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 III or Year 9) to 18 (Form VII or Year 13)2. Wellington
College was also a boarding school, until the College’s sole boarding house, Firth House was demolished in 1981.
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. The original
site of the Grammar School was on Wellington Terrace, near the present Wellington Motorway, and instruction began there 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. Some time after, the Grammar School became affiliated to the
University of New Zealand, granting the School
the privilege of naming itself a College, becoming Wellington College.
The New Zealand Government has made many administrative changes to the school. Two other Wellington secondary schools,
Rongotai College and Wellington Girl's High School (now College) have in the past been governed by the Governors of the
Wellington College. They have since been made independent of the College, however they mainain a connection through the use of a
common crest and motto. The Government in 2003 imposed a 'zone' on the College. Some of the
roughly 1,400 boys educated at the College come from the 'zone'. Boys within the zone have automatic right of entry into the
College.
As of July 2003, the current Head Master of the College is R.J. (Roger) Moses who
succeeded H.G. (Harvey) Rees-Thomas in 1995. The Visitor to the College is the Governor-General of New Zealand.
Old Wellingtonians
General Officers (Military): Probably the most illustrious Old Wellingtonian is Lieutenant General Lord Freyberg of
Wellington, who won a Victoria Cross in World War I and also served as Governor-General. Air
Marshals Sir Arthur
Coningham and Sir Roderick
Carr served in RAF Bomber Command during World War II, the latter also
serving as Air Officer Commanding, India in 1946.
Governors and Governors-General: Four Old Wellingtonians have served as Governor-General of New Zealand and one as a British Governor. These old boys are Governors-General Lord Freyberg (see above), Sir Denis Blundell, Sir Paul Reeves, Sir Michael Hardie-Boys and Governor Lord Grey of Naunton (well known as the last Governor of Northern Ireland). Only Eton College has produced more Governors-General of New Zealand.
Some of the other well known old boys include Sir
William Pickering, Sir Brian Barratt-Boyes, Sir Michael Myers,
Sir Harvey
Norcroft, Sir Ron
Brierley, Sir
Francis Renouf, Sir Louis
Barnett and Keith Quinn.
Rugby Football at Wellington
Wellington College has been one of the most important schools in the development on schools Rugby Football in the World.
The first inter-school rugby match in the world, according to Australasian historian Spiros Zavos was between Wellington and
Nelson Colleges in 1870 at the Basin Reserve.
Another historical development is the notion of "advantage" in Rugby Football. This appears to have been developed by Joseph
Firth in the late 19th century (later Head Master) when someone had "knocked on" the ball but allowed the game to continue,
shouting "advantage". It is generally agreed that Firth was the College's greatest Head Master, and was commemorated by having a
boarding house named after him.
The Quadrangular Rugby Football Tournament between Wellington College, Nelson College, Christ's College and the Wanganui
Collegiate School is the oldest continuing organised rugby tournament in New Zealand.
Wellington College has produced over 40 All Blacks.
Refer: ZAVOS S How to watch a game of rugby (Awa Press, Wellington, N.Z, 2004)
See also
1. The arms are derived from two principal sources: The crest and motto are from the seal of the College Governors, and the
shield is derived from Freyberg (Or, on a chief Sable, four mullets of the field).
2. What is known as the "Upper Sixth Form" in the UK used to be given that name (or just "Sixth Form" - eg at Otago Boys' High in
the 1950s) in New Zealand but is now generally known as "Form VII" in New Zealand, and thus the "Lower Sixth Form" is just "Form
VI". Otherwise, the English system is usually followed -- See school years.
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