Wellington schools

A DigitalNZ Story by squiggle_top

A selection of historical images of schools across Wellington suburbs

Wellington schools, schools, local studies, Wellington, primary schools, intermediate schools, secondary schools, school buildings, photographs

Wellington Schools 

This is a set of some of the historical images available through DigitalNZ of Wellington schools, past and present. 

Collections of photos

Some schools already have a curated selection of photos and resources, telling the story of their school. 

USER STORY
Image: Mount Cook School in Wellington

Mount Cook School

Collection of images and resources about Mount Cook School

Mount Cook School in Wellington

DigitalNZ

USER STORY
Image: Newtown School

Newtown School

Collection of images of Newtown School

Newtown School

DigitalNZ

USER STORY
Image: SWIS

South Wellington Intermediate School

Collection of images of South Wellington Intermediate School (SWIS) in Berhampore

SWIS

DigitalNZ

Central suburbs

Includes: Wellington City, Te Aro, Mount Cook, Mount Victoria, Roseneath, Evans Bay

Image: Playground mural, Clyde Quay School

Clyde Quay School. 1978.

Part of a photo shoot for "The school that says 'Welcome!'" article about multicultural murals on the buildings.

Playground mural, Clyde Quay School

NZEI Te Riu Roa (New Zealand Educational Institute)

Image: Schools - Intermediate

Evans Bay Intermediate School. 1971.

Cookery Class.

Schools - Intermediate

Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Image: Roseneath School building, Wellington

Roseneath School. c1905.

Roseneath School building, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Infant school buildings, Te Aro School, The Terrace, Wellington

Te Aro School. 1926

Infant school buildings, Te Aro School, The Terrace, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Schools - Secondary - Wellington

Wellington Girls College. 1972.

The Tower Block includes Library, Classroom and Laboratory, facilities.

Schools - Secondary - Wellington

Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Image: Wellington Grammar School, Clifton Terrace, Wellington

Wellington Grammar School. c1868-1901.

Wellington Grammar School was later known as Wellington College.

Wellington Grammar School, Clifton Terrace, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Wellington High School

Wellington High School. c1980.

Wellington High School

Wellington City Libraries

Peninsula and southern suburbs

Includes: Island Bay, Lyall Bay, Miramar, Houghton Valley, Kilbirnie, Rongotai

Image: The official opening of a new school house at Island Bay, Wellington

Chilton House School.

Chilton House School, Wellington, was an Anglican boarding school for girls. It was founded in 1897 and closed in 1930.

The official opening of a new school house at Island Bay, Wellington

Auckland Libraries

Image: Erskine College, Island Bay, Wellington

Erskine College. c1937-1938.

Erskine College, Island Bay, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Houghton Valley School, Houghton Bay Road

Houghton Valley School. 1979.

Houghton Valley School, Houghton Bay Road

Wellington City Libraries

Image: View of Lyall Bay School and Lyall Bay, Wellington

Lyall Bay School. 1960.

View of Lyall Bay School and Lyall Bay, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Marist School, Para Street, Miramar

Marist School. 1978.

Later renamed Holy Cross School, Miramar.

Marist School, Para Street, Miramar

Wellington City Libraries

Image: Rongotai College building

Rongotai College. c1928-1932.

Rongotai College building

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Sacred Heart Convent School, Island Bay

Sacred Heart Convent School. c1900.

Later known as Erskine College for Girls.

Sacred Heart Convent School, Island Bay

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Saint Francis de Sales School, 11 Mersey Street

Saint Francis de Sales School. 1977.

Saint Francis de Sales School, 11 Mersey Street

Wellington City Libraries

Image: Scots College, Strathmore Park, Wellington

Scots College. c1920s.

Scots College, Strathmore Park, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: School - Primary

Wellington Primary School. 1977.

Later know as Berhampore School.

School - Primary

Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Northern suburbs

Includes: Brooklym, Khandallah, Thorndon, Kelburn, Karori

Image: Children gathered at Brooklyn School, Wellington

Brooklyn School. c1933.

Children gathered at Brooklyn School, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Brooklyn Primary School, 58 Washington Avenue

Brooklyn School. 1976.

Brooklyn Primary School, 58 Washington Avenue

Wellington City Libraries

Image: Cashmere School, Khandallah, Wellington

Cashmere School. 1940.

Newly opened Cashmere School, Khandallah, Wellington, August, 1940

Cashmere School, Khandallah, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Schools - Primary - Wellington

Chartwell Primary School. 1971.

Schools - Primary - Wellington

Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Image: Hampton Hill School, Tawa, Wellington

Hampton Hill School. c1967.

Hampton Hill School, Tawa, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Karori School

Karori School. c.1925.

Karori School was later known as Karori Normal School

Karori School

Wellington City Libraries

Image: Karori West Normal School

Karori West Normal School. 1978

Photo by Ans Westra.

Karori West Normal School

Wellington City Libraries

Image: Schools - Primary - Wellington

Kelburn Normal School. 1977.

Physical Education session.

Schools - Primary - Wellington

Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Image: First day of school, Khandallah school, Wellington - Photograph taken by Melanie Burford

Khandallah School. 1993.

Teacher, Jane Hartley, with a group of new entrants on their first day of school.

First day of school, Khandallah school, Wellington - Photograph taken by Melanie Burford

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Marist School for Boys, Hawkestone Street, Thorndon

Marist School for Boys. 1967.

Established in 1911, it was later demolished and moved to Wilton, renamed Cardinal McKeefry School.

Marist School for Boys, Hawkestone Street, Thorndon

Wellington City Libraries

Image: Children playing 'elastics'

Ridgway School. 1985.

Children playing 'elastics'

NZEI Te Riu Roa (New Zealand Educational Institute)

Image: Samuel Marsden Collegiate School building, Karori, Wellington

Samuel Marsden Collegiate School. 1927.

Samuel Marsden Collegiate School building, Karori, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Volunteers who have been painting St Francis Xavier Catholic Convent school, Tawa, Wellington

St Francis Xavier Catholic Convent School. 1960.

Volunteers who have been painting St Francis Xavier Catholic Convent school, Tawa, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: St Mary's College buildings and pupils, Wellington

St Mary's College. 1929.

St Mary's College buildings and pupils, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Tawa Flat School, Wellington, showing Railway tracks in the foreground.

Tawa Flat School. 1957.

Tawa Flat School was later known as Tawa School.

Tawa Flat School, Wellington, showing Railway tracks in the foreground.

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: New classrooms at Tawa School, Wellington

Tawa School. 1959.

New classrooms at Tawa School, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Thorndon School, Wellington

Thorndon School. c.1940

Thorndon School, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Wilton School Fair

Wilton School. 1974.

Wilton School was later known as Otari School. Photo by Ans Westra.

Wilton School Fair

Wellington City Libraries

Story revised and updated January 2025