Editing Nelson College

{{Short description|State secondary school in New Zealand}}
{{distinguish|Nelson College for Girls}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox school
 | name                    = Nelson College
 | image                   = 
 | motto                   = {{Langx|la|Pietas Probitas et Sapientia}}
 | motto_translation       = Loyalty, honesty and wisdom
 | type                    = [[State school|State]] secondary, day and boarding
 | established             = {{Start date and age|1856|4|7|df=y}}
 | streetaddress           = 67 Waimea Road
 | city                    = [[Nelson, New Zealand|Nelson]]
 | postcode                = 7010
 | country                 = New Zealand
 | coordinates             = {{coord|41|17|8|S|173|16|36|E |type:edu_scale:1000_region:NZ |display=inline,title}}
 | headmaster              = Richard Washington
 | roll                    = {{NZ school roll data|294|y||y}} ({{NZ school roll data|||y}})
 | gender                  = Boys
 | decile                  = 7
 | MOE                     = 294
 | sister_school           = [[Nelson College for Girls]]
 | houses                  = {{Hlist|Barnicoat|Chaytor|Domett|Kahurangi|Monro|Robinson|Rutherford}}
 | colours                 = Navy and light blue {{Color box|Navy}}{{Color box|Lightblue}}
 | homepage                = {{URL|https://www.nelson.school.nz}}
}}
'''Nelson College''' is the oldest state [[secondary school]] in [[New Zealand]], a feat achieved in part thanks to its original inception as a private school.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/first-state-secondary-school-opens-in-nelson |title=First state secondary school opens |date=9 December 2016 | publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage |website=New Zealand History |access-date=4 June 2020}}</ref> It is an all-boys school in [[Nelson, New Zealand|the City of Nelson]] that teaches from years 9 to 13. In addition, it runs a private preparatory school for year&nbsp;7 and 8 boys. The school also has places for boarders, who live in two boarding houses adjacent to the main school buildings on the same [[campus]].

A Nelson College [[Old Boys|old boy]], [[Charles Monro (rugby union)|Charles Monro]], was instrumental in introducing the game of [[Rugby football|rugby]] into New Zealand.<ref>{{cite web| work=New Zealand Rugby Museum |url=http://rugbymuseum.co.nz/?page_id=1275 | title=1870s | access-date=30 June 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| work=theprow.org.nz |url=http://www.theprow.org.nz/new-zealand-first-game-of-rugby/ | title=New Zealand's First Game of Rugby | access-date=30 June 2018}}</ref>

==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>

==House system==
The college has a [[house system]] with, {{As of|2019|05|16|lc=y|post=,}} six different houses that compete across a range of sporting codes, including cross country running and swimming, together with varied cultural activities:
* Barnicoat–Rutherford combined (white & black)
* Chaytor (red)
* Domett (green)
* Monro (blue)
* Robinson (orange)
* Kahurangi (yellow)

The two boarding houses, Rutherford and Barnicoat, recently underwent a five-year refurbishment.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/108203296/new-lease-of-life-for-old-boarding-house |title=New lease of life for old boarding house |first=Katy |last=Jones |date=1 November 2018 |work=Nelson Mail |access-date=4 June 2020}}</ref> A third boarding house, Fell, was closed to boarders at the end of 2018, and is now available for lease, predominantly to sports and community groups.

==Notable staff==
{{main category|Nelson College faculty}}
*[[William Henry Allen (artist)|William Allen]], artist
*[[Gilbert Archey]], zoologist, museum director, ethnologist
*[[Phil Costley]], athlete
*[[Joseph Wladislas Edmond Potocki de Montalk|Edmond de Montalk]], language teacher, storekeeper
*[[Andrew Goodman (rugby union)|Andrew Goodman]], rugby union player
*[[John Gully (artist)|John Gully]], artist
*[[Wilfrid Nelson Isaac]], jeweller, art school director
*[[Frank Milner]], school principal, educationalist
*[[Harold Nelson (athlete)|Harold Nelson]], athlete
*[[William Sutch]], economist, public servant
*[[Matthew Toynbee]], cricketer

