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{{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2017}}
{{stack begin}}
{{Infobox New Zealand suburb
| name = Swanson
| image = Wholesale wine-Maker in Swanson,Auckland NZ. (11444108053).jpg
| caption1 = Wholesale wine-Maker in Swanson
| city1 = [[Auckland]]
| ward = [[Waitākere ward]]
| council = [[Auckland Council]]
| board = {{ubl|[[Waitākere Ranges Local Board]]|[[Henderson-Massey Local Board]]}}
| sub_board =
| coordinates = {{coord|36|52|S|174|35|E|display=title|region:NZ_type:city_source:GNS-enwiki}}
| map = {{infobox mapframe|coord={{coord|36|52|S|174|35|E}}|zoom=10}}
| established =
| area = 209
| areasource = <ref name="Area"/>
| population = {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Swanson|y}}
| popdate = {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y}}
| popsource = {{NZ population data 2023 SA2||||y}}
| trainstations = [[Swanson railway station]]
| ferryterminals =
| airports =
| hospitals =
}}
{{Adjacent place
| centre = Swanson
| north = [[Taupaki]]
| northeast = [[Massey, New Zealand|Massey]]
| east = [[Rānui]]
| southeast = [[Sunnyvale, Auckland|Sunnyvale]]
| south = [[Henderson Valley]]
| southwest = ([[Waitākere Ranges]])
| west = ([[Waitākere Ranges]])
| northwest = [[Waitākere, Auckland|Waitākere]]
}}
{{stack end}}
'''Swanson''' is an outlying suburb of [[West Auckland, New Zealand|West Auckland]], [[New Zealand]] and is located west of [[Henderson, New Zealand|Henderson]], surrounded by the [[Waitākere Ranges]]. Developing as a service centre for the [[agathis australis|kauri]] logging and [[kauri gum|gumdigging]] trades in the 1880s along the trainline, the town developed as a rural centre and an early tourist destination for Aucklanders, who visited the Redwood Park on the banks of the [[Swanson Stream]]. In the 1940s, the park became a training centre for soldiers in [[World War II]], and in 1970 hosted [[Redwood 70]], the first modern music festival in New Zealand.
==Geography==
The Swanson area is primarily a valley north-east of the [[Waitākere Ranges]], and a major catchment area for the [[Swanson Stream]].<ref name="Heritage">{{cite report |url=https://content.aucklanddesignmanual.co.nz/resources/knowledge-base/swansonheritagedesignguidelines/Documents/Swanson%20Heritage%20Design%20Guidelines.pdf |title=Swanson Heritage Survey Historic Context and Background Report |date=7 December 2016 |publisher=[[Auckland Council]] |access-date=11 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://gazetteer.linz.govt.nz/place/41012 |title=Swanson Stream |website=New Zealand Gazetteer |publisher=Land Information New Zealand|access-date=1 May 2022}}</ref> Prior to human settlement, the Swanson area formed a part of the warm lowlands ecosystem common in inland West Auckland, dominated by [[agathis australis|kauri]], [[Dacrydium cupressinum|rimu]], [[Metrosideros robusta|rātā]], [[Dacrycarpus dacrydioides|kahikatea]] and [[Knightia excelsa|rewarewa]]. The areas adjacent to the Swanson Stream were an alluvial flood zone, favoured by kahikatea and [[Podocarpus totara|tōtara]] trees.<ref name="NativeWest">{{cite web |url=https://www.lucas-associates.co.nz/assets/Guidelines/Native-To-The-West.pdf |title=Native to the West: A Guide for Planting and Restoring the Nature of Waitakere City |publisher=[[Waitakere City Council]] |date= April 2005 |access-date=16 June 2022}}</ref>
== History ==
===Early history===
[[File:Swanson School, 1921 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|The Swanson School, which opened in 1888, was an early centre for the Swanson village community]]
