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Selwyn House

Details

Date1908 - 1928LocationSelwyn HouseDescriptionBecause the new boarding house was not ready in time for the start of the 1908 school year, Miss Heywood began her duties as housemistress in a rented bungalow located at 122 Remuera Road. There she was joined by the school's new language specialist, Miss Eleanor Shand, and five girls aged between thirteen and seventeen - all of them anxiously waiting for the completion of the two-storeyed house, which was being built at 26 Mt St John Avenue. Together they made up the original members of Selwyn House, which was named after Bishop Selwyn.

At the end of 1928 Selwyn House ceased to have any connection with the school, however the council was reluctant to lease the building for more than a year at a time. A rather protracted argument over the ownership of the Selwyn House sanatorium ensued, and Miss Necker (who had succeeded Miss Heywood in 1921) refused to relinquish the Selwyn House name, despite the protests of several Selwyn House old girls.

Fortunately, the council managed to purchase the large two-storied house next door. It was given the rather unimaginative name of 'New House' and it replaced Selwyn House as a boarding house. Over time, Selwyn House was used as a name for various different buildings, which includes the boarding house on Clyde Street that was purchased in 1972.

Photo

1957 campus aerial photograph

School campus from Clyde Street

Object

Selwyn House badge

Person

Bishop George Selwyn

Connections

CollectionPast BuildingsPersonBishop George Selwyn

Admin

TaxonomyPeople | Students | Boarders

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Selwyn House