===Headmasters===
Since its foundation in 1856, Nelson College has had 22 headmasters. The following is a complete list:<ref>''Nelson College Old Boys' Register, 1856–2006'', 6th edition (CD-ROM).</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=O'Shea for head | date=5 July 2006 | work=The Press | page=4}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/300977773/nelson-college-headmaster-resigns-for-health-reasons |title=Nelson College headmaster resigns for health reasons |first=Warren |last=Gamble |date=26 September 2023 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |access-date=26 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350351806/heartwarming-welcome-nelson-colleges-new-principal |title='Heartwarming' welcome for Nelson College's new principal |date=23 July 2024 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |access-date=28 July 2024}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" 
!
!Name
!Term
|-
|1
|  John Charles Bagshaw
| align=center | 1856–1858
|-
|2
|  George Heppel
| align=center | 1859–1861
|-
|3
| Reginald Broughton
| align=center | 1862
|-
|4
|  [[John Danforth Greenwood]]
| align=center | 1863–1865
|-
|5
|  [[Charles Richard Alder Lendrick MacLean|Charles Lendrick MacLean]]
| align=center | 1866–1868
|-
|6
|  Frank Churchill Simmons
| align=center | 1868–1876
|-
|7
|  [[John Chapman Andrew]]
| align=center | 1876–1886
|-
|8
|  [[William Justice Ford]]
| align=center | 1886–1888
|-
|9
|  John William Joynt
| align=center | 1889–1898
|-
|10
|  [[William Still Littlejohn]]
| align=center | 1899–1903
|-
|11
|  Harry Lewis Fowler
| align=center | 1904–1921
|-
|12
|  [[Charles Harrington Broad]]
| align=center | 1922–1933
|-
|13
|  Herbert Victor Searle
| align=center | 1933–1956
|-
|14
|  Basil Henry Wakelin
| align=center | 1957–1969
|-
|15
|  E.J. "Doug" Brewster
| align=center | 1970–1981
|-
|16
|  Barry Beckingsale
| align=center | 1981–1985
|-
|17
|  Tony Cooper
| align=center | 1985–1988
|-
|18
|  Gary Bowler
| align=center | 1988–1995
|-
|19
|  Salvi Gargiulo
| align=center | 1995–2006
|-
|20
|  Gary O'Shea
| align=center | 2006–2020
|-
|21
|  Richard Dykes
| align=center | 2020–2023
|-
|22
|  Richard Washington
| align=center | 2024–present
|}

==Notable alumni==
{{alumni|date=September 2023}}
{{main category|People educated at Nelson College}}
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Harry Atkinson (socialist)|Harry Atkinson]], socialist
* [[Michael Baigent]], writer
* [[Tim Bell (computer scientist)|Tim Bell]], computer scientist
* [[Leo Bensemann]], artist
* [[Bronson Beri]], basketball player
* [[Ethan Blackadder]], rugby union player
* [[Wallace Chapman]], TV & radio presenter
* [[Basil Collyns]], [[Battle of Britain]] pilot and flying ace
* [[Wyatt Crockett]], rugby union player
* [[Mitchell Drummond]], rugby union player
* [[Jock Edwards]], cricketer
* [[Henry Fa'arodo]], footballer 
* [[Leicester Fainga'anuku]], rugby union player
* [[David Havili]], rugby union player
* [[Jim Henderson (writer)|Jim Henderson]], writer and broadcaster
* [[William Hudson (engineer)|William Hudson]], civil engineer
* [[Mitchell Hunt]], rugby union player
* [[Syd Jackson (New Zealand)|Syd Jackson]], Māori activist
* [[Jang Keun-suk]], Korean actor, singer, and model
* [[Phill Jones]], basketballer
* [[Gerald R. Leighton]], zoologist
* [[James Lowe (rugby union)|James Lowe]], rugby union player
* [[Nev MacEwan]], rugby union player
* [[Don McKinnon]], former [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] Secretary-General
* [[Simon Mannering]], rugby league player
* [[James Marshall (rugby union)|James Marshall]], rugby union player
* [[Kerry Marshall]], former mayor of Richmond borough, Tasman and Nelson
* [[Julian Matthews]], middle-distance athlete
* [[Ben May (rugby union)|Ben May]], rugby union player
* [[Charles Monro (rugby union)|Charles Monro]], introduced rugby to New Zealand
* [[Tex Morton]], singer
* [[Jack Newman (New Zealand cricketer)|Jack Newman]], cricketer and businessman
* [[Geoffrey Palmer (politician)|Geoffrey Palmer]], former [[Prime Minister of New Zealand]]
* [[Jared Payne]], rugby union player
* [[Bill Rowling|Wallace (Bill) Rowling]], former [[Prime Minister of New Zealand]]
* [[Ernest Rutherford, 1st Baron Rutherford of Nelson]], [[Nobel Prize|Nobel laureate]], chemist and physicist
* [[Rex Sellers]], sailor
* [[Fletcher Smith (rugby union)|Fletcher Smith]], rugby union player
* [[Leonard Trent]], [[Battle of Britain]] pilot and [[Victoria Cross]] recipient
* [[Mika Vukona]], basketballer
* [[Guy Williams (comedian)|Guy Williams]], comedian
* [[Paul Williams (comedian)|Paul Williams]], comedian
* [[Harry Wollaston]], senior Australian public servant<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article190567486|title=Dr. Wallaston|date=18 February 1912|page=13|newspaper=The Week|location=Brisbane, Queensland}}</ref>

{{Div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Nelson, New Zealand}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Boarding schools in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Boys' schools in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1856]]
[[Category:Secondary schools in Nelson, New Zealand]]
[[Category:1856 establishments in New Zealand]]