Wellington Girls' College was founded in 1883 in

Wellington Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by me ...

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

. At that time it was called Wellington Girls' High School. Wellington Girls' College is a year 9 to 13 state secondary school, located in Thorndon in central

History

Seeing a need for higher education for girls the founding fathers of

Wellington College Wellington College may refer to: *Wellington College, Berkshire, an independent school in Crowthorne, Berkshire, England ** Wellington College International Shanghai ** Wellington College International Tianjin * Wellington College, Wellington, Ne ...

leased a building in Abel Smith Street in 1882 and appointed Miss Martha Hamilton as the Lady Principal of the school. It opened on 2 February 1883 with 40 students. However, by the end of its first year the roll increased to almost 100 girls, and when the Premier, the Rt. Hon.

Robert Stout Sir Robert Stout (28 September 1844 – 19 July 1930) was a New Zealand politician who was the 13th premier of New Zealand on two occasions in the late 19th century, and later Chief Justice of New Zealand. He was the only person to hold both ...

visited the school in 1884 the building was overcrowded with 130 students. As a result of his visit the school was moved to its current site in Pipitea Street. In 1925 the

Wellington East Girls' College Wellington East Girls' College (WEGC, Maori name: Te Kura Kōhine o te Rāwhiti o Te Upoko o Te Ika) is a state single-sex girls' secondary school which sits directly above Mount Victoria Tunnel, Wellington, New Zealand. Serving Years 9 to 13 ...

was established to serve the southern and eastern suburbs.

Notable alumnae

The arts

Fleur Adcock Fleur Adcock (born 10 February 1934) is a New Zealand poet and editor, of English and Northern Irish ancestry, who has lived much of her life in England. She is well-represented in New Zealand poetry anthologies, was awarded an honorary doc ...

– poet *

Isobel Andrews Isabella Smith Andrews (; 2 November 1905 – 19 June 1990), known professionally as Isobel Andrews, was a Scottish-born New Zealand playwright, novelist, short-story writer and poet. She wrote over sixty plays, many of which were published, an ...

– playwright, novelist, short-story writer and poet * Sylvia Ashton-Warner – writer, poet and educator *

Vidyamala Burch Prudence Margaret Burch (born 1959), known professionally as Vidyamala Burch, is a mindfulness teacher, writer, and co-founder of Breathworks, an international mindfulness organization known particularly for developing mindfulness-based pain ma ...

– writer and mindfulness teacher *

Joe Cotton Joanne Monique "Joe" Cotton, is a Canadian-born New Zealand pop singer who gained recognition as a member of the girl group TrueBliss, formed in 1999 on ''Popstars''. Cotton has since joined a cover band, The Mermaids Danceband. She has also ...

– pop singer *

Anne French Anne French (born 1956) is a New Zealand editor and poet. Life French was born in Wellington, New Zealand. She graduated from Wellington Girls' College and Victoria University of Wellington with an MA. She worked as an editor for Oxford Univer ...

– editor and poet * Rebecca Gibney – actor *

Robin Hyde Robin Hyde, the pseudonym used by Iris Guiver Wilkinson (19 January 1906 – 23 August 1939), was a South African-born New Zealand poet, journalist and novelist. Early life Wilkinson was born in Cape Town to an English father and an Australia ...

– poet, novelist, biographer and journalist *

Annabel Langbein Annabel Rose Langbein (born 1958) is a New Zealand celebrity cook, food writer and publisher. She has published 25 cookbooks and fronted three seasons of her TV series, ''Annabel Langbein The Free Range Cook'', which launched on the TV One ne ...

– celebrity cook, food writer and publisher *

Katherine Mansfield Kathleen Mansfield Murry (née Beauchamp; 14 October 1888 – 9 January 1923) was a New Zealand writer, essayist and journalist, widely considered one of the most influential and important authors of the modernist movement. Her works are celebra ...

– writer *

Elizabeth McRae Elizabeth Helen McRae (née Kersley; born 1 August 1936) is a New Zealand actress, best known for her portrayal of Marjorie Brasch (née Neilson) in the television soap opera ''Shortland Street'', and, in the last decade, as Jean Marlowe, in ...

