Avenal is a suburb which lies within the Territorial Authority of Invercargill, one of 36 residential suburbs which form the wider region. Avenal is the 17th largest suburb of Invercargill in terms of the total number of residential housing stock. Avenal provides a range of housing stock, with the earliest residential housing recorded in the area constructed between 1900 - 1909. The majority of the residential housing stock in the locality was constructed between 1930 - 1939. Residential housing stock in Avenal is made up of approximately 94% residential housing and 6% residential investment housing properties.