History

Hītori

A comprehensive account of the College’s history can be found in High Flies the Cross and The Spirit of St Andrew’s Centenary History Book. Copies are available in The Green Library and Innovation Centre.

Foundation

The College was founded in 1916 through the efforts of the Rev. A T Thompson OBE MA BD, and was officially opened in the Manse of St Andrew’s Church, Christchurch, on 17 March 1917 (St Patrick’s Day). Duncan Rutherford, a staunch Presbyterian from Leslie Hills, left a generous bequest of £5000, which was used to purchase ‘Strowan’ from the trustees of the late G G Stead. In 1918 the College transferred to its new site on Papanui Road.

In 1858, St Andrew’s Church founded one of the first Secondary Schools in Canterbury, the Presbyterian High School, which developed into Christchurch West High School and is now known as Hagley Community College. It was the discovery of the original documents relating to the Presbyterian High School which largely brought about the decision to found the present College, which may therefore claim to be its lineal descendant.

Things Scottish and Presbyterian

Much of what makes this school different from others comes from its Scottish-Presbyterian origins. There are 14 Presbyterian-founded colleges in New Zealand today. St Andrew’s has sporting links with several – John McGlashan (Dunedin), Saint Kentigern (Auckland), Lindisfarne (Hastings) and Scots (Wellington). There have been many and various links with Rangi Ruru Girls’ School and, since the arrival of female students in the Senior College, contacts have begun with Columba College (Dunedin). We share a great pride in our Scottish heritage with all these schools.

The College song was written in 1925 by T A Stuart-Menteath, a member of staff. It tells the legend of the monk Regulus bringing the relics (bones) of the disciple Andrew from Greece to Scotland, and of how the stories of St Andrew and the faith of the Scots who honoured him have inspired Christians through the ages.

The College tartan is the Fergusson tartan, as the Pipe Band got its first kilts in 1924 when General Sir Charles Fergusson was the Governor-General. Prefects dress formally in kilts, cutaway jackets and sporrans for Friday assemblies.

1851 – Property RS 299 was first purchased from 1851 Property RS 299 was first purchased from Canterbury Association by Rev Henry Sidebottom of Halifax for £150. This area of 50 acres was for his son John.

1856 – Granted to Sir Thomas Tancred, who built the first homestead.

1858 – Leased by Thomas Duncan, Crown Prosecutor.

1865 – Purchased by Duncan who enlarged the house and named the property ‘Strowan’ after a family estate in Scotland (derived from St Rowan, a seventh-century scholar and saint).

1890 – G G Stead, a noted businessman and horse breeder, bought the property.

1918 – 30 acres purchased by St Andrew’s College Board. Part of Normans Road frontage sold for building sections.

1920 – Stables (on site of Arts Block) converted into laboratories. Gymnasium built alongside.

1921 – Nos. 2 and 3 fields laid – previously potato paddocks.

1922 – Quadrangle formed. Old Rutherford House (initially called Junior House and now called Erwin) begun. Preparatory School, classrooms and open air dormitories sited there.

1924 – Old Rutherford House completed. Swimming pool built.

1926 – Junior School built, facing Normans Road.

1931 – No. 3 field laid.

1932 – Driveway put through from Strowan House to Junior School.

1933 – Depression labour used to help build up and landscape Strowan Stream.

1941 – New tennis courts opened by Junior School. Prefects’ study built.

1944 – Assembly Hall opened – previously the Amberley Girls’ College gymnasium.

1945 – A St Andrew’s Kindergarten established in Western Road.

1949 – Science Block opened. (Memorial to ‘Pat’ Hyndman and Dudley Bowker, two Old Collegians killed in World War II).

1951 – Boarders’ recreation hall opened.

1952 – Preparatory School built on present site (for Years 7–8). Chapel foundation stone laid. 

1953 – ‘Old Boys’ Field laid; the work of the Old Boys’ Association.

1954 – Memorial Chapel built on the site of The Grove, across Strowan Stream.

1955 – Extensions to Preparatory School (for Standards 3 and 4).

1958 – ‘Wilson Field’ laid (formerly a boggy horse paddock). Project directed by an Old Collegian, DC Wilson. Band Room also built. A two- storey wing added to south end of Science Block. 

1959 – Cricket Pavilion erected, and baths’ dressing sheds.

1961 – A two-storey administration and library, classroom block added to north end of Science Block.

1964 – Second storey added to Science Block.

1965 – T D Burnett Memorial Block and Mountain Lodge opened.

1967 – Jubilee Hall opened. Chisholm Wing added to Mountain Lodge.

1970 – Richard Askin Memorial Band Room built. Rutherford House built.

1973 – Cafeteria and Theatre opened.

1974 – Arts Block opened and grass tennis courts laid.

