Southland’s first schools were established during the 1850s, and by 1870 Invercargill had several primary schools, even a school for impoverished children. During the early 1870s, the local school committee decided a more advanced education was necessary, to include classics, languages, gymnastics, drill, music, drawing book-keeping and religious education, along with the standard subjects. A site on the corner of Jed and Esk streets was chosen for a brick building, which was designed by Invercargill architect Angus Kerr, and on January 27, 1873, the Invercargill Grammar School was officially opened, with the first intake of 180 students in attendance. In 1881 the school opened for secondary education, and renamed the ‘Invercargill District High school’. It was renamed again in 1881 to the ‘Invercargill Central School’, and finally to its present title – ‘Invercargill Middle School’ – in 1885. In 1973 the building was condemned, and the present structure was designed and built on the original site.

Sources: ‘Invercargill Middle School Jubilee Souvenir 1873- 1923’, REF: LC 372 INV; ‘Invercargill Middle school Centennial Souvenir 1873 – 1973’, REF: LC 372.9 WAT