New Lynn School History

1. New Lynn School History By Nina Aquino

2. Introduction • New Lynn School was first established in 1888 at the sight where Kelston Girls now stands. The school got too small, some children were sent to a side school at a building to this day still stands as the New Lynn Congregational church.

3. The Opening • In 1914 a new building was built on a new location, Margan Avenue and April 11, it was the official opening of the second building of New Lynn School. The school was made out of plastered bricks.

4. The Bell • In September 1948, Headmaster Fred Breach, was aware that New Lynn’s large grounds meant many children did not hear the bell to come in from break times, asked that the Naval Department in Britain be written to, asking for a bell from a Dismantled warship. This was done in two years. Two years later the bell of H.M.S. ‘Mameluke’ was installed.

5. The Oak Tree • The Oak tree was planted after World War One to commemorate the death in action of Captain Morgan at Gallipoli in 1915 still grows strongly in New Lynn School grounds.

6. Sadly the Old Gives Way • On November 30 1974, an open day was held for past students to come and say farewell. The building eventually got pulled down In early January 1975. Contractors moved onto the site and within a few weeks the ground got cleared for the building of the new school. A new one was built on the same site.

7. Conclusion • The school has grown from four teachers and one hundred and eighty students into thirteen classrooms and over three hundred children. The school has really evolved between 1888 to 2010.