The first state secondary school in New Zealand, Nelson College, opened in temporary premises in Trafalgar St with a roll of just eight boys. It eventually attracted boys from around the country as well as the local area. It now has a roll of over 1000 and continues to take both boarders and day pupils.
Notable old boys include Nobel Prize winner Ernest Rutherford, Victoria Cross recipient Leonard Trent, Commonwealth Secretary-General and Deputy Prime Minister Don McKinnon, and two Labour Prime Ministers: Wallace (‘Bill’) Rowling and Geoffrey Palmer.
In May 1870 a Nelson College team played the Nelson club in what is thought to have been New Zealand’s first game of rugby.
Read more on NZHistory
History of New Zealand, 1769-1914 – A history of New Zealand 1769-1914
External links
- Nelson College (Nelson College)
- Nelson College (Wikipedia)
- Education from 1840 to 1918 (Te Ara)
- Post-primary education: development of system (1966 encyclopaedia)
How to cite this page
'First state secondary school opens in Nelson', URL: http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/first-state-secondary-school-opens-in-nelson, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 10-Feb-2016
