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. It is an all-boys school in the City of Nelson that teaches from years 9 to 13. In addition, it runs a private preparatory school for year 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 boy, Charles Monro, was instrumental in introducing the game of rugby into New Zealand.

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.L.R. Palmer, "A Short History of Nelson College". In: "Nelson College Old Boys' Register 1856–1981" (5th edn.) 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, David Monro, John Barnicoat, Charles Bigg Wither, William Wells, and Alfred Domett. 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). A team from Nelson College took part in the first game of rugby played in New Zealand, against the Nelson Rugby Football Club on 14 May 1870 at what is now known as the Botanic Reserve, Nelson, and, in 1876, the first inter-College rugby match in New Zealand was played between Nelson College and Wellington College.

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," the architect being an old Etonian."The Evening Post", 8 December 1904 In 1926, Nelson College was invited to join the annual rugby tournament between Christ's College, Wanganui Collegiate School and Wellington College, known as the "Quadrangular". In the 1929 Murchison earthquake, the main building of the college was once again severely damaged, although only two boys were injured.

In 2011, Nelson College became the first all-boys college in New Zealand to form a gay-straight alliance support group. 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.More girls needed in boys school, outgoing headmaster says

House system The college has a house system with, 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. 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

William Allen, artist Gilbert Archey, zoologist, museum director, ethnologist Phil Costley, athlete Edmond de Montalk, language teacher, storekeeper Andrew Goodman, rugby union player John Gully, artist Wilfrid Nelson Isaac, jeweller, art school director Frank Milner, school principal, educationalist 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:Nelson College Old Boys' Register, 1856–2006, 6th edition (CD-ROM). NameTerm1 John Charles Bagshaw 1856–18582 George Heppel 1859–18613 Reginald Broughton 18624 John Danforth Greenwood 1863–18655 Charles Lendrick MacLean 1866–18686 Frank Churchill Simmons 1868–18767 John Chapman Andrew 1876–18868 William Justice Ford 1886–18889 John William Joynt 1889–189810 William Still Littlejohn 1899–190311 Harry Lewis Fowler 1904–192112 Charles Harrington Broad 1922–193313 Herbert Victor Searle 1933–195614 Basil Henry Wakelin 1957–196915 E.J. "Doug" Brewster 1970–198116 Barry Beckingsale 1981–198517 Tony Cooper 1985–198818 Gary Bowler 1988–199519 Salvi Gargiulo 1995–200620 Gary O'Shea 2006–202021 Richard Dykes 2020–202322 Richard Washington 2024–present

Notable alumni

Harry Atkinson, socialist Michael Baigent, writer 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 and broadcaster William Hudson, civil engineer Mitchell Hunt, rugby union player Syd Jackson, Māori activist Jang Keun-suk, Korean actor, singer, and model Phill Jones, basketballer Gerald R. Leighton, zoologist James Lowe, rugby union player Nev MacEwan, rugby union player Don McKinnon, former Commonwealth Secretary-General Simon Mannering, rugby league player James Marshall, rugby union player Kerry Marshall, former mayor of Richmond borough, Tasman and Nelson Julian Matthews, middle-distance athlete Ben May, rugby union player Charles Monro, introduced rugby to New Zealand Tex Morton, singer Jack Newman, cricketer and businessman Geoffrey Palmer, former Prime Minister of New Zealand Jared Payne, rugby union player Wallace (Bill) Rowling, former Prime Minister of New Zealand Ernest Rutherford, 1st Baron Rutherford of Nelson, Nobel laureate, chemist and physicist Rex Sellers, sailor Fletcher Smith, rugby union player Leonard Trent, Battle of Britain pilot and Victoria Cross recipient Mika Vukona, basketballer Guy Williams, comedian Paul Williams, comedian Harry Wollaston, senior Australian public servant

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