Flagstaff
Discover a suburb with modern, brick and stucco homes that are new to 25 years old. Flagstaff is close to the Rototuna and Flagstaff Shopping Centres and the Westfield Shopping Mall in Chartwell, plus a variety of local restaurants, cafes and bars.
The area has numerous parklands, along with sporting facilities (namely gyms and golfing parks). There are also plans for a new community hub with sports fields, a pool and a library in the works.
History
The Flagstaff area traces its history back to the 1860s when the land was confiscated after the Waikato Wars. Soldiers from the Fourth Waikato Regiment were given 50-acre packets of land across the area. The rugged and swampy terrain made access and farming difficult, which led to many land packets being abandoned after a few years.
Early settlers living in the area used to meet supply boats at the bottom of Sylvester Road. A flagstaff was used to signal to the settlers that the riverboat was approaching and the hill it was on became known as Flagstaff Hill.
Sitting on the outskirts of Hamilton, the area remained a farming community for the next 100 years. When the Housing Corporation acquired the land for a subdivision of new homes in 1987, it was named Flagstaff. Flagstaff was the first subdivision of its type, planned along a total community concept mixing state rental housing with sections sold to private home builders.
The 90s saw major developments in the area, which have continued to modern times. Today, Flagstaff is one of Hamilton’s fastest-growing suburbs with the addition of developments such as St Petersburg, Eton Estate and The Meadows.
Key attractions and notable landmarks
Completed in 1996, the Pukete Bridge marks the entrance to the area from the south.
Primarily a residential suburb, the closeness of the community is the biggest draw card for Flagstaff. Modern sub-divisional planning, the consistency of housing, and the ability to build your own dream home are what attracts Hamiltonians here.
Real estate and design
Modern brick or stucco and tile homes both in single and double storey are typical of the area. The natural geographical features of the gullies and Waikato River have seen larger luxurious homes built along their banks. Real Estate in the Flagstaff area has seen a surge in building numbers and the number grows every day.
Shopping and amenities
The Flagstaff Shopping Centre on the River Road / Endeavour Ave round-a-bout offers a variety of convenience shops including a bakery, liquor store, pharmacy, hairdresser, gym as well as your local Lodge Real Estate Flagstaff branch.
The Chartwell Shopping Centre with its combination of 80 shopping and supermarkets is only a short drive away, as is the ever-expanding Rototuna Shopping Centre.
Local medical centres:
Restaurants and cafes
Café Olive in the Flagstaff Shopping Centre is a local favourite and provides a taste of the Mediterranean. The Flagstaff Café & Sports Bar, often referred to by its former name of ‘Flaggies’, provides locals beverages, coffee and bistro style meals.
Further north, you’ll also find Archies Coffee & Kitchen.
Approximately 3kms away in Chartwell’s Lynden Court complex, Smith and McKenzie Chophouse provides a tribute to the old New York steakhouse.
Sports and Recreation
Joggers can cross the Pukete Bridge or footbridge and enjoy a pleasant riverbank on the Waikato River walk trail. Flagstaff Park offers a children’s playground and plenty of room to kick a ball, while Discovery Park has soccer and cricket fields and Grosvenor Park also caters for soccer.
Eastern Suburbs Rugby Club hosts rugby, lacrosse and netball for all ages. The Peak also has netball and basketball courts, badminton courts and volleyball courts for hire.
For golfing enthusiasts, there is a 9-hole pitch and putt in Callum Brae along with mini golf for the kids, while Horsham Downs Golf Club is also close by.
The Rototuna Village is also taking shape, a new community hub complete with a library, playground, sports fields and, potentially, a swimming pool.
New sports parks are also currently being built in the area.
Local sports clubs and facilities:
Schools and education
Local schools*:
- Te Ao Mārama School (Year 1-6)
- Endeavour School (Year 1-6)
- Te Rapa School (Year 1-8)
- Waikato Waldorf School (Year 1-10)
- Hamilton Christian School (Year 1-15)
- Rototuna Junior High School (Year 7-10)
- Rototuna Senior High School (Year 11-13).
*Many schools have zoning policies, please check the geographical boundaries of a preferred school with a Lodge salesperson.
Distance from CBD
Flagstaff is approximately 7km from the CBD and is serviced by the Route 4 bus buses from the central bus terminal to Flagstaff, stopping at the Flagstaff Shopping Centre and Rototuna Shopping Centre on its route.
The Orbiter bus circuits the city and provides links to key destinations in the north west including Rototuna, Flagstaff, Chartwell, University, Hospital, Dinsdale, Wintec and the Base. The service runs Monday to Friday every 15 minutes and Saturday every 30 minutes.
A taxi fare from central Flagstaff into the CBD is about $27.
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