Wellington College, is a state-run boys

secondary school A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' secondary education, lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) ...

in Wellington, New Zealand. It is situated in 12 hectares of green belt land in the suburb of Mount Victoria, in the vicinity of the Basin Reserve and Government House. The school was founded in 1876 through a

deed of endowment In common law, a deed is any legal instrument in writing which passes, affirms or confirms an interest, right, or property and that is signed, attested, delivered, and in some jurisdictions, sealed. It is commonly associated with transferring ...

from Sir George Grey, the then Governor of New Zealand. Wellington College is one of the oldest boys' secondary schools in New Zealand. The history and influence of Wellington College have made it notable in the history of New Zealand, with prominent alumni such as Arthur Coningham,

Bernard Freyberg Lieutenant-General Bernard Cyril Freyberg, 1st Baron Freyberg, (21 March 1889 – 4 July 1963) was a British-born New Zealand soldier and Victoria Cross recipient, who served as the 7th Governor-General of New Zealand from 1946 to 1952. Freyb ...

and William Pickering. The school is known nationally for both its academic success, as well as a large number of sporting activities. The school has an enrolment of about 1750 boys.

Glen Denham Glen Ivan Denham (born 1963 or 1964) is a New Zealand former basketball player. He is of Māori descent. Early life Denham was born in Dunedin, New Zealand, the son of a teacher and butcher. His father was Australian and his mother was of Māor ...

is the current Headmaster.

History

Wellington College opened in 1867 as Wellington Grammar School in Woodward Street, though Sir George Grey gave the school a

in 1853. In 1869 the school moved to a new, spired, wooden building on the hills above the central city in Clifton Terrace from where it could be seen from many places in Wellington. In 1874 the college opened in a much larger building at its present location. The former boarding establishment at the College, Firth House, was named after Joseph Firth, the headmaster from 1892 to 1921. Wellington College's Pavilion, Firth House and the Gifford Observatory were opened on 1 December, 1924. The War Memorial Hall was opened on 2 March, 1928, financially supported by £6000 from the Old Boys' Association. The War Memorial Hall and classroom wings were demolished by the Ministry of Works and replaced in the 1960s with a new hall and seven-storey Tower classroom block due to its lack of earthquake reinforcements. The stained glass window from the front of the War Memorial Hall is now located in the front of the existing hall. In the 1960s the Old Boys Gymnasium was built on the eastern boundary of the campus replacing the swimming pool and during the 1970s the Maths, Library and Technology blocks were opened, replacing the last of the War Memorial Hall building and classroom wings that opened in 1928. In 1980 Firth House was demolished to make way for a new gymnasium which opened in 1982. 1988 saw the opening of the Arts and Music block, and the Brierley Theatre, named after old boy Ron Brierley. The first dedicated computer rooms in the College opened in 1994 in a new building located behind the school hall. 2001 saw the opening of the Science block, on the western boundary of the campus. In 2008 the Languages block opened, also located on the western boundary. The campus also has many prefabricated buildings, some functioning as offices and some as classrooms. The only "historical" buildings remaining on campus to this day are Firth Hall, the Pavilion and the Gifford Observatory. Wellington college

In 2016, the College Hall was demolished to make way for a larger Assembly Hall and Performing Arts Centre, which would be able to hold the entire school with its growing population. In preparation for this, the staffroom was moved to Firth Hall, the Uniform Shop opened a new premise next to the Archives, and the Computer Block was opened on the first floor of Tower Block. Construction on the new hall commenced in September 2016 and was opened in 2018 by Jacinda Ardern.

About

Wellington College's enrolment zone mainly covers the central and western suburbs of Wellington ( Rongotai College serves the southeastern suburbs, and Onslow College the northern suburbs). The school also competes in a local athletics competition known as "McEvedy Shield" along with St. Patrick's College (Town), St. Patrick's College (Silverstream) and Rongotai College. Historically, Wellington College have won the shield more than any other school. It is next to Wellington East Girls' College, also in Mount Victoria, and shares with that college the

Gifford Observatory The Gifford Observatory is an astronomical observation facility located in the suburb of Mount Victoria, Wellington, New Zealand. Operated by the Gifford Observatory Trust with the intent of making it available for use to Wellington school childre ...

. Although Wellington College is situated next to Wellington East Girls' College, its sister college is Wellington Girls' College located in Thorndon. In 2011, 2012 and 2013, Wellington College earned the highest number of scholarships in the New Zealand scholarship exams.

Board of Trustees

The Wellington College Board of Trustees consists of twelve elected and appointed members.