The Swanson area is in the [[rohe]] of [[Te Kawerau ā Maki]], a [[Tāmaki Māori]] iwi who traditionally settled in the [[West Auckland, New Zealand|West Auckland]] and [[Waitākere Ranges]] area.<ref name="TeKawerau">{{Cite web| date=12 December 2013 | title = Deed of Settlement Schedule: Documents |url=https://www.tekawerau.iwi.nz/sites/default/files/TeKawerauaMakiiDOSDocuments.pdf | author1 = [[Te Kawerau ā Maki]] | author2 = The Trustees of Te Kawerau Iwi Settlement Trust | author3 = [[New Zealand Government|The Crown]] | access-date = 26 April 2022}}</ref> A defensive [[pā]] was found in the hills above Swanson called Pukearuhe ("[[Pteridium esculentum|Bracken Fern]] Hill"), and the Swanson area formed part of the walking track between [[Te Henga / Bethells Beach]] and Wai Huruhuru Manawa (Huruhuru Creek) tidal inlet, the south-western section of the [[Te Wai-o-Pareira / Henderson Creek]].<ref name="TeKawerau"/><ref name="Cultural">{{cite report |url=https://content.aucklanddesignmanual.co.nz/resources/knowledge-base/swansonheritagedesignguidelines/Documents/Swanson%20Heritage%20Design%20Guidelines.pdf |title=Cultural Values Assessment for Waitakere Ranges Local Board: Swanson Heritage Assessment |first=Scott |last=Lomas |work=Te Kawerau Iwi Tribal Authority |date=September 2016 |publisher=[[Auckland Council]] |access-date=11 September 2022 |pages=10-11}}</ref> The [[Swanson Stream]] valley was traditionally known as Waiwhauwhaupaku, a name which refers to the ''[[Pseudopanax arboreus]]'' (five-finger tree) which profusely grew in densely forested the area,<ref name="TwinStreamsSwanson"/><ref name="TeKawerau"/> while southern Swanson was known by the name Waimoko, which refers to the skinks and geckos that were found there.{{sfn|Adam|Burgess|Ellis|2004|pp=11}} Te Kawerau ā Maki suffered hardships in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, due to influenza and the [[Musket Wars]] of the 1820s. When the iwi returned to their traditional lands in the 1830s, life was focused at [[Te Henga / Bethells Beach]].{{sfn|Taua|2009|pp=39-40}} Much of West Auckland near was sold to European purchasers in the 1850s, without the knowledge or consent of the senior [[rangatira]] of Te Kawerau ā Maki.{{sfn|Taua|2009|pp=40–41}}
Pioneer [[William Swanson (politician)|William Swanson]] settled in the area in 1852, logging [[Agathis australis|kauri]] trees along the [[Swanson Stream]] and other waterways.<ref name="TwinStreamsSwanson">{{Cite web| title = Swanson Stream |url=http://projecttwinstreams.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Swanson_Flyer.pdf |work=Project Twin Streams | publisher=[[Auckland Council]] | year=2012 | access-date = 1 May 2022}}</ref> By the 1870s, he was a strong critic of kauri logging practices.<ref name="TwinStreamsSwanson"/> The township of Swanson was established in the mid-1880s, with many of the first residents receiving land cheaply through government settlement regimes intended to develop the area.{{sfn|Adam|Burgess|Ellis|2004|pp=31-32}} In 1881, the [[Swanson railway station]] opened, connecting the area to the city of [[Auckland]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.railheritage.org.nz/assets/dates_and_names.pdf|title=Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations|last=Scoble|first=Juliet|date=2010|website=Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand|accessdate=12 October 2019}}</ref> The railway station became a busy depot for the kauri logging trade of the northern [[Waitākere Ranges]], and the town developed as a service centre for people involved in the logging and [[kauri gum]] digging trades.{{sfn|Adam|Burgess|Ellis|2004|pp=33, 59, 73}} Many early residents in the area established farms and orchards, supplementing their income with kauri gum digging. In the late 19th century, [[Croatian New Zealander|Croatian New Zealand immigrant]]s (then commonly known as Dalmatian) worked land at Swanson, with kauri gum digging operations which were more intensive and systematic than previous efforts.{{sfn|Adam|Burgess|Ellis|2004|pp=33}}
The Swanson School opened on 18 June 1888 to serve the community. Prior to this, schoolchildren needed to travel to [[Woodhill, Auckland|Woodhill]].{{sfn|Adam|Burgess|Ellis|2004|pp=40}} The school was the centre of the community during the late 19th century, and was a place where religious services, concerts and meetings were held.{{sfn|Adam|Burgess|Ellis|2004|pp=90}}
===Tourist destination, the Waitākere Dam and training camp===
[[File:Two airmen leap over a ditch with rifles.jpg|thumb|left|[[Royal New Zealand Air Force]] servicemen undergoing bush warfare training at the RNZAF Weapons Training School in Swanson]]
