853 jury list and electoral roll as living there.[4][5] Somerfield has since been adopted for the name of the suburb in that part of Christchurch.[3] The 17-hectare (42-acre) property was in 1864 owned by Richard Packer,[6] who in turn passed it on to his son Henry William Packer (1831–1890).[3]

References
  1. "Wards, Councillors and Community Boards map". ccc.govt.nz. Christchurch City Council. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  2. The population and area are the sum of the population and area in statistical areas of Somerfield East and Somerfield West
  3. Harper, Margaret. "Christchurch Place Names: N-Z" (PDF). Christchurch City Libraries. pp. 59–61. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
  4. "Jury List". Lyttelton Times. III (146). 22 October 1853. p. 4. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
  5. "Electoral Roll for the District of Christchurch". Lyttelton Times. III (132). 16 July 1853. p. 8. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
  6. "Page 6 Advertisements Column 3". The Press. IV (448). 6 April 1864. p. 6. Retrieved 27 April 2013.


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