Notable alumni

The Arts

Maxwell Fernie Arnott Maxwell Fernie (25 April 191022 May 1999) was a New Zealand organist, teacher and conductor. He was an authority on Gregorian chant, sixteenth century polyphony, organ construction and tonal design. Life Fernie was born in Wellington on ...

– organist, conductor and music teacher *

Alexander Grant Alexander Grant may refer to: The arts * Alex da Kid (Alexander Grant, born 1982), English hip-hop producer * Alex Grant (musician) (born 1974), bass guitarist for Idlewild and DeSalvo * Alex Grant (poet), Scottish-American poet, teacher * Alexa ...

– ballet dancer, teacher, and company director *

Jonathan Harlen Jonathan Harlen is a New Zealand-born author, academic and musician now resident in Australia. He has published more than 30 novels for adults, young adults, and children. He has won numerous awards for young adult fiction including the The Wil ...

– author *

Dai Henwood Dafydd Morgan "Dai" Henwood (born 7 February 1978) is a New Zealand comedian. He is best known for his hosting of several television shows found on Three but also performs stand-up comedy. Life and career Henwood was born in 1978 to father R ...

– comedian *

Raybon Kan Raybon Kan (born 1966) is a New Zealand comedian and newspaper columnist. Early life and family Kan's family moved to Wellington, New Zealand soon after his birth in Masterton. He began his education at St Mark's Church School. He showed an ea ...

– writer and comedian * Bret McKenzie – Academy Award-winning songwriter and member of Flight of the Conchords * John Mulgan – editor, writer, journalist and Army officer *

Robert J. Pope Robert James Pope (24 March 1865 – 12 April 1949) was a New Zealand poet, songwriter, violinist, cricketer, teacher, and headmaster. He became well known in Wellington between 1910 and 1945 for his contributions to the ''New Zealand Free Lance' ...

– songwriter, poet, cricketer * Karl Urban – actor

Broadcasting & journalism

* Edward George Honey – Australian journalist credited by some as the originator of the Two-minute silence tradition * John Campbell – journalist, radio and television personality * Keith Quinn – TV and radio sports presenter * Chris Spence – journalist * Bryan Waddle – cricket commentator & radio presenter

Business

* Ron Brierley – businessman * Alan Gibbs – businessman * Arthur Myers – businessman and politician *

Steve Outtrim Steve Outtrim (born 1973) is a technology entrepreneur from New Zealand. He is best known for his success in the early " dot com years" of the Internet, as the creator of Sausage Software and its flagship product, the HotDog Web Editor. He has ...

– businessman * Frank Renouf – businessman

Public service

* Henry Avery, New Zealand's Quartermaster General during World War Two and former All Black *

Grafton Francis Bothamley Grafton Francis Bothamley (9 May 1880 – 12 June 1956) was the eighth Clerk of the New Zealand House of Representatives ("Clerk of the House"). As Clerk of the House he was head of the Legislative Department, responsible for administrative ser ...

– Clerk of the New Zealand House of Representatives * Arthur Coningham – World War II commander and World War I Air Ace. Portrayed in the film '' Patton'' * Ken Douglas, trade union leader and politician *

, Governor-General, World War I VC Winner and World War II commander * Thomas Gault – Justice of the Supreme Court of New Zealand * William Gentry - World War II commander * Lord Grey of Naunton – last

Governor of Northern Ireland The governor of Northern Ireland was the principal officer and representative in Northern Ireland of the British monarch. The office was established on 9 December 1922 and abolished on 18 July 1973. Overview The office of Governor of Northern I ...

Frederick Hanson Frederick John Hanson, (26 May 1914 – 26 October 1980) was the Commissioner of the New South Wales Police Force from 1972 to 1976. Early life Hanson was born in Orange, New South Wales, on 26 May 1914 and was educated at Christian Brothers C ...

, World War II commander, subsequently Commissioner of Works at the Ministry of Works *

Michael Hardie Boys Sir Michael Hardie Boys, (born 6 October 1931) is a New Zealand retired lawyer, judge, and jurist who served as the 17th Governor-General of New Zealand, in office from 1996 to 2001. Early life and family Hardie Boys was born in 1931 in Well ...

– former Governor-General of New Zealand * Thomas Hislop – Mayor of Wellington from 1931 to 1945 * Don Hunn

CNZM The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant (document), royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Monarchy of New Zealand, Queen of New Zealand, "for those ...

– senior New Zealand diplomat, civil servant, and

State Services Commissioner The Public Service Commission (PSC; Māori: ''Te Kawa Mataaho''), called the State Services Commission until 2020, is the central public service department of New Zealand charged with overseeing, managing, and improving the performance of the ...