Swanson became a popular destination for picnickers and daytrippers from Auckland from the late 1880s, to visit the [[Waitākere River|Waitākere Falls]] and the Redwood Park on the banks of the Swanson River.{{sfn|Adam|Burgess|Ellis|2004|pp=73, 86}} Due to track damage, later tourists preferred to visit the Waitākere Falls via [[Henderson, New Zealand|Henderson]],{{sfn|Adam|Burgess|Ellis|2004|pp=86}} and in 1905, a decision was made to construct the [[Waitākere Reservoir|Waitākere Dam]] at the location of the falls, to ensure better drinking water for the city of Auckland. Swanson township was a major source of labour for the project, and by 1907 a [[Waitakere Tramline|tramline]] had been constructed between the dam site and the Swanson railway station.{{sfn|Adam|Burgess|Ellis|2004|pp=67-72}} Work on the dam was completed in 1910, and in the 1920s a filtration plant was constructed at Swanson.{{sfn|Adam|Burgess|Ellis|2004|pp=67-72}}
Redwood Park became a popular destination for picnickers in the 1890s and 1900s. On New Years Day 1900, three different groups organised picnics at the park, resulting in between 1,500 and 2,000 picnickers visiting Swanson that day.{{sfn|Adam|Burgess|Ellis|2004|pp=101-105}} The park was bought by Arney Robertson in 1921, who called it the Swanson Park and Recreation Ground. In 1934, the park gained the name Redwood Park when 3,000 redwood trees were planted here (many of which died in a cyclone in 1937).{{sfn|Adam|Burgess|Ellis|2004|pp=101-105}} An [[Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association|RSA]] picnic in 1936 brought a crowd of 7,500 people.{{sfn|Adam|Burgess|Ellis|2004|pp=101-105}}
The town further developed in the late 1910s and 1920s when the New Zealand Government balloted and divided kauri gum reverse land. Many of the new settlers were servicemen who had returned after [[World War I]].{{sfn|Adam|Burgess|Ellis|2004|pp=33, 90}} By the 1920s, sheep and cattle farming had become more common in the area, and after the Swanson School moved locations, the town was no longer centred around the railway station.{{sfn|Adam|Burgess|Ellis|2004|pp=33, 73}} On 23 May 1929, the Swanson town hall was built, which held community events such as Saturday night dances and film screenings.{{sfn|Adam|Burgess|Ellis|2004|pp=90}} On 10 June 1939, [[Scenic Drive, Auckland|Scenic Drive]] was opened between [[Waiatarua]] and Swanson in the eastern Waitākere Ranges.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19390610.2.25.2 |title=Auckland's New Scenic Drive to Be Opened To-day |newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |page=10 |volume=LXXVI |issue=23369 |via=Papers Past |date=10 June 1939 |access-date=9 June 2022}}</ref> This also made access to [[Pukematekeo]] much easier, a hill known as tourist attraction due to its views over Auckland.
In early 1940, Redwood Park was acquisitioned by the [[New Zealand Army]] as a training camp for soldiers during [[World War II]]. This was later taken over by the [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]], who used the park as a bush warfare training facility.{{sfn|Adam|Burgess|Ellis|2004|pp=101-105}} The army camp became a strong focus for the Swanson community during the war, during which the camp held regular dances and balls.{{sfn|Adam|Burgess|Ellis|2004|pp=101-105}} The camp was vacated in August 1945, after which it became one of the largest inland motorcamps in New Zealand.{{sfn|Adam|Burgess|Ellis|2004|pp=101-105}}
Local winemaker Milan Babić Yozin, who had established extensive orchards in Swanson in the 1930s, began growing wine in Swanson in 1942.<ref name="Heritage"/>
===Suburban development===
The population of Swanson grew significantly between the 1920s and 1980s, from 500 to almost 2,000 residents.{{sfn|Adam|Burgess|Ellis|2004|pp=160}} In 1970, Swanson's Redwood Park became the location of [[Redwood 70]], billed as New Zealand's first music festival, headlined by [[Robin Gibb]] of the [[Bee Gees]]. Held over two days and drawing over 9,000 attendees, the concert was mired by rowdy crowds, and was unable to make promoter [[Phil Warren (promoter)|Phil Warren]] a profit.{{sfn|Adam|Burgess|Ellis|2004|pp=101-105}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/rock-music-festivals/beginnings |title=Rock music festivals: Beginnings |work=Ministry for Culture and Heritage |date=29 September 2015 |access-date=16 August 2022}}</ref> In the following year, the Redwood Park was sold and redeveloped as a golf course and country club.{{sfn|Adam|Burgess|Ellis|2004|pp=101-105}}
