History

Albany once was a small country village surrounded by orchards, farms and strawberry fields.  Originally named Lucas Creek, after the creek that is at the head of the village, it was renamed Albany in 1890 after Queen Victoria’s son Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany.  The Maori name for the area is “Okahukura”, place of rainbows, or place of butterflies.

 

Location

Albany is located 15km north- west of central Auckland.  It is destined to become the central business destination for the North Shore, servicing not only the eastern beach suburbs but providing goods and services for the rural areas that stretch up into the Rodney District.  The east coast beaches are within short driving distances of Albany.  North and north-west of Albany are the rural communities of Dairy Flat, Paremoremo and Coatesville where there are many lifestyle blocks.

 

Albany Village

Kell Park is the site of the village still and until recently it hosted crowing roosters and chickens.  Although the chickens and roosters are gone the village retains the rooster as its official emblem.   Albany Village is now surrounded by  cafes, shops, a library, parks and reserves, a University, schools and a developing Mega Shopping Centre.  The Albany Village hosts a regular “Village Market” and has a focus on families, recreation and along with the arts.  Art in the Park is a popular annual event within the village.

Discover more about Albany Village.

Albany Shopping & Retail

The developing “Gateway Albany” Centre which includes the Westfield Mall will eventually  comprise of 30,000 square metres of office, bulk and convenience retail outlets.  This developing area is to be New Zealand’s largest shopping centre.  Included within this development is The Foundry.  This is a block of 585 apartments to be built in three stages and this will adjoin the central city area as will a retirement centre.More>

 

Demographics

The population of approximately 38,500 people is expected to grow to 55,000 by 2026.  Presently developers are building new homes to cater for the population growth.  The Albany Basin is less intensively developed than North Shore City overall, with 189 households per square kilometre, which reflects both its capacity for future residential development and the mixed-use character of the locality.  Compared to regional averages, the Albany population is better educated, has higher incomes, has more professional workers and fewer trade workers and has higher home ownership rates.  There has become a growing trend for Albany to attract migrants from overseas; currently 50% of residents in Albany were born overseas.  With the expanding retail and commercial sectors, it is hardly surprising.

Community

Robynne Pringle is the Albany Community Coordinator and is based at the newly established Albany House off the old Albany Highway.  Robynne is instrumental in establishing support networks to migrants into Albany city as well as co-ordinating a range of recreation and social events for the Albany community.   This is a separate entitity to the Albany Community Board who are responsible for major decisions in the running of Albany.For information on the Albany Community Board.  More>

 

Recreation

The North Harbour Stadium and Tennis Park are located within Albany.  There are a number of recreational reserves within the area including Kell Park.  Located between Albany and Mairangi Bay is the Millenium Centre, which caters for sports specialists with top of the range equipment and facilities.

North Harbour Stadium North Shore Golf Club

North Shore Events Centre North Shore Swim Club

 

 Residential Housing

The median sale price for houses is around the mid $600,000s with the median sale price for sections at around the mid $300,000s.  For an empty level studio apartment you will need to spend over $220,000.  Stand alond townhouses range from high $300,000s to early $500,000s whilst homes on freehold titles typically range from the mid $500,000s and up.  The developing subdivisions such as Oakvale, the Oaks and Harrowglen are seeing large two storey 4-6 bedroom homes being built on them with prices ranging from mid $700,000s to sometimes over $900,000.  Homes that are not so new are fetching prices of around high $500,000s to early $700,000s.

More about Albany homes for sale.

Country & Lifestyle Properties 

Lifestyle blocks are typically price up to $1,000,000 for a few acres with a home and over.  There are a wide range of lifestyle properties – you may buy a few acres of land with a house on it for $700- $900,000 or a more upmarket property for up to around $4,000,000.To find out more about lifestyle properties go to our Barfoot & Thompson site and enter in your search criteria.

 

Rental Properties

A new two bedroom apartment will typically cost around $350 per week to rent.  Rentals can range from early $300 per week for a 2 bedroom property to $600 – $800 for an executive home.  An average rental for a 3 to 4 bedroom home is $450 – $500 per week.Barfoot & Thompson rental properties.