Ilam /ˈləm/ is a suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand about five kilometres west of the city centre. It is the location of the University of Canterbury.

Ilam
Puaka-James Hight, home to the University of Canterbury Central Library and centrepiece of the University's Ilam campus.
Puaka-James Hight, home to the University of Canterbury Central Library and centrepiece of the University's Ilam campus.
Map
Coordinates: 43°31′34″S 172°34′49″E / 43.526111°S 172.580278°E / -43.526111; 172.580278
CountryNew Zealand
CityChristchurch
Local authorityChristchurch City Council
Electoral ward
  • Waimairi
  • Riccarton
Community board
  • Waimāero Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood
  • Waipuna Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton
Area
 • Land337 ha (833 acres)
Population
 (June 2024)[2]
 • Total10,100
Burnside Bryndwr
Avonhead
Ilam
Fendalton
Upper Riccarton Riccarton

Located adjacent to State Highway 1 and the Christchurch International Airport, it is handily placed for transportation. It is also located close to the major retail area of Riccarton.

Ilam, home of the John Watts-Russell , Christchurch, New Zealand, c. 1900

The suburb was named after the ancestral home of the Hon. John Watts-Russell (1825–75), who hailed from Ilam Hall in Staffordshire, England. He settled in Canterbury in 1850, arriving on Sir George Seymour and named his property Ilam.[3] The Ilam homestead was in the 1950s inhabited by the rector of Canterbury College, Henry Rainsford Hulme. In 1954 the homestead gained notoriety as Hulme's 16-year-old daughter Juliet was involved in the Parker–Hulme murder case. The homestead was used as a major location for Peter Jackson's film about the murders, Heavenly Creatures. The homestead has been the University of Canterbury Staff Club since 1971.[4]

Demographics

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Ilam, comprising the statistical areas of Ilam North, Ilam South and Ilam University, covers 3.37 km2 (1.30 sq mi).[1] It had an estimated population of 10,100 as of June 2024, with a population density of 2,997 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20068,532—    
20139,000+0.77%
20189,357+0.78%
Source: [5]

Ilam North had a population of 9,357 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 357 people (4.0%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 825 people (9.7%) since the 2006 census. There were 2,628 households, comprising 4,881 males and 4,473 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.09 males per female, with 1,083 people (11.6%) aged under 15 years, 4,293 (45.9%) aged 15 to 29, 2,931 (31.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,053 (11.3%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 67.8% European/Pākehā, 5.9% Māori, 2.3% Pasifika, 28.5% Asian, and 3.2% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 37.8, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 51.2% had no religion, 35.3% were Christian, 0.1% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.9% were Hindu, 2.2% were Muslim, 1.8% were Buddhist and 2.6% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 2,352 (28.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 507 (6.1%) people had no formal qualifications. 951 people (11.5%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 2,790 (33.7%) people were employed full-time, 1,599 (19.3%) were part-time, and 468 (5.7%) were unemployed.[5]

Individual statistical areas
Name Area
(km2)
Population Density
(per km2)
Households Median age Median
income
Ilam North 1.23 3,729 3,032 1,218 30.3 years $24,100[6]
Ilam South 0.91 3,204 3,521 1,041 30.3 years $22,900[7]
Ilam University 1.23 2,424 1,971 369 20.2 years $7,900[8]
New Zealand 37.4 years $31,800

Education

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Ilam Primary School, also located on Ilam Road, is a primary school situated next to the Canterbury University whose facilities the school uses. The school educates many children from overseas. It has a roll of 411.[9][10]

Westburn School is a state coeducational full primary school (years 1–8) with a roll of 480.[11] The school was founded in 1961.

Medbury School is a private full primary boys' school (years 1–8) with a roll of 387.[12] It was established in 1923.[13]

Rolls are as of August 2024.[14]

The Canterbury Japanese Supplementary School (カンタベリー日本語補習校 Kantaberī Nihongo Hoshūkō), a weekend Japanese school, holds its classes at the Ilam School in Ilam.[15]

Parliamentary electorate

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References

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  1. ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  3. ^ Barker, M. A. (22 June 2007). "Watts Russell, Elizabeth Rose Rebecca 1833/1834? – 1905". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
  4. ^ University of Canterbury staff club Archived 2010-06-04 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Ilam North (320200), Ilam South (320700) and Ilam University (321200).
  6. ^ 2018 Census place summary: Ilam North
  7. ^ 2018 Census place summary: Ilam South
  8. ^ 2018 Census place summary: Ilam University
  9. ^ "A Unique School" Archived 21 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Ilam Primary School, accessed 22 June 2008
  10. ^ Education Counts: Ilam School
  11. ^ Education Counts: Westburn School
  12. ^ Education Counts: Medbury Preparatory School
  13. ^ "History". Medbury School. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  14. ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  15. ^ "所在地." Canterbury Japanese Supplementary School. Retrieved on February 14, 2015. "66 Ilam Road, Ilam, Christchurch 8041 New Zealand (Ilam School の校舎を借用しています。)"