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.
Contents
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. 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 – poet
Isobel Andrews – playwright, novelist, short-story writer and poet
Sylvia Ashton-Warner – writer, poet and educator
Leigh Brewer – dancer and choreographer
Vidyamala Burch – writer and mindfulness teacher
Joe Cotton – pop singer
Anne French – editor and poet
Rebecca Gibney – actor
Robin Hyde – poet, novelist, biographer and journalist
Annabel Langbein – celebrity cook, food writer and publisher
Katherine Mansfield – writer
Elizabeth McRae – actor
Marjory Nicholls – poet
Anna Paquin – actor
Beverley Randell – children's author
Jo Randerson – writer, playwright, theatre director and performer
Fran Walsh – 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
Tegan Graham – basketball 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