Was this very spot once home to a renowned science teacher named Charles Gifford? It certainly was! You stand before the Gifford Observatory, a place where countless students have gazed at the stars.
Established in 1912 by Charles Gifford, the observatory wasn’t always here. It was moved to this spot, shared by Wellington College and Wellington East Girls’ College, in 1926. The Gifford Observatory sadly faced a period of neglect in the late 1970s. Lack of resources and enthusiasm led to its decline. However, hope was not lost.
In 1998, a group of dedicated teachers and amateur astronomers from the Wellington Astronomical Society formed a trust. Their goal? To restore the observatory to its former glory. And restore it they did! On March 25, 2002, the Gifford Observatory was reopened. The reopening ceremony was a special event, graced by William Pickering, a man who spent many hours here during his own school days. The observatory houses a remarkable piece of equipment: a 130 mm Zeiss refracting telescope. This telescope, initially driven by clockwork, received a modern upgrade in the mid-1960s with a motor drive. Though kept in storage during the observatory’s dormant years, the telescope was reunited with its home during the restoration. The Gifford Observatory stands as a testament to the enduring fascination with the cosmos, inspiring generations of students to reach for the stars.