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Story: Astronomy – overview

Opening the Gifford Observatory

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Opening the Gifford Observatory

Charles Gifford, a mathematics teacher at Wellington College, developed one of the best-equipped school observatories in New Zealand. He is shown standing by its door on the day of its opening, 1 December 1924. The observatory fell into disrepair in the 1970s, but was restored in 2000.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Sydney Charles Smith Collection (PA-Group-00242)

Reference: 1/2-045592; G

by Sydney Charles Smith

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Maggy Wassilieff, Astronomy – overview – An enthusiast’s pursuit, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/7996/opening-the-gifford-observatory (accessed 25 June 2026).

Story by Maggy Wassilieff, published 2 March 2009.