Northcote is an inner suburb of North Shore City. It is located about one kilometre from central North Shore, eight kilometres from central Auckland. The North Shore area was not rurally settled by Europeans until the late 1800s. In 1950 the population of the whole North Shore area had only reached 50,000. However, once the Auckland Harbour Bridge was developed in 1959, settlement in the area boomed. Northcote is a sought after suburb because of its central location and lovely homes commanding stunning views of the coastline surrounding the area. Many homes also command views of central Auckland from across the harbour. Northcote contains a busy shopping centre, which provides a wide range of amenities to local residents. It includes supermarkets, dairies, banks, specialty stores, fashion stores a laundrette and a wealth of restaurants and cafés to choose from. Greenslade Reserve provides wonderful outdoor opportunities for the whole family, including leisurely walks and recreational activities.