Wellington Girls' College was founded in 1883 in

Wellington Wellington 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 third-largest city in New Zealand (second largest in the North Island ...

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

. 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 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. Before the school the Colonial Hospital, Wellington's first public hospital, was built on the site in 1847. It was destroyed by an earthquake in 1848 and a new building large enough to meet the needs of the city was built in 1855. It was replaced by Wellington Hospital. In 1925 the Wellington East Girls' College was established to serve the southern and eastern suburbs.

Notable alumnae

The arts

Fleur Adcock Fleur Adcock (10 February 1934 – 10 October 2024) was a New Zealand poet and editor. Of English and Northern Irish ancestry, Adcock lived much of her life in England. She is well-represented in New Zealand poetry anthologies, was awarded an ...

– poet * Isobel Andrews – playwright, novelist, short-story writer and poet * Sylvia Ashton-Warner – writer, poet and educator * Leigh Brewer – dancer and choreographer *

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 m ...

– writer and mindfulness teacher * Joe Cotton – pop singer * Anne French – editor and poet *

Rebecca Gibney Rebecca Catherine Gibney is a New Zealand actress known for her roles on Australian television in '' The Flying Doctors'', '' Halifax f.p.'', ''Packed to the Rafters'', ''Winter'' and '' Wanted''. She has also featured in a number of Australia ...

– actor * Robin Hyde – poet, novelist, biographer and journalist * Annabel Langbein – celebrity cook, food writer and publisher *

Katherine Mansfield Kathleen Mansfield Murry (née Beauchamp; 14 October 1888 – 9 January 1923) was a New Zealand writer and critic who was an important figure in the Literary modernism, modernist movement. Her works are celebrated across the world and have been ...

– writer * Elizabeth McRae – actor * Marjory Nicholls – poet *

Anna Paquin Anna Helene Paquin ( ; born 24 July 1982) is a New Zealand actress. Born in Winnipeg and raised in Wellington, she made her acting debut in the romantic drama film ''The Piano'' (1993), for which she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Act ...

– 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 a ...

– screenwriter and film producer * Bridget Williams – publisher

Public service

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

Science and medicine

* Elaine Gurr – doctor * Helen Deem – doctor * Theodora Clemens Hall – doctor * Ocean Mercier – scientist * Marion Robinson – professor of nutrition * Dianne Sika–Paotonu – immunologist

Sports

* Gina Crampton – netball player * Beth Jurgeleit – hockey player * Jackie Kiddle – rower * Trish McKelvey – cricketer * Melissa Moon – athlete * Thamsyn Newton – cricketer * Rebecca Perrott – swimmer * Sarah Tetzlaff – competition climber and Olympian * Jade Wilson – squash player

Notable staff

* Airini Beautrais – poet * Edith Searle Grossmann – 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