St Kevin's College, Oamaru facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids St Kevin's College, Oamaru

Address
44a Taward Street Oamaru New Zealand
Coordinates	45°04′03″S 170°59′00″E / 45.0674°S 170.9832°E / -45.0674; 170.9832
Information
Type	Integrated co-educational secondary
Motto	Latin: Facere et Docere ('To Do and To Teach')
Patron saint(s)	Saint Kevin
Established	6 February 1927; 98 years ago
Founder	Congregation of Christian Brothers
Sister school	St Joseph's School
Ministry of Education Institution no.	369
Principal	Jo Walshe BA, Dip Tch, Grad Dip (Theo), Grad Dip (RelSt)
Chaplain	Very Rev. Fr Wayne Healey
Years	9–13
School roll	381 (February 2024)
Campus	St Kevins College Redcastle
Socio-economic decile	7O
Affiliations	Roman Catholic, Christian Brothers, Dominican Sisters
Website	www.stkevins.school.nz/

St Kevin's College, also known as Redcastle, is a Catholic high school in Oamaru, New Zealand. It's a coeducational school, meaning both boys and girls attend. Students can live at the school (boarding) or travel there each day (day students).

The school was started by the Christian Brothers in 1927 for boys. In 1983, it became a school for both boys and girls. This happened when St Thomas's Girls' Secondary School, run by the Dominican Sisters, closed. In the same year, St Kevin's College also became a "state-integrated" school. This means it's a private school that gets some government funding but keeps its special Catholic character.

The Christian Brothers stopped teaching at the school in the late 1990s. However, they still owned the school until 2019. Then, they gave ownership to the Bishop of Dunedin. Soon, St Joseph's School, a Catholic primary school in Oamaru, will be rebuilt on the St Kevin's College campus. Both schools will have their own identity but will be managed by one board.

About Student Life

Who Goes to St Kevin's?

In 2019, about 450 students attended St Kevin's College. Around 80 students lived at the school, and 370 were day students. The school had an equal number of girls and boys.

In 2016, most students (70%) were New Zealand European. About 10% were Asian, 5% were Pacific Islander, and 10% were Māori. The school has a strong focus on the Catholic faith.

As a state-integrated school, St Kevin's College asks New Zealand students to pay attendance dues. For the 2025 school year, these dues are $1,015 per year.

As of August 2025, the school has 369 students. About 369 students, which is 369m% of the total, identify as Māori.

Special Character of the School

In February 1983, St Kevin's College welcomed girls and became a co-educational school. Before this, girls who boarded went to Teschemakers or St Thomas's Girls Secondary School. St Kevin's College can now house over 100 girls in its boarding facilities.

The school has a "special character" because of its strong connection to the Catholic faith. Students who are Catholic or have a link to the Catholic Church are given first choice for enrolment. A special certificate from their local priest is needed for their application. The school can also accept a small number of non-Catholic students, up to 5% of its total student body.

Students mainly come from Oamaru and nearby rural areas. Many of them previously attended St Joseph's School, Oamaru. Some students also come from other parts of New Zealand and overseas. The school has modern facilities and large grounds. It offers unique learning chances like an equestrian (horse riding) academy and a primary-industry trades academy. Students can also get involved in media, and many different sports.

School Houses and Their Names

St Kevin's College has four houses, each with a colour and named after an important person:

Clancy - Green - Named after Brother Ferdinand Clancy, a leader of the Christian Brothers.
Magee - Red - Named after Brother Felix Magee, the first head of the College in 1927.
Treacy - Blue - Named after Brother Ambrose Treacy, a Christian Brothers pioneer in Australia and New Zealand.
Whyte - Yellow - Named after James White, who was the Bishop of Dunedin in 1927.

