Clifton, Christchurch

Suburb in Christchurch, New Zealand

Clifton
Suburb
Clifton (above the cliff) and Sumner Bay
Coordinates: 43°33′S 172°45′E / 43.550°S 172.750°E / -43.550; 172.750
Country	New Zealand
City	Christchurch
Local authority	Christchurch City Council
Electoral ward	Heathcote
Community board	Waihoro Spreydon-Cashmere-Heathcote
Area [1]
• Land	256 ha (633 acres)
Population  (June 2024)[2]
• Total	1,900

Moncks Bay	(Avon Heathcote Estuary)
Redcliffs	Clifton
	Port Hills	Sumner

Clifton is a hillside suburb above Sumner in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Clifton is a volcanic spur extending from Tauhinukorokio / Mount Pleasant.^[3] Most of Clifton was originally purchased by Dr Alfred Barker, who had applied for a 50 acres (20 ha) land grant from the Christchurch land office. Barker sold his land in 1872.^[4] The lower part of Clifton was undeveloped until 1903, when it was subdivided into 93 sections and put up for auction, as far up the hill as Tuawera Terrace, which was originally known as Victoria Terrace.^[5] The land further up the hill was subdivided in 1908.^[5]

A lower side spur, originally known as Lower Clifton, was bought in 1901 by Samuel Hurst Seager.^[6] Seager landscaped and divided the section into 12 plots and it was sold under the name The Spur in 1914.^[7] It has been known as the Spur since.^[6][8] This area is the main residential hill area above Sumner.^[9]

The ridge that Clifton lies upon, descends from Tauhinukorokio / Mount Pleasant to end in a coastal cliff at the western end of Sumner beach. The cliff overhangs the road between Sumner and Moncks Bay that has been built along the beach. This area by the beach is now known as Peacocks Gallop because John Thomas Peacock would gallop his horse when riding along this section of road on account of his fear of being hit by falling rocks. Earthquakes in 2011 and later in 2016 caused the cliff edge to collapse and recede so much that several clifftop houses were undermined and severely damaged, or left perched precariously on the cliff edge. Shipping containers were stacked two-high on the main road below to protect it from further rockfalls and these subsequently became an impromptu roadside art gallery.

The Clifton Hill statistical area, which also includes Moncks Bay, covers 2.56 km² (0.99 sq mi).^[1] It had an estimated population of 1,900 as of June 2024,^[2] with a population density of 742 people per km².

Clifton Hill had a population of 1,647 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 168 people (11.4%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 204 people (−11.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 624 households, comprising 807 males and 837 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.96 males per female. The median age was 47.3 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 276 people (16.8%) aged under 15 years, 222 (13.5%) aged 15 to 29, 810 (49.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 336 (20.4%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 96.2% European/Pākehā, 4.0% Māori, 0.4% Pasifika, 2.9% Asian, and 1.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 28.2, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 57.7% had no religion, 33.9% were Christian, 0.2% were Hindu, 0.4% were Buddhist and 2.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 624 (45.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 111 (8.1%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $47,900, compared with $31,800 nationally. 462 people (33.7%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 687 (50.1%) people were employed full-time, 270 (19.7%) were part-time, and 36 (2.6%) were unemployed.^[10]

• Ogilvie, Gordon (2009). The Port Hills of Christchurch (2nd ed.). Christchurch: Phillips & King Publishers. ISBN 978-0-9583315-6-2.