The School's History

Auckland Grammar School in 1920
Auckland Grammar School was originally endowed by the Governor of New Zealand, Sir George Grey, in 1850.
Grey made a series of land grants to set up and maintain a grammar school in Auckland that was to be "for the education of all New Zealanders". In 1869, the School was officially opened in Howe Street with 68 boys on the roll by the Duke of Edinburgh.
During the Depression of the 1880s, girls from the Girls' High School joined the Auckland College and Grammar School as it was then known, mainly out of economic necessity. In 1899, the School once again became known as Auckland Grammar School, but girls remained on the roll through until 1909.
Having made several moves throughout its first four decades, the School's current Mountain Road site was acquired between 1911 and 1913.
During the intervening years of World War I, Grammar embarked upon an ambitious and far-sighted building programme, which included the Spanish Mission style main building that is today listed with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.
The School's War Memorial was built to pay tribute to those who served and lost their lives while serving in World War I.
As the School's roll grew, a number of specialist facilities were built later that century and into this century.
Year |
Poignant events |
1850-1854 |
Governor Sir George Grey made a series of land grants with the objective of setting up and maintaining a 'College and Grammar School'. The Trust Board then waited more than 14 years to be in a position where income from the land could support a school. |
1868 |
By act of the Auckland Provincial Government, a Grammar School was founded and given the old Immigration Barracks in Howe Street and three acres of land. |
1869 |
Auckland Grammar School was officially opened by the Duke of Edinburgh. 68 boys whose parents were willing and able to pay their tuition were enrolled and a Cadet Corps was mustered and trained as part of Auckland's defences. |
1871 |
The growing school moved across to the Albert Barracks in Princes Street. Mr F. Macrae succeeded Dr R. B. Kidd as Headmaster and the following year, the school was named Auckland College and Grammar School. |
1878-1880 |
Having left the Albert Barracks and been moved into three makeshift locations nearby, a new permanent building for the School was opened by Sir George Grey in Symonds Street. For over 40 years, Auckland College and Grammar School remained in Symonds Street, on a few acres now occupied by the University of Auckland's School of Architecture. |
1882 |
Mr C. F. Bourne was appointed Headmaster. Despite the Depression years and lack of funds, academic standards were raised and the number of free places for boys increased. |
1888 |
With the Depression and withdrawal of Parliament's annual grant to the Girls' High School, girls were accepted into Auckland College and Grammar School. The sexes were kept strictly separate: "co-education without co-existence". |
1893 |
Mr J. W. Tibbs replaced Mr Bourne as Headmaster. The 30 years during which Tibbs was Headmaster proved a great period in the School's history, which included the completion of the monumental Californian Mission style main building in Mountain Road. |
1899 |
Although still co-educational, the School's name was changed back to Auckland Grammar School. By this time it was the largest and most important school in New Zealand. |
1909 |
The long-awaited Auckland Girls' Grammar School was opened on the old Howe Street site and Auckland Grammar School reverted to being an all-boys' school. |
1911-1913 |
Grammar acquired its present site on Mountain Road from the Crown. 15 acres of surplus prison land made up of a vast rocky, brush-covered wasteland overlooking Mt Eden Prison and including a rifle range. Following a keenly-contested architectural competition and later completion of plans, the foundation stone was laid on 1 December 1913. |
1914-1918 |
Despite the changes in fortune and shortages brought about by the Great War, construction on the new site proceeded and the new building was officially opened on 26 April 1916, by the Governor-General, the Earl of Liverpool. The total cost was £31,450 with little furniture. |
1922 |
Work on the War Memorial in front of the main building began and the central column, topped by a bronze figure of a youth, was unveiled. |
1927-1928 |
The first gymnasium was completed. |
1929 |
The year of the School's 60th Jubilee celebrations and Mr J. D. Mahon was appointed Headmaster. |
1931 |
The Library, primarily a Jubilee gift from the Old Boys, was opened. |
1935 |
Mr Mahon retired and Grammar Old Boy Mr C. M. Littlejohn was appointed Headmaster. He was previously Headmaster of Takapuna Grammar School for eight years. |
1939 |
World War II erupted in Europe and thousands of New Zealand youths, including senior schoolboys, went off for training and eventually to battle, for King George VI and Empire, in Libya, Egypt, Italy and later, the South Pacific. A Cadet Corps was formed, with virtually every boy in it. Slit trenches were dug around the building. |
1944 |
The School's 75th Jubilee celebrations take place. |
1953 |
Extensions to the War Memorial were completed and unveiled by the Governor-General, Sir Willoughby Norrie. The names of those Grammar Old Boys who had lost their lives were listed at the base of the Memorial. |
1954 |
Mr W. H. Cooper became the new Headmaster and the Science Block was opened by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon G. S. Holland. |
1962 |
A boarding hostel was opened and named in honour of former Headmaster Mr Tibbs. Tibbs House was located opposite the upper ground and accommodated 90 boys. |