Sports and Activities

Sports at St Kevin's

The college has helped train seven All Blacks (New Zealand's national rugby team) and one Silver Fern (New Zealand's national netball team). Students can play many sports, including:

Hockey
Rugby
Basketball
Soccer
Netball
Swimming
Rowing
Cricket
Tennis
Squash
Badminton
Skiing
Snowboarding
Multi-sport events
Athletics
Tramping (hiking)
Kayaking

Swimming, athletics, and cross-country running are very important, and all students take part. The college has its own golf course, swimming pool, sports turf, and gymnasium.

Rugby is a big part of St Kevin's. There's an annual game against Waitaki Boys' High School for the Leo O’Malley Memorial Trophy. This game is very popular, with up to 5000 people watching. It's often called "the blooder" by St Kevin's students. This name came from St Kevin's students calling Waitaki Boys "blood nuts" because of their red blazers. St Kevin's blazers are blue.

Media and Performance Arts

The College encourages students to get involved in public speaking, singing, drama, and debating. They also have choirs, dance, reading aloud, role plays, and scripture reading. Cultural events, like the yearly choral festival and school production, are part of the school calendar. This way, all students can be involved. The College also takes part in the annual Bishop's Shield Competition and has won it many times.

Many students learn music and play instruments during the school day. The college has music groups, and some students play in orchestras outside of school. There is also a Chapel Choir for church events at the College.

Boarding at St Kevin's

St Kevin's College started as a boarding school for boys. When it joined with St Thomas's, the college took over the girls' boarding house. This hostel moved onto the St Kevin's College campus in 1984.

In 2019, the school began a big upgrade of its five boarding buildings. This project cost a million dollars and was paid for by the Christian Brothers. The goal was to attract more students to live at the school.

School History

How St Kevin's Began

The idea for a Catholic boarding school for boys in Otago was first suggested in 1890. But it wasn't until 1925 that plans really started. The Bishop of Dunedin, James Whyte, asked the Christian Brothers to set up the school. They had already run the Christian Brothers School in Dunedin since 1876.

The Bishop and a Christian Brothers leader, P. I. Hickey, looked at many places. They chose a property in Oamaru called "Redcastle" as the best spot.

The School Campus

The land where the college stands was first developed by the McLean and Buckley families. John McLean bought the Oamaru land in 1857. He kept the area that is now the school and lived there from the 1860s.

The first house on the property was a small, one-story building with a thatched roof. When it burned down, John Buckley built the red brick house with Oamaru stone. This building is now known as the "Castle." He also built large stables, which are now a school building called "The Stables."

The property was known for its beauty. The Christian Brothers bought 40 acres (about 16 hectares) for £8000 in 1925. They added another 10 acres (about 4 hectares) in 1928 for £1000. Today, the campus is 27 hectares (about 67 acres).

In 1926, Brother Moore helped raise money for the school by organizing a bazaar and lottery. Brother Dowd collected donations from country areas. These efforts raised £7000. Construction of the school buildings started in 1926.

Opening Day

The college was named after Saint Kevin (498–618), an Irish saint who founded a monastery and school. The official opening and blessing of the college happened on Sunday, February 6, 1927. Many important church leaders were there, along with over 2,500 friends and supporters.

Classes started on Tuesday, February 8, 1927. There were 60 students living at the school and 31 day students. The first Christian Brothers on staff included Brother Magee, the first Rector (head of the school).

School Values and Spirit

For its first 56 years, St Kevin's College was like other Christian Brother boarding schools in Australia and New Zealand. They aimed to give a Catholic education to boys from rural Catholic families. The Christian Brothers worked very hard. They taught all day, coached sports, supervised meals and study, and looked after the dormitories at night.

Junior School History

In 1928, the Christian Brothers also took over St Patrick's Primary School for boys. In 1974, this school joined with St Joseph's School. However, boys aged 11 and 12 (Year 7 and 8) were enrolled at St Kevin's and taught at St John's School by Dominican sisters. St John's was located near the college driveway.

In 1983, St John's School also joined with St Joseph's School. St Joseph's became a full primary school, and St Kevin's became a secondary school only, starting with Year 9 students (both boys and girls). As mentioned, St Joseph's School will be rebuilt on the St Kevin's College site. This will create a new school for St Joseph's and bring all Oamaru Catholic education to one location.

