Collection: South Wyndham School | Invercargill Archives

Dates

Majority of material found within 1883 - 1968

South Wyndham School

The land in south Wyndham was first surveyed c.1866, and within a short time it soon became apparent a school was needed. For the school to be built the people of the area had to raise the funds themselves, with 5-6 families contributing ten pounds each, and single men five pounds each. Mr R.A. Elliot won the tender to build the school, which was combined with a residence. The first school committee consisted of Adam Hunter, Thomas Hunter, John McPhail, Peter Campbell, Frank Mangan, Edward Smoothy and William Stirling.

The school was completed at the end of 1877, with it officially opening on the 6th of February 1878. The first teacher was T. Horan, with about 20 pupils in attendance. In 1899 a school also opened at Glenham where the population had increased due to the opening of a dairy factory and flax mills. With not enough pupils for both schools, South Wyndham closed. Mr Eggleton, the teacher at South Wyndham, transferred to the new school which had an opening attendance of 20 children.

In 1905 South Wyndham school re-opened due to the increase in the number of children. They celebrated their Golden Jubilee in 1928, and in 1945 the school narrowly escaped a fire.

South Wyndham School consolidated with Wyndham School in 1968.

- Notes by E. Easton -

See Bibliography for References