1963 |
The construction of the Southern Motorway alongside the School removed the lower sports ground and at the same time exposed the deep lava flow on which Grammar stands. This cliff with the School and War Memorial in front is still one of the most impressive landmarks to be seen along the motorway. New sports grounds were developed below the ridge in the old prison quarry. |
1967 |
The Specialist Block opened, including Physics and Language labs, Music and Geography rooms and an audiovisual theatre. |
1969 |
Centennial celebrations began on 29 May and the Centennial Theatre, with seating for 360 and a swimming pool beside it, opened the following day by the Governor-General, Sir Arthur Porritt. Both were strongly supported and funded by the Old Boys' Association. |
1972 |
Mr Cooper retired and Mr D. J. Graham was appointed new Headmaster. |
1978 |
The new gymnasium was opened by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon Robert Muldoon. The facility was jointly funded by the Old Boys' Association, Parent-Teachers' Association, students and the Government. |
1981 |
A new Sports Pavilion, also a combined gift, came into use for the lower grounds, which now include six new tennis courts as well as expanded sports fields. |
1983 |
The first annual travelling scholarship for a Grammar master was awarded. |
1984 |
The new Music Suite, beside the Centennial Theatre, was opened. |
1985 |
The new Art and Technical Block was completed at a cost of $750,000. |
1988 |
Relocatable classrooms are moved to their new location on the raised section of the upper field. |
1990 |
The Science Block extension was opened by the Mayor of Auckland, Dame Cath Tizard. |
1991 |
The artificial sand-based hockey turf was opened on the Normanby Road playing field. The Careers Department is relocated to what was the 'Senior Common Room' adjacent to the swimming pool. |
1992 |
Auckland Grammar School won the Secondary Schools' Rowing cup, the Maadi Cup, for the first time. |
1993 |
Sir D. J. Graham, CBE retired after 21 years as Headmaster. Mr J. Morris became Headmaster after being Principal of Takapuna Grammar School for almost four years. |
1994-1995 |
The historic Main Block was re-strengthened as part of a Ministry of Education project at a cost of $6.5 million. The Main Block remained out of commission for over a year, with assemblies being held on the upper field on fine days. |
1996 |
The School enters the digital age with the appointment of a Director of Information Services and the creation of a computer network and suite of computers. |
1997 |
The extension and refurbishment of the School Library began, the swimming pool heated and approval was gained to build the Hostel masters' accommodation on the Tibbs House site. |
1998 |
The English Block is refurbished and the Headmaster's residence was created at 8 Clive Road, adjacent to Tibbs House. |
1999 |
The wider Grammar community was saddened by the sudden death of Mr I. D. Mackinlay, Associate Headmaster. |
2000 |
Auckland Grammar School introduces international examinations to New Zealand in addition to NCEA. The University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) are trialled for the first time in New Zealand. |
2002 |
The School's new Technology Block is built and the Learning Support Department moves into the refurbished area that was previously home to the Technology Department. Two new classrooms are built on the 'D' floor of the Main Block, which were originally the tractor sheds. |
2003 |
The ground floor of the new Technology Block was converted into two Computer labs plus office and resource space and the building won a national architectural award. |
2004 |
The new Specialist Block extension is completed, housing the History, Geography and Languages Departments. |
2005 |
The School's roll reached 2,500, as a result of government enrolment legislation that guarantees enrolment for all boys living in the 'Grammar Zone'. |
2006 |
Issues with the Ministry of Education over zone requirements continue. |
2007 |
The upper field was converted to a sand carpet base. The Old Boys' Pavilion and Squash Courts are opened by Old Boy Sir Wilson Whineray, replacing the original pavilion. |
2008 |
Grammar's most famous Old Boy, Sir Edmund Hillary, passed away. |
2009 |
Dr Robert Kirkpatrick retired from the Chairmanship of the Board of Trustees after a tenure of 12 years. |
2010 |
Mr A. J. Blackburn '67 became Chairman of the Board of Trustees. |
2011 |
The School secured its second Maadi Cup in rowing. |
2012 |
Tibbs House celebrated its 50 year anniversary. |
2014 |
The construction of the New Classroom Block, to be connected to the B floor of the Main block, started in May. |
2015 |
The 2015 Form 3 cohort started their journey at Auckland Grammar School and will be the Form 7 leaders when the 150th celebrations take place in 2019. |
2016 |
The School introduced Te Reo Maori as a compulsory subject for all Form 3 students and hires Mr Neitana Lobb, the first Te Reo staff member for the School. |
2017 |
The 2017 Form 5 cohort were the first year group to have an 8-period day, studying six subjects, giving them more flexibility when it comes to choosing options in Forms 6 and 7. |
2018 |
The Auckland Grammar School Old Boys' Association celebrated its quasquicentenary (125 years). |
2019 |
Auckland Grammar School celebrated its sesquicentenary in May with 27 events across nine days. For just the second time in the School's history, the 2019 student body performed the full School haka before the annual Grammar vs King's College 1st XV fixture. |