Do you see that majestic main block before you? That is the heart of Auckland Grammar School. It stands as a testament to over 150 years of history. Auckland Grammar School has shaped leaders, scholars, and sportsmen.
Auckland Grammar School’s story began long before this building even existed. Governor Sir George Grey endowed the school in 1850. However, it wasn’t until 1869 that Auckland Grammar School officially opened. Its first location was on Howe Street.
Imagine those early days 78 boys gathered in the old Immigration Barracks. The school was privately funded. New Zealand didn’t yet have a state education system. Growth spurred a couple of moves in the 1870s. By 1880, Auckland Grammar School found a home on Symonds Street.
Did you know girls attended Auckland Grammar School for a time? Due to the economic impact of the 1880s depression, girls from Girls High School joined. In 1909, Auckland Girls Grammar School opened. Auckland Grammar School became an all-boys school again.
In 1916, Auckland Grammar School moved here to Mountain Road in Epsom. Governor General Arthur Foljambe, the Earl of Liverpool, opened the new site. The main block was built in the Spanish Mission style. It is used for daily assemblies and exhibitions. Classrooms are on its two levels.
Look around the main hall. Notice the school honours boards. They list the names of Auckland Grammar School’s top scholars. For those interested in architecture, the main building and the war memorial are Category I historic places. The former janitor’s house is Category II.
Here is something you might not expect. In the early 20th century, inmates from Mount Eden Prison worked in quarries near the school. They helped construct this very building. They quarried stone for road construction around Auckland. The flat land became sports fields for Auckland Grammar School.
Auckland Grammar School owns a facility in Ohakune called VentureLodge. Students use it for camps in the central North Island. The school’s motto is “Per Angusta ad Augusta.” It means “Through difficulties to greatness”. Another translation is “Through rough ravines to hallowed heights.”
Auckland Grammar School is known for both academic and sporting achievements. It consistently ranks high academically. Over 400 sports teams represent the school each year. Many Auckland Grammar School students have become All Blacks.
Notable alumni include Sir Edmund Hillary and Russell Crowe. Headmasters have included Dr Robert Boyd Kidd, Sir Henry Cooper, and Sir John Graham. Mark Sandelin is the current Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
The school song was introduced in 1955. It is sung in Latin. The melody is from the German hymn “Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott”. Auckland Grammar School continues to evolve. A new library, swimming pool, and study block are planned. They will be located between the Centennial Theatre and the War Memorial.
Auckland Grammar School stands as a beacon of tradition. It is a place where boys are challenged to achieve greatness. Its history is etched in these walls. The school is in its students and in its motto. Auckland Grammar School is a place of pride and accomplishment.