Wellington Girls' College

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Wellington Girls' College was founded in 1883 in Wellington, New Zealand. 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 Wellington.^[4]

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 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.^[5] It was destroyed by an earthquake in 1848^[6] and a new building large enough to meet the needs of the city was built in 1855.^[5][7] 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 – poet
• Isobel Andrews – playwright, novelist, short-story writer and poet
• Sylvia Ashton-Warner – writer, poet and educator^[8]
• Vidyamala Burch – writer and mindfulness teacher
• Joe Cotton – pop singer
• Anne French – editor and poet^[9]
• Rebecca Gibney – actor
• Robin Hyde – poet, novelist, biographer and journalist
• Annabel Langbein – celebrity cook, food writer and publisher
• Katherine Mansfield – writer
• Elizabeth McRae – actor^[9]
• Marjory Nicholls – poet
• Anna Paquin – actor
• Beverley Randell – children's author^[9]
• Jo Randerson – writer, playwright, theatre director and performer^[10]
• Fran Walsh – screenwriter and film producer
• Bridget Williams – publisher^[11]

Public service

• Nellie Coad – teacher, community leader, writer
• Cathy Dewes – Māori language advocate, educator
• Winnie Laban – politician^[10]
• Margaret Shields – politician^[10]

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^[12]
• Beth Jurgeleit – hockey player
• Jackie Kiddle – rower
• Trish McKelvey – cricketer^[10]
• Melissa Moon – athlete
• Thamsyn Newton – cricketer
• Rebecca Perrott – swimmer^[10]
• Jade Wilson – squash player^[13]

Notable staff

• Airini Beautrais – poet
• Edith Searle Grossmann – novelist and journalist^[14]
• Edith Howes – writer and educationalist^[15]

Principals

	Principal	Period
1	Martha Hamilton	1883–1900
2	Mary McLean	1900–1926
3	Violet Greig	1926–1938
4	Esther North	1938–1950
5	Maida Clark	1950–1958
6	Betty Fraser	1958–1978
7	Elaine Barnett	1978–1995
–	Kath Kelly (acting)	1995
8	Ngaire Newton	1995–1996
–	Kath Kelly (acting)	1996–1997
9	Marg McLeod	1997–2006
–	Denise Johnson (acting)	2006–2007
10	Julia Davidson	2008–present

References