An area of flat land (this being the meaning of
haugh, in contrast to the neighbouring
Yorkhill which was on high ground) to the east of the mouth of the
River Kelvin, Kelvinhaugh originally developed in the 19th century in connection with Glasgow's industries of shipbuilding and trading.
Alexander Stephen and Sons had a yard there for 20 years from 1851 before moving across the river to their better-known facility at
Linthouse. John Shearer & Sons took it over for another 30 years before moving to
Scotstoun, and the yard then became the Yorkhill Quay. The
A. & J. Inglis shipyard (in use 1862–1962) was a short distance to the west at Pointhouse. The collapse of these industries in the late 20th century led to a decline in the fortunes of the area (and the city), with both residential and commercial premises abandoned and the Kelvinhaugh name being used far less frequently. , 1975 The resulting gap sites in the vicinity included the large expanse of the Queen's Dock, which was filled in and became the
SEC Centre in the mid-1980s, with the
Clyde Auditorium being added in the mid to late 1990s and the
SSE Hydro following in the early 2010s. The increasing numbers of visitors to these venues led to a marked rise in popularity for
Finnieston and neighbouring areas in the early 21st century, with several new cafés, bars, restaurants and specialist stores being established and revitalising the area around Argyle Street. At the same time, due to the proximity of the
University of Glasgow and rising prices of student accommodation in traditional areas such as
Kelvinbridge,
Hillhead and
Dowanhill, much of the vacant land in Kelvinhaugh was developed as modern student accommodation, although locals have noted that, as in other districts undergoing similar rapid change such as
Partick, the increase in population has not led to a noticeable growth in community identity, since so many of the residents live there temporarily and focus most of their attentions on the University institutions, while the main thoroughfares became dirtier and harder to drive and park in. The local primary school dating from the 1880s became a private college, with its playground also being purchased for new flats. ==SWG3 and other changes==