– actor * Marjory Nicholls – poet *

Anna Paquin Anna Hélène Paquin ( ; born 24 July 1982) is a New Zealand actress. Born in Winnipeg and raised in Wellington, Paquin made her acting debut portraying Flora McGrath in the romantic drama film '' The Piano'' (1993), for which she won the ...

– actor * Beverley Randell – children's author * Jo Randerson – writer, playwright, theatre director and performer *

Fran Walsh Dame Frances Rosemary Walsh (born 10 January 1959) is a New Zealand screenwriter and film producer. The partner of filmmaker Peter Jackson, Walsh has contributed to all of their films since 1989: as co-writer since '' Meet the Feebles'', and ...

– screenwriter and film producer *

Bridget Williams Bridget Rosamund Williams (born 1948) is a New Zealand publisher and founder of two independent publishing companies: Port Nicholson Press and Bridget Williams Books. Early life and family Born in 1948, Williams was the daughter of Mary Willia ...

– publisher

Public service

* Nellie Coad – teacher, community leader, writer * Cathy Dewes – Māori language advocate, educator * Luamanuvao Winnie Laban – politician *

Margaret Shields Dame Margaret Kerslake Shields (née Porter, 18 December 1941 – 29 May 2013) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party. She had three terms in the House of Representatives in the 1980s and was afterwards a member of the Greater Wellin ...

– politician

Science and medicine

Elaine Gurr Eily Elaine Gurr (8 November 1896 – 12 December 1996) was a New Zealand medical doctor and medical administrator and advocate of the discipline of general practice. Early life and education Gurr was born in Wellington, New Zealand, on 8 Nov ...

– doctor *

Helen Deem Muriel Helen Deem (née Easterfield, 26 February 1900 – 26 October 1955) was a New Zealand medical doctor, medical officer, Plunket medical adviser and university lecturer. Early life The daughter of Thomas Easterfield and Anna Maria ...

– doctor *

Theodora Clemens Hall Theodora Clemens Hall (née Easterfield, 12 June 1902 – 19 December 1980) was a New Zealand medical doctor. She was born in Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand on 12 June 1902. Her father was Thomas Easterfield, a professor of chemistry and phy ...

– doctor * Ocean Mercier – scientist * Marion Robinson – professor of nutrition * Dianne Sika–Paotonu - immunologist

Sports

Gina Crampton Gina Crampton (born 7 December 1991) is a New Zealand netball international. She was a member of the New Zealand teams that won the 2019 Netball World Cup and the 2021 Constellation Cup. Crampton was also a member of the Southern Steel teams th ...

– netball player * Beth Jurgeleit – hockey player * Jackie Kiddle – rower * Trish McKelvey – cricketer *

Melissa Moon Melissa Potocka Moon (born 16 September 1969) is a long-distance runner from Wellington, New Zealand. She is a two time World Mountain Running champion and has won 21 New Zealand athletics titles over her career. In 2001, she was named New Zeal ...

– athlete *

Thamsyn Newton Thamsyn Michelle Moupia Newton (born 3 June 1995) is a New Zealand cricketer and rugby union player. She plays cricket for Central Districts and New Zealand as a right-handed batter and right-arm medium pace bowler. In May 2021, Newton was awarde ...

– cricketer * Rebecca Perrott – swimmer *

Jade Wilson Jade Wilson (1977 – 14 May 1998) was a New Zealand squash player representing the New Zealand women's national squash team, national team mainly in the junior level competitions. Jade Wilson is still remembered as one of the greatest ever juni ...

– squash player

Notable staff

* Airini Beautrais – poet *

Edith Searle Grossmann Edith Howitt Searle Grossmann (née Searle, 8 September 1863 – 27 February 1931) was a New Zealand teacher, novelist, journalist and feminist. Early life Grossmann was born in Beechworth, Victoria, Australia on 8 September 1863, to Mary Ann ...

– novelist and journalist * Edith Howes – writer and educationalist

Principals

References

Educational institutions established in 1883 Girls' schools in New Zealand Secondary schools in the Wellington Region Schools in Wellington City 1883 establishments in New Zealand Alliance of Girls' Schools Australasia {{NewZealand-school-stub