Editing Nelson College (section)

==History==
The school opened with eight students on 7 April 1856 in premises in Trafalgar Square, Nelson, but shortly thereafter moved to a site in Manuka Street.  In 1861, the school moved again to its current site in Waimea Road. The Deed of Foundation was signed in 1857 and set out the curriculum to be followed by the college. It included English language and literature, one or more modern languages, geography, mathematics, classics, history, drawing, music and such other branches of science as the Council of Governors should determine.<ref name="Palmer">L.R. Palmer, "A Short History of Nelson College". In: "Nelson College Old Boys' Register 1856&ndash;1981" (5th edn.)</ref> The Deed stated that the purpose of the school was the "advancement of religion and morality, and the promotion of useful knowledge, by offering to the youth of the Province general education of a superior character."

In 1858, the General Assembly passed the Nelson College Act, which confirmed the status of the school. There were nine initial trustees, including [[Charles Elliott (New Zealand politician)|Charles Elliott]], [[David Monro (New Zealand politician)|David Monro]], [[John Barnicoat]], [[Charles Bigg Wither]], [[William Wells (New Zealand politician)|William Wells]], and [[Alfred Domett]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Annual Report of the Board of Trustees of the Nelson Trust Funds, for the Year Ending 21st December, 1857 |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NENZC18580109.2.8 |access-date=26 August 2017 |work=[[The Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle]] |volume=XVII |issue=3 |date=9 January 1858 |page=2}}</ref> In that same year, Alfred Fell gifted the common seal, containing the college's badge and motto, "''Pietas, Probitas et Sapientia''" (Loyalty, honesty and wisdom).<ref name="Palmer"/> A team from Nelson College took part in the first game of [[rugby football|rugby]] played in New Zealand, against the Nelson Rugby Football Club on 14 May 1870 at what is now known as the [[Botanical Gardens, Nelson|Botanic Reserve, Nelson]], and, in 1876, the first inter-College [[rugby football|rugby]] match in New Zealand was played between Nelson College and [[Wellington College (New Zealand)|Wellington College]].<ref name="Palmer"/>

[[File:Nelson College after Murchison earthquake 1929 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|The damaged tower of the main building at Nelson College following the [[1929 Murchison earthquake]]]]
On 7 December 1904, the college was almost completely destroyed by fire.  The main building, designed by [[William Beatson]], was said to be a "miniature of [[Eton College|Eton]]," the architect being an [[Old Etonians|old Etonian]].<ref>"The Evening Post", 8 December 1904</ref> In 1926, Nelson College was invited to join the annual [[rugby football|rugby]] tournament between [[Christ's College, Christchurch|Christ's College]], [[Wanganui Collegiate School]] and [[Wellington College (New Zealand)|Wellington College]], known as the "Quadrangular".<ref name="Palmer"/> In the [[1929 Murchison earthquake]], the main building of the college was once again severely damaged, although only two boys were injured.<ref name="Palmer"/>

In 2011, Nelson College became the first all-boys college in New Zealand to form a [[gay-straight alliance]] support group.<ref name="GSA">{{cite news |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/4854531/Boys-college-backs-gay-straight-students |title=Boys' college backs gay, straight students |author=Roberts, Adam |date=6 April 2011 |work=[[The Nelson Mail]] |access-date=28 October 2011}}</ref> The alliance operated from its own room. In 2017, the group was re-formed, after a failed attempt in 2015.

In 2019, long-serving and retiring headmaster Gary O'Shea claimed that the school needed more girls to stay up-to-date.<ref>[https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/115826960/more-girls-needed-in-boys-school-outgoing-headmaster-says#comments More girls needed in boys school, outgoing headmaster says]</ref>