Erskine College, Wellington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Erskine College |
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Erskine College building, Wellington
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | French Gothic and Edwardian collegiate architecture |
| Location | Corner Avon Street and Melbourne Road, Island Bay, Wellington, New Zealand |
| Completed | 1906 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | John Sydney Swan |
| Designated: | 13-Aug-2009 |
| Reference #: | 7795 |
Erskine College was a group of old, important buildings in Wellington, New Zealand. It included a beautiful chapel called the Chapel of the Sacred Heart and a large main building. For many years, it was a special school for girls.
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What Was Erskine College?
The buildings were built in 1905 by a group called the Society of the Sacred Heart. This group ran Catholic schools. The school was first known as the Convent of the Sacred Heart at Island Bay. It was a boarding school, meaning girls lived there while they studied.
The school closed in 1985.
Why the Name Change?
In the late 1960s, the school's name changed to Erskine College. This was done to avoid confusion. There was another school nearby called Sacred Heart College, Lower Hutt.
The new name, Erskine, came from Mother Janet Erskine Stuart. She was a very important leader of the Society of the Sacred Heart. She was the fifth person to be the Superior General of the group.
A Special Place
The buildings and the land around them were very special. They were officially listed as a "Category I" historic place by Heritage New Zealand. This means they were considered to have great historical or cultural importance.
What Happened to the Buildings?
Sadly, most of the college buildings were taken down in 2018. A company called The Wellington Company owned the site. They decided to remove the buildings to build 96 new homes called townhouses. Only the chapel was saved.
Famous Former Students
Some notable people who attended Erskine College include:
- Margaret Mary Barry
- Dame Luamanuvao Winifred "Winnie" Alexandra Laban
- Belinda Cordwell
