Wellington College (New Zealand)

Wellington College (in full, The Wellington College and Grammar School, sometimes just Coll) is a state school for boys located next to Government House and the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand. Having a history from 1853, it is a day school for boys aged 13 (Form 3 or Year 9) to 18 (Form 7 or Year 13)2. Wellington College was also a boarding school, until the College?s sole boarding house, Firth House, was demolished in 1981, but now there are plans to reestablish the school as both a day and boarding school.

History

Wellington College was founded originally as the Wellington Grammar School in 1853 under a Deed of Endowment granted by the then Governor Sir George Grey.

Related Topics:
1853 - Deed of Endowment - Governor - Sir George Grey

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The original site of the Grammar School was on Wellington Terrace, near the present Wellington Motorway, where instruction began in 1867. The Wellington College Act 1872 established a second administration under a new Board of Governors. On October 17 1874 the school opened for instruction at its present site next to Government House. It is situated on c. 25 ha of land 3 on Mount Victoria however only 12 ha are utilised, and the remaining land is mostly hilly forest.

Related Topics:
1867 - 1872 - October 17 - 1874

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The Grammar School became an affiliated College to the University of New Zealand in 1872, becoming Wellington College. Of note is that the famous New Zealand geologist and botanist Thomas Kirk was Professor in Natural Sciences at Wellington College from 1874 until 1880. This is one of the few Professorships awarded by the College though there are still Fellowships.

Related Topics:
University of New Zealand - Thomas Kirk

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In 1912 the school founded the Gifford Observatory, thanks to the efforts of the astronomer Charles Gifford who was a popular science teacher of the school at the time. The observatory was first established on land that is now occupied by Wellington East Girls' College. In 1926 the observatory was moved to its current site, in the town belt above Wellington College, behind Government House.

Related Topics:
1912 - Gifford Observatory - Charles Gifford - Wellington East Girls' College - Government House

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Tenuous relations exist with Wellington College, Berkshire. Possibly the most famous example was during World War II when Wellington College NZ converted its playing fields into a small farm and sent food over to Wellington College, Berkshire.

Related Topics:
Wellington College - World War II

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The use of public school slang has mostly died out in recent years, though students will understand the phrases if used, and administration of "tests" to new boys about terminology and the layout of the school by prefects is now an unpopular practice. Until recently, the practice of "pocketting" - ripping off the shirt pockets of new students - was a strong tradition. This was put to an end when a uniform change was made, where the uniform shirts usually worn by junior boys no longer had front pockets.

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