Glenorchy is a small settlement at the northern end of Lake Wakatipu in the South Island region of Otago, New Zealand. It is approximately 45 km (28 mi) by road or boat from Queenstown, the nearest large town. There are two pubs, a café and a range of small shops in the town catering mainly to tourists but also to the small resident population. There is also a small airstrip which caters to small planes.
Glenorchy is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 3.93 km2 (1.52 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 410 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 104 people per km2. It is part of the much larger Glenorchy statistical area.
Glenorchy settlement had a population of 318 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 57 people (21.8%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 126 people (65.6%) since the 2006 census. There were 129 households, comprising 159 males and 159 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.0 males per female, with 39 people (12.3%) aged under 15 years, 63 (19.8%) aged 15 to 29, 183 (57.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 33 (10.4%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 91.5% European/Pākehā, 6.6% Māori, 1.9% Pasifika, 3.8% Asian, and 3.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 69.8% had no religion, 21.7% were Christian, 0.9% were Buddhist and 2.8% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 75 (26.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 27 (9.7%) people had no formal qualifications. 36 people (12.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 198 (71.0%) people were employed full-time, 36 (12.9%) were part-time, and 6 (2.2%) were unemployed.[5]
The head of Lake Wakatipu, Glenorchy
Glenorchy statistical area
The Glenorchy statistical area also includes Paradise and covers 1,464.37 km2 (565.40 sq mi).[1] It had an estimated population of 580 as of June 2023,[6] with a population density of 0.40 people per km2.
The statistical area had a population of 450 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 87 people (24.0%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 177 people (64.8%) since the 2006 census. There were 177 households, comprising 222 males and 225 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.99 males per female. The median age was 40.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 51 people (11.3%) aged under 15 years, 84 (18.7%) aged 15 to 29, 261 (58.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 48 (10.7%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 92.0% European/Pākehā, 5.3% Māori, 2.0% Pasifika, 3.3% Asian, and 3.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 35.3, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 66.7% had no religion, 24.7% were Christian, 1.3% were Buddhist and 2.0% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 105 (26.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 36 (9.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $38,000, compared with $31,800 nationally. 69 people (17.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 276 (69.2%) people were employed full-time, 60 (15.0%) were part-time, and 6 (1.5%) were unemployed.[7]
The 2013 BBC television miniseries Top of the Lake was also filmed in the area and was set in and around Paradise. While Queenstown is referred to during the series, Glenorchy doubles as the fictitious town of Laketop.[8]
Education
Glenorchy School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[9] with a roll of 33 as of February 2024.[10] The first school in the area opened in 1884 at Kinloch, and another opened in 1888 on the road to Paradise. The present school opened near Buckleburn in 1911, and moved to its current site in 1939.[11]
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