St Martins is primarily a residential area, and contains a small shopping mall complex situated on Wilsons Road, the main thoroughfare through the suburb.

Prior to European settlement, much of the suburb consisted of marshlands and swamplands which were heavily connected to the ecosystem of the Heathcote River.

[4] St Martin's proximity to the river and the original state of the land have caused the area to suffer damage in the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes which hit the region.

One likely contender is that it was named after Saint Martin's Hall in London, where a gathering of Canterbury pilgrims (who Phillips was associated with) was held immediately prior to their departure for Christchurch.

The orchard was first subdivided by Phillips in 1863 using the name St Martins, which appeared in official sources fifteen years later.

[6] As with many neighbouring suburbs, the area steadily grew throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with amenities being developed through lobbying by locals.

The library cost was officially opened in 1927 by mayor John Kendrick Archer, and by the end of that year had 273 subscribers.