In 1984, the [[Waitemata City]] opened a [[balefill]] landfill north of Swanson, causing the town's residents to have issues with wind-blown refuse and [[methane]]. Five years later, the [[Waitakere City]] council proposed that the landfill, have its life extended by 50 years, leading to a widespread protest movement in Swanson, seeing the formation of the Swanson Balefill Action Group. The group succeeded in lobbying the council, and the Kay Road Balefill was officially closed in November 1996.{{sfn|Adam|Burgess|Ellis|2004|pp=99}}
Crystal Mountain Mine Museum, a specialist museum, has operated in Swanson since 2000.<ref name="Crystal Mountain Mine Museum">{{cite web |title=Crystal Mountain Mine Museum |url=http://www.crystalmountain.co.nz |publisher=Crystal Mountain Mine Museum}}</ref><ref name="cyrstalmountain-opening">{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Simon |title=Hidden gem of the west: Crystal Mountain |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/western-leader/87538901/hidden-gem-of-the-west-crystal-mountain |agency=[[Western Leader]] |publisher=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=19 December 2016}}</ref>
==Demographics==
Swanson covers {{Convert|2.09|km2||abbr=on}}<ref name="Area">{{Cite web|title=ArcGIS Web Application|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6f49867abe464f86ac7526552fe19787| access-date=15 April 2024|website=statsnz.maps.arcgis.com}}</ref> and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Swanson|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Swanson|y}}|R}}/2.09|0}} people per km<sup>2</sup>.
{{Historical populations|2006|1,386|2013|1,650|2018|2,241|percentages=pagr|align=left|source=<ref name="Census 2018"/>}}
Before the 2023 census, the suburb had a smaller boundary, covering {{Convert|1.89|km2||abbr=on}}.<ref name="Area"/> Using that boundary, Swanson had a population of 2,241 at the [[2018 New Zealand census]], an increase of 591 people (35.8%) since the [[2013 New Zealand census|2013 census]], and an increase of 855 people (61.7%) since the [[2006 New Zealand census|2006 census]]. There were 699 households, comprising 1,104 males and 1,134 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.97 males per female. The median age was 32.6 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 504 people (22.5%) aged under 15 years, 507 (22.6%) aged 15 to 29, 1,062 (47.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 168 (7.5%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 62.8% European/[[Pākehā]], 15.1% [[Māori people|Māori]], 11.2% [[Pasifika New Zealanders|Pacific peoples]], 25.0% [[Asian New Zealanders|Asian]], and 2.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 33.6, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 50.5% had no religion, 31.5% were [[Christianity in New Zealand|Christian]], 1.1% had [[Religion of Māori people|Māori religious beliefs]], 4.1% were [[Hinduism in New Zealand|Hindu]], 1.6% were [[Islam in New Zealand|Muslim]], 2.7% were [[Buddhism in New Zealand|Buddhist]] and 2.8% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 450 (25.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 243 (14.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $38,700, compared with $31,800 nationally. 372 people (21.4%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 984 (56.6%) people were employed full-time, 231 (13.3%) were part-time, and 54 (3.1%) were unemployed.<ref name="Census 2018">{{NZ census 2018|Swanson (122000)|swanson|Swanson}}</ref>
===Rural===
The area to the south and west of Swanson, comprising the statistical area of Swanson Rural, covers {{Convert|15.15|km2||abbr=on}}<ref name="Area"/> and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Swanson Rural|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Swanson Rural|y}}|R}}/15.15|0}} people per km<sup>2</sup>.
