# Bishopdale, Christchurch

Bishopdale is a residential suburb located in the north of Christchurch, New Zealand.
Bishopdale lies close to Christchurch International Airport at Harewood and Christchurch's zoo, Orana Wildlife Park.

## History

The suburb takes its name from the three Bishop brothers, James (1826–1910), Robert (1827–1909) and William (1829–1903), who bought land in the area in 1858 or 1859 and established pipfruit orchards. Initially, the area was called "Bishopsdale", but the second 's' was dropped from the name. Part of Greers Road (the section between Harewood Road and Sawyers Arms Road) was formerly called Bishop's Road. It was renamed in 1948 to avoid confusion with Bishops Road in Papanui and Bishop Street in St Albans.
Much of the residental housing dates from the 1960s and decades following, and use either brick or wood, single-storey designs. The area boasts a lot of parks and recreational areas, and a small shopping mall.

## Demographics

Bishopdale, comprising the statistical areas of Bishopdale North, Bishopdale West and Bishopdale South, covers 3.20 km$^2$ (1.24 sq mi). It had an estimated population of 9,850 as of June 2024, with a population density of 3,078 people per km$^2$.
Bishopdale had a population of 9,306 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 249 people (2.7%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 354 people (4.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 3,504 households, comprising 4,569 males and 4,734 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.97 males per female, with 1,788 people (19.2%) aged under 15 years, 1,839 (19.8%) aged 15 to 29, 4,092 (44.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,590 (17.1%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 79.8% European/Pākehā, 8.9% Māori, 4.3% Pasifika, 13.1% Asian, and 2.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 22.9, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 49.9% had no religion, 38.3% were Christian, 0.3% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.8% were Hindu, 0.9% were Muslim, 1.0% were Buddhist and 1.9% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 1,575 (20.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 1,425 (19.0%) people had no formal qualifications. 1,122 people (14.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 3,795 (50.5%) people were employed full-time, 1,116 (14.8%) were part-time, and 249 (3.3%) were unemployed.
Individual statistical areas :
| Name | Area (km$^2$) | Population | Density (per km$^2$) | Households | Median age | Median income |
| Bishopdale North | 1.37 | 4,203 | 3,068 | 1,614 | 38.6 years | $35,200 |
| Bishopdale West | 1.13 | 2,862 | 2,533 | 1,086 | 37.3 years | $31,700 |
| Bishopdale South | 0.70 | 2,241 | 3,201 | 804 | 36.3 years | $30,200 |
| New Zealand | | | | | 37.4 years | $31,800 |

## Economy
### Retail

Bishopdale Village Mall was established in Bishopdale in the 1960s. Bishopdale Mall was designed in the 1960s as a planned centre by the Ministry of Works, built around a central, pedestrianised and open air shopping area. One of the first major tenants was a Farmers co-operative store. The mall provided supermarket, doctor, post office, and general retail services to the growing suburb.
Currently, it has 600 carparks and 80 retailers, including a New World supermarket.

## Education

Breens Intermediate is an intermediate school catering for years 7 to 8. It has a roll of 189. The school, initially named Fendalton Intermediate, opened in 1976.$^{:21}$
Bishopdale School, Cotswold School and Isleworth School are contributing primary schools catering for years 1 to 6. They have rolls of 189, 546 and 243, respectively. Bishopdale School opened in 1957,$^{:19}$ Cotswold in 1968$^{:48}$ and Isleworth in 1962.$^{:86}$
Emmanuel Christian School is a state-integrated interdenominational school for years 1 to 10. It has a roll of 268.
All these schools are coeducational, and all except Emmanuel Christian School are state schools. Rolls are as of November 2024.

## Religion

Bishopdale has a library and many churches, including Presbyterian, Jehovah's Witnesses and Catholic. Another place of worship in the suburb is a mosque located on Isleworth Road.

## In popular culture

Margaret Mahy has set her book The Changeover in Bishopdale; it is called Gardendale in that popular book, and production of a film of the same name began in 2016.