St John’s College was founded by Bishop GA Selwyn at Te Waimate in 1843 and moved to Auckland in 1845.
When St John’s College moved from Te Waimate to Auckland, accommodation was first at Purewa, close to the site of the present cemetery.
An early sketch of the College around 1850, showing from left – Boy’s School, chapel, hospital building, kitchen, dining room and Selwyn’s stone house.
The old stone house through the trees – about 1880. The stone house, built by Bishop Selwyn had dormer windows and porches added later. The porches were later moved to Purewa Cemetery as shelters
Boys and teachers of St John’s Collegiate School who rented the College buildings in the 1890’s
Visitors to the chapel in 1896, with the changed bell tower erected by John Kinder amidst controversy.
This building, built next to the old stone house, was the ‘printery’ in the 1840’s. From here the College Press produced teaching materials and church publications.
The building circ 1848, was known as the hospital building, but later used as accommodation. The children of Percy Williams (Warden 1906-07 and 1910-15) are in the foreground, to the left.
The Patteson Block was opening in 1909, when Baron Plunket was present.
The College library was held at the end of the dinning room.
The Selwyn block – built for student accommodation in 1921. It replaced the original stone house and hospital building.
The Cloister Block was built in 1956 to house growing student numbers.
The formal opening of the Cloister Block, 1956.
In April of 1962, accommodation for married students was made available. Archbishop Lesser dedicated the flats.
The Selwyn Building – student accommodation photographed in 1989 prior to demolition. The block was demolished in 1990, with only some of the building remaining today.