{{Historical populations|2006|2,037|2013|2,130|2018|2,355|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for Swanson Rural|source=<ref name="Census 2018 SR"/>}}
Swanson Rural had a population of 2,355 at the [[2018 New Zealand census]], an increase of 225 people (10.6%) since the [[2013 New Zealand census|2013 census]], and an increase of 318 people (15.6%) since the [[2006 New Zealand census|2006 census]]. There were 750 households, comprising 1,212 males and 1,146 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.06 males per female. The median age was 40.7 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 402 people (17.1%) aged under 15 years, 495 (21.0%) aged 15 to 29, 1,176 (49.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 282 (12.0%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 86.9% European/[[Pākehā]], 14.3% [[Māori people|Māori]], 5.0% [[Pasifika New Zealanders|Pacific peoples]], 7.1% [[Asian New Zealanders|Asian]], and 2.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 24.1, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 59.5% had no religion, 27.9% were [[Christianity in New Zealand|Christian]], 0.5% had [[Religion of Māori people|Māori religious beliefs]], 1.3% were [[Hinduism in New Zealand|Hindu]], 0.3% were [[Islam in New Zealand|Muslim]], 0.5% were [[Buddhism in New Zealand|Buddhist]] and 2.5% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 438 (22.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 261 (13.4%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $39,900, compared with $31,800 nationally. 468 people (24.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,113 (57.0%) people were employed full-time, 309 (15.8%) were part-time, and 57 (2.9%) were unemployed.<ref name="Census 2018 SR">{{NZ census 2018|Swanson Rural (121100)|swanson-rural|Swanson Rural}}</ref>
==Transport==
[[Swanson railway station]] is situated on the [[North Auckland Line]]. The station is the terminus for [[Western Line (Auckland)|Western Line]] suburban passenger services. It is the westernmost and northernmost point of the [[Auckland railway electrification|electrified rail network]].
==Local government==
From 1876 until 1974, Swanson was administered by the [[Waitemata County]], a large rural county north and west of the city of Auckland.{{sfn|Reidy|2009|pp=238-242}} In 1974, Swanson became a part of the [[Waitemata City]], an area which covered most of [[West Auckland, New Zealand|West Auckland]], excluding the boroughs of [[Henderson, New Zealand|Henderson]], [[Glen Eden, New Zealand|Glen Eden]] and [[New Lynn]].{{sfn|Reidy|2009|pp=242}} With the 1989 local government reforms, the Waitemata City merged with these boroughs to form [[Waitakere City]],{{sfn|Reidy|2009|pp=249}} and in November 2010, all cities and districts of the Auckland Region were amalgamated into a single body, governed by the [[Auckland Council]].<ref>{{Cite journal| doi = 10.26686/pq.v11i4.4572| issn = 2324-1101| volume = 11| issue = 4| last = Blakeley| first = Roger| title = The planning framework for Auckland 'super city': an insider's view| journal = Policy Quarterly| date = 2015| doi-access = free}}</ref>
Swanson is primarily in the [[Waitākere Ranges (local board area)|Waitākere Ranges]] local board area, except the eastern-most areas near [[Rānui]], which form a part of the [[Henderson-Massey]] local board area. Each area elects a local board, and the residents of the Waitākere Ranges and Henderson-Massey elect two councillors from the [[Waitākere ward]] to sit on the Auckland Council.
==References==
{{reflist}}
==Bibliography==
*{{cite book | last1=Adam |first1=Jack | last2=Burgess |first2=Vivien | last3=Ellis | first3=Dawn |title=Rugged Determination: Historical Window on Swanson 1854-2004 |publisher=Swanson Residents and Ratepayers Association Inc. |date=2004 |isbn=0-476-00544-2}}
*{{cite book |last1=Reidy |first1=Jade |chapter=How the West Was Run |pages=237-256 |editor-last1=Macdonald |editor-first1=Finlay |editor-link1=Finlay Macdonald (editor) |editor-last2=Kerr |editor-first2=Ruth |title=West: The History of Waitakere |publisher=Random House |date=2009 |isbn=9781869790080}}
*{{cite book |last=Taua |first=Te Warena |chapter=He Kohikohinga Kōrero mō Hikurangi |pages=23-48 |editor-last1=Macdonald |editor-first1=Finlay |editor-link1=Finlay Macdonald (editor) |editor-last2=Kerr |editor-first2=Ruth |title=West: The History of Waitakere |publisher=Random House |date=2009 |isbn=9781869790080}}
==External links==
*[https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/search/searchterm/Swanson/field/title/ Photographs of Swanson] held in [[Auckland Libraries|Auckland Libraries']] heritage collections.
{{Waitākere Ranges Local Board Area}}
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[[Category:1880s establishments in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Suburbs of Auckland]]
[[Category:
[[Category:Waitākere Ranges]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 1880s]]
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