Wellington Girls' College was founded in 1883 in

Wellington Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by ...

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island coun ...

. 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

History

Seeing a need for higher education for girls the founding fathers of

Wellington College Wellington College may refer to: * Wellington College, Berkshire, an independent school in Crowthorne, Berkshire, England ** Wellington College International Shanghai ** Wellington College International Tianjin *Wellington College, Wellington, New ...

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 Sir Robert Stout (28 September 1844 – 19 July 1930) was a New Zealand politician who was the 13th premier of New Zealand on two occasions in the late 19th century, and later Chief Justice of New Zealand. He was the only person to hold bot ...

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. In 1925 the

Wellington East Girls' College Wellington East Girls' College (WEGC, Maori name: Te Kura Kōhine o te Rāwhiti o Te Upoko o Te Ika) is a state single-sex girls' secondary school which sits directly above Mount Victoria Tunnel, Wellington, New Zealand. Serving Years 9 to 13 ( ...

was established to serve the southern and eastern suburbs.

Notable alumnae

The arts

Fleur Adcock Fleur Adcock (born 10 February 1934) is a New Zealand poet and editor, of English and Northern Irish ancestry, who has lived much of her life in England. She is well-represented in New Zealand poetry anthologies, was awarded an honorary doct ...

– poet *

Isobel Andrews Isabella Smith Andrews (; 2 November 1905 – 19 June 1990), known professionally as Isobel Andrews, was a Scottish-born New Zealand playwright, novelist, short-story writer and poet. She wrote over sixty plays, many of which were published, an ...

– playwright, novelist, short-story writer and poet *

Sylvia Ashton-Warner Sylvia Constance Ashton-Warner (17 December 1908 – 28 April 1984) was a New Zealand novelist, non-fiction writer, poet, pianist and world figure in the teaching of children. Her ideas for a child-based or organic approach to the teaching of ...

– writer, poet and educator *

Vidyamala Burch Prudence Margaret Burch (born 1959), known professionally as Vidyamala Burch, is a mindfulness teacher, writer, and co-founder of Breathworks, an international mindfulness organization known particularly for developing mindfulness-based pain ma ...

– writer and mindfulness teacher *

Joe Cotton Joanne Monique "Joe" Cotton, is a Canadian-born New Zealand pop singer who gained recognition as a member of the girl group TrueBliss, formed in 1999 on '' Popstars''. Cotton has since joined a cover band, The Mermaids Danceband. She has also ...

– pop singer *

Anne French Anne French (born 1956) is a New Zealand editor and poet. Life French was born in Wellington, New Zealand. She graduated from Wellington Girls' College and Victoria University of Wellington with an MA. She worked as an editor for Oxford Univer ...

– editor and poet *

Rebecca Gibney Rebecca Catherine Gibney (born 14 December 1964) is a New Zealand actress known for her roles on Australian television in '' The Flying Doctors'', ''Halifax f.p.'', '' Packed to the Rafters'', ''Winter'' and ''Wanted''. She is a Gold Logie win ...

– actor *

Robin Hyde Robin Hyde, the pseudonym used by Iris Guiver Wilkinson (19 January 1906 – 23 August 1939), was a South African-born New Zealand poet, journalist and novelist. Early life Wilkinson was born in Cape Town to an English father and an Australia ...

– poet, novelist, biographer and journalist *

Annabel Langbein Annabel Rose Langbein (born 1958) is a New Zealand celebrity cook, food writer and publisher. She has published 25 cookbooks and fronted three seasons of her TV series, ''Annabel Langbein The Free Range Cook'', which launched on the TV One ne ...

– celebrity cook, food writer and publisher *

Katherine Mansfield Kathleen Mansfield Murry (née Beauchamp; 14 October 1888 – 9 January 1923) was a New Zealand writer, essayist and journalist, widely considered one of the most influential and important authors of the modernist movement. Her works are celebra ...

– writer * Elizabeth McRae – actor * Marjory Nicholls – poet *

Anna Paquin Anna Hélène Paquin ( ; born 24 July 1982) is a New Zealand actress. Born in Winnipeg and raised in Wellington, Paquin made her acting debut portraying Flora McGrath in the romantic drama film '' The Piano'' (1993), for which she won the ...

– actor * Beverley Randell – children's author *

Jo Randerson Joanna Ruth Randerson (born 1973) is a New Zealand writer, director and performer. She is the founder and artistic director of Barbarian Productions, a Wellington-based theatre production company. Biography Randerson was born in Auckland, New Ze ...

– writer, playwright, theatre director and performer *

Fran Walsh Dame Frances Rosemary Walsh (born 10 January 1959) is a New Zealand screenwriter and film producer. The partner of filmmaker Peter Jackson, Walsh has contributed to all of their films since 1989: as co-writer since '' Meet the Feebles'', and ...

