History
Fendalton was originally known as Fendall Town, named after the original settler of the land, Walpole Chesshyre Fendall (1830–1913). Fendall emigrated from Yorkshire in 1850 and took up land north of the Waimairi Stream. The name Fendall Town was soon applied to the area northwest of Hagley Park, extending as far as the modern location of Christchurch International Airport and including portions of Burnside, Bryndwr, and Harewood, among others. Early spelling also included Fendall's Town and Fendaltown, but by the 1880s Fendalton had become the most common form.
Fendalton was the site for many early buildings in the settlement of Christchurch, including an early flour mill along what is now Fendalton Road. This flour mill was constructed by Daniel Inwood, who came to New Zealand aboard the Sir George Seymour in 1850, and used machinery which Inwood brought with him from England.
The suburb is also home to multiple significant historical buildings, especially as examples of various styles of homestead. These include St Barnabas Church, Daresbury, and Los Angeles, one of the first examples of a California bungalow to be built in New Zealand.
A history of the suburb can be found in "Fendall's Legacy: A history of Fendalton and north-west Christchurch" by Frieda Looser.
Demographics
Fendalton, comprising the statistical areas of Fendalton and Deans Bush, covers 2.17 km2 (0.84 sq mi). It had an estimated population of 4,870 as of June 2025, with a population density of 2,244 people per km2.
Historical population| Year | | |
|---|
| 2006 | 4,737 | — |
|---|
| 2013 | 4,578 | −0.49% |
|---|
| 2018 | 4,515 | −0.28% |
|---|
| 2023 | 4,665 | +0.66% |
|---|
| Source: |
Fendalton had a population of 4,665 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 150 people (3.3%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 87 people (1.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 2,229 males, 2,421 females, and 15 people of other genders in 1,761 dwellings. 3.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 45.2 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 714 people (15.3%) aged under 15 years, 966 (20.7%) aged 15 to 29, 1,851 (39.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,131 (24.2%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 79.1% European (Pākehā); 5.4% Māori; 1.7% Pasifika; 17.8% Asian; 2.1% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.1% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.4%, Māori by 0.9%, Samoan by 0.4%, and other languages by 18.5%. No language could be spoken by 1.2% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 28.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 36.8% Christian, 1.4% Hindu, 1.6% Islam, 0.1% Māori religious beliefs, 1.1% Buddhist, 0.3% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 1.0% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 52.6%, and 5.2% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 1,695 (42.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,716 (43.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 528 (13.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $46,900, compared with $41,500 nationally. 948 people (24.0%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 1,656 (41.9%) full-time, 693 (17.5%) part-time, and 87 (2.2%) unemployed.
Individual statistical areas
| Name | Area
(km2) | Population | Density
(per km2) | Dwellings | Median age | Median
income |
| Fendalton | 0.92 | 2,073 | 2,253 | 795 | 46.2 years | $51,800 |
| Deans Bush | 1.25 | 2,586 | 2,069 | 963 | 44.5 years | $42,900 |
| New Zealand | | | | | 38.1 years | $41,500 |
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Fendalton
