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| Entrance with foundation stone, Queen Victoria School for Maori Girls, Parnell, Auckland. Image BFA 2003 |
Through our heritage built environment we can reach the
ideals and aspirations of our forebears. Sometimes it takes quite a leap.
This is certainly the case when looking at
educational buildings. The culture of 19th and early 20th
century education is so far from our views today.
At an Anglican Diocesan Synod in October 1900 Rev Hare Maihi
proposed the establishment of a school for Maori girls in Auckland. This
proposal was unanimously approved. [i]
In February 1901 the Synod conceived and discussed of the building of such a
school as a permanent memorial to Queen Victoria.[ii]
The suggestion was subsequently approved and a target for fundraising set at £10,000,
to be solicited from the whole community. [iii]
A
model for the school already existed in Napier. Hukarere School was founded ‘to
give Christian education to Maori and half-caste girls and to train them to be
good and useful women.’ When established in 1875 it was the only Protestant
residential school for Maori girls in the country.[iv]
From its inception Queen Victoria's was to be a boarding school,
drawing students from all around the region. It was intended to supplement the
facilities in Napier, expanding the opportunity for higher education to include
those centres of Maori population such as Tauranga and Whakatane.
The
discussion around the enterprise did not focus on the academic potential of
young Maori women, but upon the ‘europeanising’ of a generation. For Sir
Apirana Ngata, speaking at a conference of students of Te Aute Maori Boys’ College,
the European concept of the Home as a civilising and educating social structure
for future generations was the key benefit of higher schooling for Maori girls.[v]
The special character of the school as a Christian establishment carried expectations
of the inculcation of a ‘moral tone’ which was considered as a desirable
influence on this rising generation of young mothers-to-be.
The site for the school was in Glanville Terrace, Parnell,
opposite the existing St Stephen’s Maori Boys’ School. This land was a gift of
Ngati Whatua. Given the royal associations of the project, the ceremony of
laying the foundation stone was timed to coincide with the visit of the Duke of
Cornwall and York with his Duchess in June 1901.[vi]
At this stage there were still insufficient funds to begin
the building process. Edward Bartley began the design process, in his capacity as Diocesan Architect. Tenders were called In June 1902, after which the design
was reworked to bring it more into line with the financial resources available.
The intended capacity was for sixty boarders. This was halved and the plans
altered so as to leave room on the site for an additional wing as and when
funds became available. Tenders were then re-advertised in September of that
year. This time J Davis’ tender of £2131 was accepted.[vii]
There was immense good will for the project from the
majority of the community with fundraising
being undertaken as far south as Masterton and Wairarapa.. A stylish bazaar was held on the grounds behind Government House in March
1903. Well attended and hugely successful, this event met the cost of
furnishing the school, but not more.
The enterprise was always cash strapped.
The school’s continued reliance on public generosity was stressed at the
opening ceremony in May 1903.[viii]
Somehow Queen Victoria School survived until 2001, dogged by
financial constraints all the way. Her sibling school of St Stephen’s had
closed the previous year.
The range of educational options in a changing world
undoubtedly contributed in the drop in enrolments -back to the 60 girls
envisaged in 1901. One hundred years later such a small role was no longer a
viable proposition, placing an untenable pressure on families to meet the ever
increasing fees.
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| Image Jubilee booklet, Queen Victoria School Jubilee June 1953 p 59 |
The school is remembered with great fondness by
past students and their families as a Spartan but happy place. It fulfilled its
purpose well and in the early twentieth century was held in high esteem as an
educational provider and training
establishment for community leaders.
[i] NZ
Herald 12 Oct 1900 page 6 col 6
[ii]
Ibid 12 Feb 1901 page 6
[iii]
Ibid 20 Feb 1901 page 3
[iv]
Ibid 21 May 1901 page 3
[v]
Ibid 13 May 1901 page 6
[vi]
Ibid 13 June 1901 page 5 col. 6, page 6 col. 6
[vii]
Ibid 30 Sept 1902 page 4 col. 8
[viii]
Ibid 23 May 1903 page 6 col 1 & 2