1975 – Further Preparatory School extensions opened. Name of Old Rutherford changed to Erwin House.

1976 – New Library wing and senior study begun.

1977 – New Library wing, senior study, squash courts and Preparatory School extensions opened. New hostel buildings commenced. Squash courts built.

1978 – Agricultural Laboratory opened. New tennis courts and maintenance area developed. New boarding houses built.

1979 – Opening of MacGibbon and Thompson Houses.

1980 – Opening of Music Suite.

1981 – Fundraising appeal to restore Strowan House and add fourth floor to Arts Block.

1982 – Restoration of exterior of Strowan House. Refurbishment of staff room and laundry. Completion of fourth floor on Arts Block. Upgrading of Science Laboratories. New Fine Arts Centre opened. College display at Canterbury A&P Show.

1983 – Erwin House renovated. Deans introduced.

1984 – Erwin classrooms, computer laboratory and horticultural shade house set up.

1985 – Restoration of exterior of Strowan House and establishment of Museum and photographic display. Preparatory School given separate identity.

1986 – New Remedial Department, Strowan House. New lighting in Junior School. New stained glass window in Chapel. Horticultural tunnel house completed. New storage facilities in Gymnasium. Alterations to Metalwork Department, Burnett Block. Refurbishing of 7th Form study (now room 10). Showcases built for Museum by Old Boys’ Association.

1987 – The Collegian Yearbook introduced. Upgrading of Science Laboratory. New covered entry to dining room. Remodelling of administration offices.

1988 – Introduction of in-house computer system for school administration, renovations to Library and Science Laboratories; new staffroom at Preparatory School; new stock‑watering system at Cave farms; new drying room at Mountain Lodge. The swimming pool was heated.

1989 – Chapel refurbishment, upgrading of Geography Department, boarding houses and food storage area in Strowan. New staff committees. Curator employed. Museum established.

1990 – New Gymnasium floor. Preparatory School extensions commenced. Senior College concept approved. Publicity Officer appointed.

1991 – Jubilee Planning Committee set up. Senior College Student Centre commenced. Quad redesigned.

1992 – Opening of Senior College 75th Jubilee celebrations. Director of Development appointed. Quadrangle redeveloped. Rentoul House for girl boarders opened.

1993 – Normans Road widened. Rutherford House remodelled. Second girls’ boarding house opened.

1994 – New Physics Laboratory and Library extensions opened. Computer system installed in Library. Theatre and Gymnasium extensions started.

1995 – Formation of Art Acquisition Committee. Junior School renovated.

1996 – Ager Sports Pavilion opened. New chairman for Foundation. Fundraising committee begins planning for $3 million capital campaign for new Technology Centre. Full co-education (by 2000) announced. Office of Bursar ceased, replaced by that of Administration Manager and Financial Accountant.

1997 – Erwin building moved to a temporary site on the far side of No. 3 field and construction started on the new Technology Centre.

1998 – R D H Steel Technology Centre opened 24 July. Car park put in front of Senior College. Erwin moved to present site opposite Assembly Hall (on rollers across rugby field, down behind Thompson House then across the cricket field).

1999 – Preparatory School Technology Centre in the Burnett Block reopened. Science Block upstairs renovated. Co-education now complete. Thompson House restructured for girls. Maintenance workshop relocated at end of Wilson Field near Band Room.

2000 – St Andrew’s College Pre-school opened on 17 July. Junior School relocated to new site. Fine Arts rebuilt on same site. MacGibbon House restructured.

2002 – Music Suite completely refurbished and extended. English Language Centre opened in the old Girls’ High School in Cranmer Square.

2003 – Television and Media Studies Suite refurbished. New play area for Preparatory School.

2004 – Preparatory School Arts and Library Centre opened. Two squash courts converted into a Gymnasium.

2006 – Senior College officially named Rentoul Senior College.

2007 – 90th Anniversary celebrations. Mrs Christine Leighton appointed Rector.

2008 – Kura Tawhiti Castle Hill Outdoor Education Centre completely rebuilt and renamed the Alistair Sidey Mountain Lodge. Work commenced on new Science and Mathematics Block.

2009 – Spiro Science and Mathematics Centre completed. New sports pavilion and changing rooms constructed at south end of Science Block. Work commenced on new quadrangle.

2010 – Foundation Sports Pavilion opened. New all-weather sports courts constructed on lower field. Construction of new Preparatory School commenced. Stage 1 was completed in October. 7.1 Earthquake, 4 September. Trumic family donated Cubes created by Neil Dawson.

2011 – January completion of the new Preparatory School. Strowan House refurbished. 6.3 Earthquake, February 22. Thompson and MacGibbon Houses demolished along with the Pipe Band Room. Extensive damage to Chapel and Strowan House. Strengthening of the Arts Block and Rutherford House to meet current building codes.

