Politically the suburb is part of the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board and the North Shore ward of Auckland Council.

[5] Shoal Bay is a Department of Conservation high priority site of special wildlife interest, SSWI, because of its significance for wading birds.

[7][8][9] Areas around Bayswater have key significances to different iwi (e.g. Lake Pupuke, Te Puna Spring and Maungauika), but no stories link specifically to this peninsula.

[10][9] The land that would become Bayswater was included in the Mahurangi Block acquired by the Crown from Ngāti Pāoa in 1839.

The farm plots along Bayswater were originally purchased by Holmes and Pettit, James O'Neill, Robert Hunt and H. Atkins.

[13][14][15] The name Bayswater was given to the peninsula in 1909, when the land was subdivided into residential plots and subsequently sold as the newest waterfront property.

[17] This led to the rapid population of the areas north of Devonport, including Bayswater, Belmont and Takapuna.

The tramway lasted for only 18 years, closing for business in 1927,[18][10] but the Bayswater ferry continues to this day.

From the 1900's, the majority of the land in Bayswater was used for farming, supplying milk to the Takapuna Dairy Company, but continual residential subdivisions reduced the amount of farmland through the late 1920's and 30's.

[10] These streets followed a much more integrated development, with cul-de-sacs and crescents which were well linked to coastal reserves by pedestrian walkways.

[10] Navy houses were built in this eastern area after World War II on Philomel Crescent, Portsmouth Road, Plymouth Crescent and Roberts Ave.[10] By 1950, there was no more farmland on the Bayswater peninsula and the entire suburb was residential housing.

In 1924, the church was moved to Bayswater when the Parish of Devonport was split in two due to rising population.

[22][23] Takapuna Tramways and Ferry Company was established by a collective of entrepreneurs in 1909, in tandem with the creation of the Bayswater estate.

[24][25] Their directors included Paul M Hansen, Henry Hopper Adams, Captain James Smith, John Brown, Alexander R. Morrison, Edwin Mitchelson, Henry Brett, William J Geddis and William Blomfield.

It contains a gravel walkway on its western side that allows walking access from Bayswater Ave to Roberts Ave. Bayswater Park and Stanley Bay Park are the home fields of North Shore United AFC.

It is 1 acre in size,[36] bordered by Sir Peter Blake Parade to the east and a cliff face overlooking Shoal Bay to the west.

It contains a walkway that leads to a viewpoint of Bayswater Marina, and Auckland CBD skyline and a pétanque court.

In June 1889 the road board was dissolved, in favour of Takapuna being under the direct control of the Waitemata County Council.