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Story: Primary and secondary education

Inside the Parnell Church of England Grammar School

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Inside the Parnell Church of England Grammar School

The Church of England Grammar School was established in Parnell, Auckland, in 1854 to provide a primary and secondary education for boys. It was the outcome of planning by the Anglican bishop of New Zealand, George Augustus Selwyn, and the stone building was designed by architect Frederick Thatcher. John Kinder, who sketched the interior, was the first headmaster. He took many of the classes, and his sister Fanny taught some of the younger boys. Other well-known teachers were artist J. B. C. Hoyte, who took art classes, and J. E. Gorst, who taught Greek.

Using this item

Auckland Council Libraries − Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero o Tāmaki Makaurau, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Reference: 4-1190

Permission of Auckland City Libraries Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Nancy Swarbrick, Primary and secondary education – Education from 1840 to 1918, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/36628/inside-the-parnell-church-of-england-grammar-school (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 29 May 2012.