Photo by Linda Robertson.
Otago Girls' High School pupils (from left) Lily Tagaloa,
Emma Bloem and Savannah Flack (all 15) wait for their ride home
after school as work continues on the school's renovations.
School principal Linda Miller said the historic Dalrymple
Block was having its windows painted, new front steps had
been put in place and the historic stonework was being
treated and sealed. The building was designed by Edmund
Anscombe and was opened in 1910.
It was named after Learmonth Whyte Dalrymple, who spent six
years creating petitions, writing letters and putting
constant pressure on the provincial council in the 1860s to
persuade it to establish a public high school for girls.
The original school was opened in 1871, making it the oldest
girls' school in the southern hemisphere. Mrs Miller said the
renovation work had not caused disruption to classes because
the majority of noisy work was done during the school
holidays. It was expected to be completed within four to five
weeks.
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