School Leaders (Rectors)

1927–1933: Brother B. F. Magee
1933–1936: Brother M. M. O'Connor
1936–1938: Brother J. B. Gettons
1939–1945: Brother M. D. McCarthy BA
1945–1951: Brother P. C. Ryan BA
1951–1952: Brother J. A. Morris
1953–1957: Brother J. I. Carroll BA, MusB
1958–1961: Brother J. B. Duffy BA, BEd (Hons)
1961–1967: Brother P. A. McManus BA, DipEd
1968–1971: Brother J. M. Hessian BSc, MACE
1972–1974: Brother P. A. Boyd
1975–1979: Brother M. B. Scanlan BSc, DipEd
1980–1996: Brother B. J. Lauren BA, TTC, DipEd, DipCat, DipRE
1996–2001: Mr J. G. Boyle BA, DipTch
2002–2010: Mr C. B. Russell BA, DipEd, DipTch
2010–2021: Mr P. R. Olsen BSc, DipTch
2022–present: Ms Jo Walshe BA, Dip Tch, Grad Dip (Theo), Grad Dip (RelSt)

Dominican Sisters' Schools

The Dominican Sisters ran primary and secondary schools in Oamaru. Many students from these schools were related to boys at St Kevin's College. When St Kevin's College joined with St Thomas's Girls' Secondary School, it became a co-educational school in 1983. Dominican sisters also joined the St Kevin's staff. This meant St Kevin's College became the main Catholic secondary school in North Otago. The histories of the Dominican and Christian Brothers' schools came together, offering more opportunities for students. As of 2025, there are two Catholic schools in Oamaru: St Joseph's School, Oamaru (a primary school) and St Kevin's College.

St Joseph's School

St Joseph's School, Oamaru is the only Catholic primary school in Oamaru. It was started by the Dominican Sisters in 1882. St Joseph's School will move from its current location to the St Kevin's College campus.

St Thomas's Girls' Secondary School (1935-1983)

St Thomas's Girls' Secondary School opened in 1935 with nine girls. By 1952, it had 71 students, and new buildings were opened. In 1977, another Dominican school, St Patricks Dominican College, Teschemakers, closed. Many of its students moved to St Thomas's. St Thomas's started sharing some senior classes with St Kevin's College in 1980.

In 1983, St Thomas's Girls Secondary School closed. St Kevin's College then became a co-educational school after being a boys' school for 56 years. A girl who joined St Kevin's in 1983 said they came from a small Catholic girls' school with 92 girls. St Kevin's was much bigger, with a strong culture, high standards, and more subjects and sports.

St Thomas's Girls' Secondary School was located in the Rosary Convent and nearby buildings. This large building was finished in 1901. Part of the convent was used as a boarding school. The Chapel of the Sacred Heart, opened in 1920, was used by St Thomas's students. Rosary Convent is still a well-known building in Oamaru today.

St Patrick's Dominican College, Teschemakers (1912-1977)

Another Dominican school for girls, St Patrick's College, also has a connection to St Kevin's College's history. This secondary boarding school for girls operated at Teschemakers, 10 kilometres south of Oamaru, for 65 years. It opened in 1912 with seven Dominican sisters and seven boarders.

In its early years, the school tried to be self-supporting. Students would start their day at 4 am milking cows. There was no running water or electricity. The school's beautiful buildings and peaceful surroundings had a big impact on the students and teachers.

The chapel of the Holy Rosary was built between 1912 and 1916. It was paid for by a local person from Oamaru, Frances Grant. The church services in the chapel were a lasting memory for the students.

Teschemakers, which once housed 140 boarding girls, closed as a school in 1977. This was mainly because there weren’t enough sisters to teach and manage it. Many students moved to St Thomas's Girls Secondary School. After closing, the campus became a conference and retreat centre until the Dominicans sold it in 2000. As of 2025, the chapel is open to the public daily and is used for weddings. The convent buildings are now a hotel.

