Invercargill South School
Record Group
Identifier: A0162
Overview
This collection contains material from Invercargill South School which closed in 2004. Includes student registers detailing admissions, progress, and attendance covering 1879 to 2001. There are photographs of various staff members and school activities, but class photographs are limited. School administrative records include newsletters, annual reports, property plans, correspondence, and PTA/Board of Trustees papers. Teaching materials, jubilee/centennial information, and school magazines round out the collection.
Dates
- Majority of material found within 1879 - 2005
Biographical / Historical
Invercargill South School opened on the 10th of February 1879 with 183 students enrolled. Designed by Angus Kerr, the four-roomed school building faced Crinan Street and the first headmaster was Mr. William Graham Mehaffy.
The school had rural surroundings - there were few houses and mainly tussock paddocks between it and Clyde St. Thick bush came down as far as Elles Rd and Crinan St, with a bush tram running through it.
Early teachers included Misses Margaret Sangster, Lucy Joyce, Jane Colyer, and Margaret Hamilton. A long serving teacher was Mr. W.H. Sebo who served for 40 years from 1883 to 1922.
The roll peaked in 1914 with just over 1000 students, making it the second largest primary school in the country. The following year saw the roll fall with the opening of St George School nearby. A new school building was completed in stages between 1924 and 1926.
Notable past pupils include George Kingswell, Jim Dakin, John Checketts, Billy Stead, E.R. Wilson, Alex Lithgow, Jeanette Taylor, A.T. Cushen, Dr. Malcom Heads, Molly Macalister, and Burt Munro.
The school closed at the end of 2004 due to the controversial school closure programme which saw numerous schools close around Invercargill. It merged with Clifton, Clarendon and Kew Schools to form New River Primary in 2005.
- Notes by E.M. Easton -
See Bibliography for References
The roll peaked in 1914 with just over 1000 students, making it the second largest primary school in the country. The following year saw the roll fall with the opening of St George School nearby. A new school building was completed in stages between 1924 and 1926.
Notable past pupils include George Kingswell, Jim Dakin, John Checketts, Billy Stead, E.R. Wilson, Alex Lithgow, Jeanette Taylor, A.T. Cushen, Dr. Malcom Heads, Molly Macalister, and Burt Munro.
The school closed at the end of 2004 due to the controversial school closure programme which saw numerous schools close around Invercargill. It merged with Clifton, Clarendon and Kew Schools to form New River Primary in 2005.
- Notes by E.M. Easton -
See Bibliography for References
Extent
18 box(es) (Boxes 1 - 19, West 5 b, East 15 a and 24 c)
4 digital object (Digital Archive)
Language of Materials
English
Bibliography
'South School Centennial, 1879 - 1978/9'
Ref: LC 372 SOU
'South School's proud record of service'
Ref: Southland Times, February 9, 1939, p.8.
Ref: LC 372 SOU
'South School's proud record of service'
Ref: Southland Times, February 9, 1939, p.8.
Processing Information
A small amount of material from accession ICA01.140 still requires arrangement and description. Please contact Archives Staff for details.
- Title
- Invercargill South School
- Subtitle
- South School
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Invercargill City Libraries and Archives Repository
