St George School
Record Group
Identifier: A0392
School status
Closed school [1915 - 2004]. Merged with Elston Lea Primary to form Fernworth Primary [Te Kura o Whare Pā] on the St. George site.
Dates
- Majority of material found within 1915 - 1991
Biographical / Historical
School site: 288 Pomona Street, Invercargill
By 1914, South School was the only public school in South Invercargill and this was congested for space. As well, many children had to travel long distances to attend [Southland Times, 8 July 1914, p.5]. So, the new school was timely. In July 1914 a grant of £3800 was approved by the Education Department for the new six-roomed St George School to be built in South Invercargill on a site known as Georgetown Paddocks situated between Pomona and Saturn Streets [St George 50 years on, p.20-21]. The boundaries of the school district were quite large [Southland Times 2 February 1916, p.6].
The land for the school site had once belonged to the McMillan family. The architects were Messers McCaw and Gough and the school was built by the Board’s workmen. It was described as a model building. The first teaching appointments were; Headmaster, Mr Geo. F. ROBERTSON, B.A.; first assistant, Mr A. C. ROWE; mistress, Miss SALMOND, M.A.; third assistant, Miss M. MCNAUGHTON; fourth assistant, Miss M. MABSON; probationers, Misses A. WOODS and GELLATLY and Mr J. MEFFIN. There were 252 pupils enrolled of the first day 2 February 1915. The official opening of the school was in June 1915 [Southland Times, 24 June 1915, p.2].
Due to rapid roll growth, new classrooms were added in 1919 with further additions from time to time up until 1925. At this point it was decided to build a new classroom block north of the main block on Pomona Street ready for 1926. A dental clinic was added in 1943, and a new administration block in 1963 [St George 50 years on, p.20-21].
In 1977, the original buildings were demolished and new classrooms built.
In 2004, St George was merged with Elston Lea to form Fernworth School. In 2020, Te Kura o Whare-rā was adopted as the new name for the school.
In September 2015, the staff members who had been at the school when it closed in 2004 held a function to celebrate what would have been St George’s 100th year.
Bibliography:
Southland Times, 18 May 1926, p.23 (Supplement). St George School. (ctd in the 20 May edition, p.21)
Southern Cross 26 June 1915 p.11. South Invercargill’s Red Letter Day: St George School official opening.
St George Magazine Committee. (1990). St George School; 75 years on 1915-1990. Invercargill, NZ: Atlas Print.
St. George Magazine Committee. (1965). St George School, Invercargill Jubilee Magazine 1915-1965. Invercargill, NZ: Craig Printing Co. Ltd.
Otago Witness, 16 May 1922 (Supplement), p.29. [photos]
Otago Witness, 25 November 1924, (Supplement), p.41. [photos]
By 1914, South School was the only public school in South Invercargill and this was congested for space. As well, many children had to travel long distances to attend [Southland Times, 8 July 1914, p.5]. So, the new school was timely. In July 1914 a grant of £3800 was approved by the Education Department for the new six-roomed St George School to be built in South Invercargill on a site known as Georgetown Paddocks situated between Pomona and Saturn Streets [St George 50 years on, p.20-21]. The boundaries of the school district were quite large [Southland Times 2 February 1916, p.6].
The land for the school site had once belonged to the McMillan family. The architects were Messers McCaw and Gough and the school was built by the Board’s workmen. It was described as a model building. The first teaching appointments were; Headmaster, Mr Geo. F. ROBERTSON, B.A.; first assistant, Mr A. C. ROWE; mistress, Miss SALMOND, M.A.; third assistant, Miss M. MCNAUGHTON; fourth assistant, Miss M. MABSON; probationers, Misses A. WOODS and GELLATLY and Mr J. MEFFIN. There were 252 pupils enrolled of the first day 2 February 1915. The official opening of the school was in June 1915 [Southland Times, 24 June 1915, p.2].
Due to rapid roll growth, new classrooms were added in 1919 with further additions from time to time up until 1925. At this point it was decided to build a new classroom block north of the main block on Pomona Street ready for 1926. A dental clinic was added in 1943, and a new administration block in 1963 [St George 50 years on, p.20-21].
In 1977, the original buildings were demolished and new classrooms built.
In 2004, St George was merged with Elston Lea to form Fernworth School. In 2020, Te Kura o Whare-rā was adopted as the new name for the school.
In September 2015, the staff members who had been at the school when it closed in 2004 held a function to celebrate what would have been St George’s 100th year.
Bibliography:
Southland Times, 18 May 1926, p.23 (Supplement). St George School. (ctd in the 20 May edition, p.21)
Southern Cross 26 June 1915 p.11. South Invercargill’s Red Letter Day: St George School official opening.
St George Magazine Committee. (1990). St George School; 75 years on 1915-1990. Invercargill, NZ: Atlas Print.
St. George Magazine Committee. (1965). St George School, Invercargill Jubilee Magazine 1915-1965. Invercargill, NZ: Craig Printing Co. Ltd.
Otago Witness, 16 May 1922 (Supplement), p.29. [photos]
Otago Witness, 25 November 1924, (Supplement), p.41. [photos]
Extent
5 box(es) (Boxes 1 - 9)
Language of Materials
English
- Title
- St George School
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Invercargill City Council Archives Repository
Contact:
50 Dee Street
Private Bag 90111
Invercargill Southland 9810 New Zealand
archives@icc.govt.nz
50 Dee Street
Private Bag 90111
Invercargill Southland 9810 New Zealand
archives@icc.govt.nz
