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Story: Historic earthquakes

Nelson College tower

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Nelson College tower

Rubble from the collapsed tower of Nelson College, 90 kilometres from the earthquake’s epicentre, surrounds the school’s main entrance after the earthquake. Two boys were hurt, but in view of the severity of the shaking it is remarkable that there were not more injuries.

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Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: 1/2-012112

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

Eileen McSaveney, Historic earthquakes – The 1929 Arthur’s Pass and Murchison earthquakes, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/4506/nelson-college-tower (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Eileen McSaveney, published 2 March 2009, updated 1 November 2017.