[3] It is located at the edge of the city's main urban area, 5.5 kilometres (3.4 mi) to the northwest of the city centre, but separated from it by both a ridge of hills and the Kaikorai Valley.

The name Brockville comes from early English settler Frederick Brock-Hollinshead, who, after arriving in Dunedin in 1853, began to build a substantial residence in this location.

The scenic reserve of Fraser's Gully, through which this stream flows, lies immediately to the northeast of Brockville, between it and the suburb of Halfway Bush, ending on Frasers Road off Kaikorai Valley Road.

[7] The lower part of Brockville Road is occasionally regarded as a separate suburb known as Glenross, including the newly built houses on Sretlaw Place.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 55.8% had no religion, 29.1% were Christian, 0.9% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.9% were Hindu, 3.6% were Muslim, 0.4% were Buddhist and 2.2% had other religions.