School History
Early in 1903 Bishop Moore Richard Neligan arrived in Auckland to begin his ministry as the Diocese’s second Anglican Bishop. Eager to rally the Anglican community around some kind of shared project, and having himself worked extensively in education, he decided to establish an Anglican School along the lines of the new British ‘High Schools’. On announcing his idea at the Synod of October 1903, his plans were viewed favourably and a subcommittee was formed to do all they could to get the School off the ground.
In November 1903 the Committee purchased a large and gracious house and a little over six acres of land from the Hesketh family. While Bishop Neligan wrote to his old friend and colleague Mary Etheldred Pulling, inviting her to become the new School’s founding Headmistress. Miss Pulling and her friend Beatrice Anna Ward, both devout High Anglicans and graduates of the famous Cheltenham Ladies’ College, accepted the invitation, and accordingly journeyed to Auckland to begin their work. Establishing a school here in the colonies was not an easy task, but Miss Pulling and Miss Ward worked hard and on the 27th of May 1904, the Diocesan High School for Girls opened its doors to its first twenty-five pupils. Later, on June 14th 1904, Bishop Neligan visited the School to formally dedicate its work and mission to the ‘Glory of God and the good of the Diocese’, thus it is on this date that the School’s birthday has been celebrated for more than a century.
In the years that have followed successive headmistresses have brought their different strengths and styles of leadership while successive School Councils and Boards have further developed the buildings and enlarged the grounds. Perhaps the most significant of all our buildings is the School Chapel. The Chapel of Saint Barnabas arrived on site in 1910 from Bishopscourt and in 1922 a larger nave was added alongside this historic building, while later still a chancel and vestry were added completing the adjoining Chapel of our Glorified Lord. The Chapel continues to be the heart of all that the School is and does as it continues to educate hearts and minds for the Glory of God and the good of the Diocese.
Archives
The School Archives are held in Centennial House, located just off the main campus on the corner of Ngaire Avenue and Clyde Street. The collection includes many artefacts and records, examples of former uniforms and a huge collection of photographs. Since January 2001, much work has been undertaken in order to get the collection into a better organised and more professional structure, and much work remains to be done. Even so, the collection is available to staff, students and Old Girls by appointment. Private and academic researchers are also welcome subject to the approval of the Board and Principal. We are also very happy to advise what type of photographs, documents and memorabilia might be donated to the collection.
The Archivist works part-time and can be contacted on 09 520 0221 Ext 7732 on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.