Nelson College
From Open Encyclopedia
| Nelson College | |
| - | |
| - | |
| Type | State single sex boys secondary (year 9-13) with boarding facilities |
| Established | 1856 |
| Address | Waimea Road, Nelson |
| Principal | Salvi Gargiulo (Headmaster) |
| Roll | 1062 |
| Decile | 7 |
| Te Kete Ipurangi Information | Ministry of Education Information |
| Homepage | www.nelcollege.school.nz (requires plug-in) |
Nelson College is the oldest state secondary school in New Zealand, founded on April 7, 1856. It is a mixed day and boarding school for boys aged 13 (Year 9/Form III) to 18 (Year 13/Form VII), and also runs a small Preparatory Department for Years 7 and 8 (Forms I and II). It has 3 boarding houses and 5 day houses. Nelson College currently educates just over 1200 boys.
A team from Nelson College took part in the first game of rugby played in New Zealand, against the Nelson Rugby Football Club on May 14, 1870 at what is now known as the Botanic Reserve, Nelson. The Quadrangular Rugby Football Tournament occurs annually between Nelson College, Wellington College, Christ's College and the Wanganui Collegiate School. The Quadrangular is reputed to be one of the oldest organised rugby tournaments in the world. Nelson College entered this competition in 1925, turning the previously three-sided tournament into a four-sided one.
Famous Old Nelsonians
- Leonard Henry Trent (Victoria Cross)
- Ernest Rutherford, 1st Baron Rutherford of Nelson (Nobel Prize, Chemistry)
- Sir Wallace (Bill) Rowling (Prime Minister of New Zealand)
- Sir Geoffrey Palmer (Prime Minister of New Zealand)
- Don McKinnon (Deputy Prime Minister, now Commonwealth Secretary-General)
- Rex Sellers (Olympic gold medal--Tornado yachting class, 1984)
- Sean Plunket (Radio New Zealand journalist)
- Frederick Augustus Bennett {First Bishop of Aotearoa}
- Tex Morton (Country music legend)
