Riverton District High School [Composite]
Record Group
Identifier: A0306
Dates
- Majority of material found within 1884 - 1969
Conditions Governing Access
This collection contains RESTRICTED material. Please see notes on individual items for further information.
Riverton District High School
Schooling first began in the area in the 1840's, with a Jacob's River School run by Andrew Bromley being mentioned in accounts from as early as 1844. There was also a school run by John Clark Lidiard across the river at the same time. Other teachers at the time in private or homeschools were a Miss Paulin and Mrs Pankhurst. The growing settlements on either side of the river in the 1850s and 1860s required schools on both sides, and Riverton North ("Main School") and Riverton South were established. There were also a number of private schools still being run.
Riverton South opened and closed several times, with pupils having to travel across the river by boat, then bridge when it was opened to traffic in 1874. There was also a Riverton Māori School run by Mr James Ireland in the late 1860s, as well as a Native School at Colac Bay.
In 1859 the Otago Education Board recognised the prescence of a public school in Riverton, and this year is used to celebrate the start of public schooling in Riverton. The North and South Schools had amalgamated at the North School site and became the fore-runner of the District High, which was declared as such in 1882. The first principal of the District High was Mr. Edmund Webber. Due to financial hardships in the district, as well as the War, the secondary roll declined and the school was primary only between 1898 and 1903, and again 1914 to 1923.
In 1908 a fire burned down the original school building on Havelock Street and a new brick building was built on the corner of Napier and Leader Streets, opening in 1909. During this period Mr Ebenezer C. Hewat was a long standing Principal from 1889 to 1922. The new school building was altered in the 1920s, and remained until it was demolished in 1975.
During the 1960s the roll increased and prefabs were installed and new classrooms constructed. The old 1909 building was renovated with indoor toilets and central heating. The 1960s and 70s saw the end of the old District High system, with new secondary only schools emerging. Riverton District High came to an end in 1973, seperating to form Riverton Primary School and Aparima College.
Aparima College had its beginning with a meeting, held on 23 August 1973 by the Committee of Management(COM) of Riverton Form I-VI High School,to choose a name for the new college that was to take its place. Aparima College was to be a new school, with new buildings and uniforms, increased staffing and more subjects offered. The new college was to include Orepuki, Pahia, Colac Bay, Thornbury, Fairfax and Waimatuku in its zone, so opened with a 1974 roll of 371 students.
- Notes by E. M. Easton -
See Bibliography for References
Riverton South opened and closed several times, with pupils having to travel across the river by boat, then bridge when it was opened to traffic in 1874. There was also a Riverton Māori School run by Mr James Ireland in the late 1860s, as well as a Native School at Colac Bay.
In 1859 the Otago Education Board recognised the prescence of a public school in Riverton, and this year is used to celebrate the start of public schooling in Riverton. The North and South Schools had amalgamated at the North School site and became the fore-runner of the District High, which was declared as such in 1882. The first principal of the District High was Mr. Edmund Webber. Due to financial hardships in the district, as well as the War, the secondary roll declined and the school was primary only between 1898 and 1903, and again 1914 to 1923.
In 1908 a fire burned down the original school building on Havelock Street and a new brick building was built on the corner of Napier and Leader Streets, opening in 1909. During this period Mr Ebenezer C. Hewat was a long standing Principal from 1889 to 1922. The new school building was altered in the 1920s, and remained until it was demolished in 1975.
During the 1960s the roll increased and prefabs were installed and new classrooms constructed. The old 1909 building was renovated with indoor toilets and central heating. The 1960s and 70s saw the end of the old District High system, with new secondary only schools emerging. Riverton District High came to an end in 1973, seperating to form Riverton Primary School and Aparima College.
Aparima College had its beginning with a meeting, held on 23 August 1973 by the Committee of Management(COM) of Riverton Form I-VI High School,to choose a name for the new college that was to take its place. Aparima College was to be a new school, with new buildings and uniforms, increased staffing and more subjects offered. The new college was to include Orepuki, Pahia, Colac Bay, Thornbury, Fairfax and Waimatuku in its zone, so opened with a 1974 roll of 371 students.
- Notes by E. M. Easton -
See Bibliography for References
Extent
2 box(es) (Boxes 1 - 2 )
1 digital object (Digital Archive)
Language of Materials
English
Bibliography
'A centennial survey of Riverton District High School 1859-1959' by A.H.H. Webster
Reference: LC 373 WEB
Reference: LC 373 WEB
- This booklet contains a wealth of information about Riverton, it's early schools, and the school through both war periods, up to 1959.
- Histories, lists of teachers and school committees are given for Oraki School 1886-1939, Wild Bush School 1872-1874, Gummies Bush including Gropers Bush 1866-1948.
- p.62-65: A list of teachers at Riverton District High School up to 1958.
- p.66-67: A list of Riverton District High School Committee members and Duxes up to 1958.
Bibliography
'Riverton District High School: the years between 1959-1973' by A.N. Murray
Reference: LC 373 MUR
Reference: LC 373 MUR
- Programme for the closing ceremony, 19th December 1973.
- History of the school between 1959 and 1973. Tributes are paid to the principals, both secondary and primary, and to the teachers and other individuals who contributed to the school during those years.
- School Roll as at October 1973.
Bibliography
'Pieces of chalk : history of Riverton district schools' by George Perkins
Reference: LC 371.009 PER
Reference: LC 371.009 PER
- This book not only describes the history of schooling but also, that of the settlement of Riverton and its surrounding districts.
- Schools covered in this book include: Riverton Maori School, Colac Bay Native School, Riverton Seminary for Young Ladies, Jacobs River School, North and South Riverton, Riverton District High, Riverton Primary, Gummies Bush, Gropers Bush/Fairfax, Wild Bush, Ermedale, Granity, Flints Bush, Waimatuku, Thornbury, Ruahine, Orepuki, Round Hill, Pahia, Colac Bay, Oraki, Catholic Academy, Riverton Convent School, Tihaka, and Round Hill.
- Appendices: A list of teachers, by school, who have taught in the area since 1869. Chairmen of RDHS and other School Committees, Duxes of both RDHS Primary and Secondary schools, plus those of Aparima College.
Bibliography
'Welcome back to school, 1974-1999 : reflections : 25 years at Aparima College' by Carolyn Baker
Reference: LC 373 WEL
Reference: LC 373 WEL
- The magazine includes timelines for key school events and teaching staff 1974-1998, as well as reflections from past pupils, Honours Board giving names of Head Boys, Head Girls and Duxes. Collages of photographs show all aspects of school life, including sport, outdoor education, pet days and senior dinners, the 'C' Block fire in 1993, work exploration and transition.
- 'I wonder what they are doing now' gives information on past pupils. The magazine ends with a complete list of Jubilee Registrations and photographs to show that this reunion also marks 125 years of schooling at Riverton.
- Title
- Riverton District High School
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Invercargill City Libraries and Archives Repository
