1856 First state secondary school opens in Nelson

The first state secondary school in New Zealand, Nelson College opened in temporary premises in Trafalgar Street with a roll of just eight boys. It eventually attracted boys from around the country as well as the local area. It now has a roll of over 1000 and continues to take both boarders and day pupils.

Notable old boys include Nobel Prize winner Ernest Rutherford, Victoria Cross recipient Leonard Trent, Commonwealth Secretary-General and deputy Prime Minister Don McKinnon, and two Labour Prime Ministers: Wallace (‘Bill’) Rowling and Geoffrey Palmer.

A team from Nelson College took part in the first game of rugby played in New Zealand when it played the Nelson club in May 1870.