St Thomas's Academy (1912-1962)

The Dominican sisters also ran St Thomas's Academy, a primary boarding school for boys aged 5 to 12. It started in 1913 with one student and grew to 64 boys by 1920. The school had good academic success, with students winning many scholarships to good high schools, including St Kevin's College. The beautiful chapel of the Rosary Convent was used by the boys of the Academy.

St Thomas's Academy closed in 1961 because student numbers dropped, and the Dominican sisters couldn't provide enough staff. In 1961, a primary school for Year 7 and 8 boys from St Kevin's College was set up. This school closed in 1983 when St Joseph's school became a full primary school, and St Kevin's College no longer had junior classes.

St Kevin's College celebrates not only its own notable former students but also those from the now-closed Dominican Oamaru schools: St Patrick's Dominican College Teschemakers, St Thomas's Academy, and St Thomas's Girls' Secondary School.

Miles Anderson – a politician, Member of Parliament for Waitaki (2023–present).
Bridget Armstrong – an actress (from St Patrick's Dominican College, Teschemakers).
Maree Bowden – a New Zealand netball international player.
Leonard Anthony Boyle (1930–2016) – the fifth Bishop of Dunedin.
Kevin Brady – the 17th Controller and Auditor-General of New Zealand (2002–2009).
Dan Buckingham – an Olympic Paralympian athlete.
Donald John Cameron (born 1933) – a journalist and sportswriter.
Thomas Desmond Coughlan – an All Blacks rugby player (1958).
Jacqueline Fahey – an artist (from St Patrick's Dominican College, Teschemakers).
James Esmond Farrell (1909 – 1968) – a diplomat (from St Thomas's Academy).
Peter Gresham (1933 - 2024) – a politician, Member of Parliament for Waitotara (1990–1996).
Gavan Herlihy – a politician, Member of Parliament for Otago (1996–2002).
Sister Patricia Mary Hook (1921 – 2010) – a Sister of Mercy, nurse, and hospital administrator (from St Thomas's Girls' Secondary School).
James Charles Kearney – an All Blacks rugby player (1947–1949).
Kevin Francis Laidlaw – an All Blacks rugby player (1960).
Francis Steven McAtamney – an All Blacks rugby player (1956).
William Alexander McCaw – an All Blacks Captain (1954).
John McKinnon – an eye doctor and mountaineer.
Denzil Meuli (1926–2019) – a priest and writer.
Sione Misiloi (born 1994) – a rugby union player for the Highlanders.
Alec Neill – a politician, Member of Parliament for Waitaki (1990–1996).
Melanie Nolan (born 1960) - a historian (from St Patrick's Dominican College, Teschemakers).
Bernard O'Brien (1907 – 1982) - a Jesuit priest, philosopher, and musician (from St Thomas's Academy).
Tim O'Malley (born 1994) – a rugby union player for Tasman.
Bronson Ross (born 1985) - a professional Rugby Player.
Craig Smith (born 1985) – a first-class cricketer for Otago.
Matt Saunders – a rugby union player.
Cyril Laurence (Larry) Siegert (1923–2007) – an Air Vice Marshal and Chief of Air Force (1976 to 1979).
Kevin Lawrence Skinner – an All Blacks captain (1952) and champion heavy weight boxer.
Robert Charles Stuart – an All Blacks captain (1949–1954) and rugby coach.
Tom Taylor (1925–1994) – a sculptor and architect.
Owen Tracey (1915–1941) – a fighter pilot and flying ace in World War II.
Jane Watson (born 1990) – a New Zealand netball international player.
Gordon Whiting (1942–2018) – a judge.
Thomas Williams (1930–2023) – a cardinal and Archbishop Emeritus of Wellington.

The college has seen many students go on to become Christian Brothers, priests, and even a cardinal. In sports, two Silver Ferns and seven All Blacks (including three captains) have been students at St Kevin's.