* Ngātata Love – academic and Treaty negotiator * Rex Mason – politician * Matthew Oram – lawyer, politician, Speaker of Parliament *

Graham Beresford Parkinson Major General Graham Beresford Parkinson, (5 November 1896 – 10 July 1979) was a professional soldier in the New Zealand Military Forces who served during the First and Second World Wars. Born in Wellington, New Zealand, Parkinson was c ...

– World War II commander * Paul Reeves – former Governor-General of New Zealand *

Adrian G. Rodda Adrian George Rodda (11 March 1911 – 31 October 1997) was a senior New Zealand civil servant. He was born in Wellington, and educated at Johnsonville School, Wellington College and Victoria University College. Rodda's career began in the Inl ...

– senior civil servant and Chairman of the State Services Commission *

Eric Roussell Eric Alwyn Roussell (1 October 1911 – 19 August 1977) was the tenth Clerk of the New Zealand House of Representatives ("Clerk of the House"). As Clerk of the House he was head of the Legislative Department, responsible for administrative serv ...

– Clerk of the New Zealand House of Representatives *

William Ball Sutch William is a male given name of Germanic origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conquest of Engl ...

, New Zealand public servant, put on trial for espionage * Ray Wallace, Mayor of Lower Hutt from 2010 to 2019

Science

George Leslie Adkin George Leslie Adkin (26 July 1888 – 21 May 1964) was a New Zealand farmer, geologist, archaeologist, ethnologist, photographer, tramper and environmentalist. As an amateur scholar he made a significant contribution to the study of natural science ...

– farmer, geologist, ethnologist, photographer, and environmentalist. * David Benney – emeritus professor and former head of the Department of Mathematics at MIT * Ian Foster – computer scientist * Diamond Jenness - anthropologist in Canada * William Pickering – former Head of the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (space scientist) * Philip Robertson – chemist, university professor and writer * Jonathan Sarfati – creationist, scientist, and New Zealand Chess Champion

Sport

* Nelson Asofa-Solomona – rugby league player for Melbourne Storm * Tom Blundell – professional cricketer for the Wellington Firebirds and New Zealand Black Caps * Leo Bertos – former professional football player for the Wellington Phoenix and the All Whites *

Harry Boam Harry Kenneth Perrott Boam (born 15 October 1990) is a New Zealand cricketer, and the first schoolboy to play for the Wellington Firebirds, Wellington's domestic cricket team in the State Championship. He also represented New Zealand at the Un ...

– cricketer for the Wellington Firebirds * Craig Bradshaw – Former Professional Basketballer, and member of New Zealand Tall Blacks *

George Bridgewater George Spencer Bridgewater (born 18 January 1983) is a former New Zealand rower who competed in the pair at international level with Nathan Twaddle. The pair began representing New Zealand together in 2004 and won bronze medals at the 2008 Su ...

– New Zealand rower * Tim Brown – former professional footballer for the Wellington Phoenix and the All Whites. Also co-founder of

Allbirds Allbirds, Inc. is an American company that sells footwear and apparel. The company claims to keep its products as eco-friendly as possible and is a certified B Corporation. Allbirds uses a direct-to-consumer model in conjunction with distributi ...

Ralph Caulton Ralph Walter Caulton (10 January 1937 – 9 June 2024) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A wing, Caulton played for the Poneke club and represented Wellington at a provincial level. He was a member of the New Zealand national side, the A ...

– All Black * Dane Coles – All Black * Ross Durant – football player for New Zealand All Whites * Simon Elliott – former football player with the

San Jose Earthquakes The San Jose Earthquakes are an American professional soccer team based in San Jose, California. The Earthquakes compete as a member club of the Western Conference of Major League Soccer (MLS). Originally as the San Jose Clash, the franchise ...

and New Zealand All Whites * Marc Ellis – former All Black, entertainer, businessman * James Franklin – cricketer, plays for Black Caps and Wellington Firebirds * Wes Goosen - Rugby Union player for * Ken Gray – All Black * Onny Parun – tennis player * Dion Prewster – Professional Basketballer, and member of New Zealand Tall Blacks. * Lima Sopoaga – All Black * Peter Taylor – New Zealand rower * Neemia Tialata – All Black * Filo Tiatia – All Black *

Ian Uttley Ian Neill Uttley (3 December 1941 – 15 September 2015) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A centre three-quarter, Uttley represented , , and at a provincial level. He was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, in two m ...

– All Black * Phillip Wilson – Olympic gold medallist rower

Headmasters

Coat of Arms

References

External links

Official website

NZQA examination results

Wellington College and the First World War (from the Ministry of Culture and Heritage)
{{Schools in Wellington Boys' schools in New Zealand Educational institutions established in 1867 Secondary schools in the Wellington Region Schools in Wellington City Cricket grounds in New Zealand 1867 establishments in New Zealand