2012 – Junior boys’ boarders moved back into refurbished Rutherford House, which is renamed MacGibbon. Continuation of Strowan House refurbishment.

2013 – New Thompson and Rutherford Boarding Houses opened by Prime Minister. Strowan House restoration complete. Memorial Chapel officially decommissioned. New chairman for Foundation. Step Into Our Future fundraising campaign launched.

2014 – Erwin House demolished to make way for the second Gymnasium (Gym 2), which is Stage 1 of the Sports and Cultural Centre.

2015 – Outdoor Education, Askin Pipe Band Centre and new maintenance area are finished. Music Suite has major renovation with recording studio installed. The Dance Studio was finished and will be used extensively by the Ballet Academy. Gym 2 construction is complete and the existing Gymnasium will undergo earthquake repairs, and extensive refurbishment on a staged basis. Ground improvement works are completed on the new Chapel and construction begins. The Board Chairman Garry Moore laid the new Chapel foundation stone at Founders’ Day.

2016 – Barry Maister (Rector 1995–2001) officially opened Gym 2 and the Askin Pipe Band Centre. The new Fitness Centre was completed ensuring top quality facilities for the High Performance Sports programme. The Centenary was launched in September with a special assembly and whole school photo. The StAC100 Timeline was opened in the Senior College atrium. In October the new Centennial Chapel was dedicated by the Right Rev. Andrew Norton, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church. In November the College celebrated its 100th prizegiving. The plans for the new Junior School were finalised with building to start in 2017. Earthquake repairs started on the main driveway and the school gates were replaced with special Centennial gates.

2017 – The main driveway was replaced, the landscaping in front of Strowan House was completed and new tennis and netball courts were constructed. The Centenary Gala Weekend took place Friday 17 to Sunday 19 March, where over 3,250 guests attended the numerous events across the weekend. The StAC100 photograph, involving every student in the school, was a lasting reminder of an incredibly special year at St Andrew’s College. In October the new Turley Bridge was officially opened by the Turley Family, connecting Strowan House with the Centennial Chapel. Construction started on the new Junior and Pre‑school buildings and was completed and ready for use in Term 1, 2018.

2018 – Dame Adrienne Stewart officially opened the Stewart Junior Centre and Pre-school in February. The reimagined and extended Secondary School Library was officially opened by the Green family in June as The Green Library and Innovation Centre. The College Shop was relocated to the old Pre-school building in the Normans Road carpark in Term 4, and work commenced on the new drop‑off area in Normans Road, which was completed in early 2019.

2019 – The redeveloped Normans Road drop-off zone, which now extends right down to the Preparatory School, was completed in Term 1. Construction of a new waiting shelter in the drop-off zone, outside the College shop, Thistles, was completed in Term 4. In December, construction of the new Fitness Centre and Gym 1 strengthening began. The new Theatre Complex is in the development and design phase, with construction planned to start in December 2020.

2020 – The new Fitness Centre and Strengthening/ Renovation of Gym 1 Project was completed late in Term 4. Throughout the year, air-conditioning was progressively installed in Arts Block classrooms. The new Gough Family Theatre Complex design phase ended, with construction planned to start in December 2021.

2021 – The new Fitness Centre, StACFit, was opened in Term 1. The installation of air conditioning throughout the Arts Block was completed. The weathervane from the Memorial Chapel was restored and installed by the old cricket pavilion, thanks to a gift initiated by the 2020 leavers. Construction on the new Gough Family Theatre got underway once the delayed NCEA examinations ended in mid-December.

2022 – Work progressed on the new Gough Family Theatre but materials shortages and sickness due to COVID-19 pushed back the opening date to late August 2023. Fire sprinklers were installed in the Rentoul Senior College and a temporary cafe facility was installed in the Senior College for the start of the year. Large courtyard umbrellas were installed outside the Senior College common room and a new telephone system was installed throughout the campus.

2023 – Work continued on Ngā Toi – the new Performing Arts Centre including the Gough Family Theatre. ‘The Cloud’ turf canopy for the Preparatory School was installed ready for the start of Term 1 and the new Campus Cultural Landscaping Plan was approved in Term 4.

2024 – The College’s first Cultural Narrative was written, recognising the historical relationship between all the places associated with the College and the mana whenua, Ngāi Tahu. Ngā Toi Performing Arts Centre including the Gough Family Theatre officially opened in May, and the role of Theatre Operations Manager was created to support it. The Westgarth Scholarship was introduced, to support a student entering Year 9 each year. A record-breaking five former St Andrew’s College students represented New Zealand at the Paris Olympics. Rector Christine Leighton retired at the end of 2024 after a 17-year tenure.