82 Brown Street

The suburb of Ponsonby is, of course, famous for its cafés, restaurants and bars. And it’s hard to beat for a night out: whether it’s a cheap and cheerful Thai meal; a fine dining experience; a beer and a game of pool with the boys; or cocktails with the girls – Ponsonby has it all.

It also has a fabulous range of shops from local and international designers, the amazing Fairy Shop, The French Art Shop for the artistically inclined and so many more! And just in case that isn’t enough for you, there’s a new shopping complex on the corner of Williamson Ave and Ponsonby Road due to open in early 2011!

But there’s more to the Ponsonby lifestyle than eating, drinking and shopping. Ponsonby’s colourful history can still be seen in the many beautifully restored buildings and houses. The famous Gluepot pub, now apartments and shops, was well known in its day for the huge range of bands that played there, including Mick Jagger in the 1980s. The Harbour View Flats on Ponsonby’s ridge were once home to Freda Stark, Auckland’s famed exotic dancer and lover of Thelma Trott, who was murdered by her husband in 1935. Colourful indeed!

Things are a little less sensational these days, but there’s still a vibrant artistic contingent and a strong community feel that makes the suburb of Ponsonby a special place to live.

Alongside the beautifully restored villas are plenty of mature trees and gardens, and there are many parks and green spaces between the streets, often with their own playgrounds.

Local schools typically have an excellent reputation, and schools zoned for this area may include: Bayfield School, Freemans Bay School, Grey Lynn School, Newton Central School, Pt Chevalier School, Ponsonby Primary School, Richmond Road School, St Francis School, Westmere School, Marist Catholic School, St Joseph’s School, St Mary’s College, St Paul’s College, Pasadena Intermediate, Ponsonby Intermediate, Western Springs College, Auckland Girls’ Grammar School.

Go to the Ministry of Education's School Zones for more detailed information on school zones. You can search by school name or the address of the property you are interested in.