– screenwriter and film producer *

Bridget Williams Bridget Rosamund Williams (born 1948) is a New Zealand publisher and founder of two independent publishing companies: Port Nicholson Press and Bridget Williams Books. Early life and family Born in 1948, Williams was the daughter of Mary Willia ...

– publisher

Public service

Nellie Coad Nellie Euphemia Coad (15 October 1883 – 6 September 1974) was a New Zealand teacher, community leader, women's advocate and writer. She was an early advocate for educational and career opportunities for women, and for many years led and par ...

– teacher, community leader, writer *

Cathy Dewes Cathy Moana Dewes is a New Zealand te reo Māori advocate. She affiliates to Te Arawa and Ngāti Porou, and has been a leader in Māori language and education since the 1970s. Early years and education Dewes spent her early years living on ...

– Māori language advocate, educator * Luamanuvao Winnie Laban – politician *

Margaret Shields Dame Margaret Kerslake Shields (née Porter, 18 December 1941 – 29 May 2013) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party. She had three terms in the House of Representatives in the 1980s and was afterwards a member of the Greater Wellin ...

– politician

Science and medicine

Elaine Gurr Eily Elaine Gurr (8 November 1896 – 12 December 1996) was a New Zealand medical doctor and medical administrator and advocate of the discipline of general practice. Early life and education Gurr was born in Wellington, New Zealand, on 8 Nov ...

– doctor *

Helen Deem Muriel Helen Deem (née Easterfield, 26 February 1900 – 26 October 1955) was a New Zealand medical doctor, medical officer, Plunket medical adviser and university lecturer. Early life The daughter of Thomas Easterfield and Anna Maria ...

– doctor *

Theodora Clemens Hall Theodora Clemens Hall (née Easterfield, 12 June 1902 – 19 December 1980) was a New Zealand medical doctor. She was born in Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand on 12 June 1902. Her father was Thomas Easterfield, a professor of chemistry and phy ...

– doctor * Ocean Mercier – scientist *

Marion Robinson Marion Frances Robinson (née Harrison; 9 November 1923 – 25 February 2003) was a New Zealand nutritionist and physiologist. She was professor of nutrition at the University of Otago, and is particularly noted for her investigation of the im ...

– professor of nutrition * Dianne Sika–Paotonu - immunologist

Sports

Gina Crampton Gina Crampton (born 7 December 1991) is a New Zealand netball international. She was a member of the New Zealand teams that won the 2019 Netball World Cup and the 2021 Constellation Cup. Crampton was also a member of the Southern Steel teams th ...

– netball player * Beth Jurgeleit – hockey player * Jackie Kiddle – rower *

Trish McKelvey Patricia Frances McKelvey (born 5 January 1942), often known as Trish McKelvey, is a New Zealand former cricketer, cricket administrator and educator. She appeared in 15 Test matches and 15 One Day Internationals for New Zealand between 1966 an ...

– cricketer *

Melissa Moon Melissa Potocka Moon (born 16 September 1969) is a long-distance runner from Wellington, New Zealand. She is a two time World Mountain Running champion and has won 21 New Zealand athletics titles over her career. In 2001, she was named New Zea ...

– athlete *

Thamsyn Newton Thamsyn Michelle Moupia Newton (born 3 June 1995) is a New Zealand cricketer and rugby union player. She plays cricket for Central Districts and New Zealand as a right-handed batter and right-arm medium pace bowler. In May 2021, Newton was awarde ...

– cricketer * Rebecca Perrott – swimmer *

Jade Wilson Jade Wilson (1977 – 14 May 1998) was a New Zealand squash player representing the national team mainly in the junior level competitions. Jade Wilson is still remembered as one of the greatest ever junior squash players to have emerged from New ...

– squash player

Notable staff

Airini Beautrais Airini Jane Beautrais (born 1982) is a poet and short-story writer from New Zealand. Background Beautrais was born in 1982 and grew up in Auckland and Whanganui. She studied creative writing and ecological science at the Victoria University o ...

– poet *

Edith Searle Grossmann Edith Howitt Searle Grossmann (née Searle, 8 September 1863 – 27 February 1931) was a New Zealand teacher, novelist, journalist and feminist. Early life Grossmann was born in Beechworth, Victoria, Australia on 8 September 1863, to Mary Ann ...

– novelist and journalist *

Edith Howes Edith Annie Howes (29 August 1872 – 9 July 1954) was a New Zealand teacher, educationalist, and writer of children's literature. She was a Member of the Order of the British Empire and received the King George VI Coronation Medal for her servi ...

– writer and educationalist

Principals

References

Educational institutions established in 1883 Girls' schools in New Zealand Secondary schools in the Wellington Region Schools in Wellington City 1883 establishments in New Zealand Alliance of Girls' Schools Australasia {{NewZealand-school-stub