A PROUD HISTORY
On 12 February 1918, 21 boys answered the first calling of the roll for the newly opened John McGlashan College.
The previous April, three acres of land and buildings in Dunedin’s Maori Hill had been donated to the Presbyterian Church to establish a boarding school, by Margaret and Agnes McGlashan, the unmarried daughters of Scottish settler John McGlashan.
The solicitor, educationist and local authority leader had died after falling from a horse in November 1864, but his daughters saw the gifting of land and buildings, including the family home, for a boys’ school as fulfilling his passion for education and Christianity.
Following alterations, the college opened for the 1918 school year with a roll of 10 boarders and 11 day boys, aged seven to 18.
John McGlashan was an Edinburgh lawyer and secretary of the Otago Association, overseeing the despatch of 12 of the first 14 ships taking settlers from Scotland and England to the colony.
In 1853, aged 50, he and his family joined them, becoming settlers seeking a new life in Dunedin.
The following year, John McGlashan was appointed provincial treasurer and solicitor, and was later elected to the provincial council.
He bought the Maori Hill land on which the college now sits in 1855, naming it Balmacewen, a blend of his wife’s Christian name, Isabella, and her maiden name, McEwen.
He was passionate about the Presbyterian Church and education, lobbying for the construction of a noble church for Dunedin and in 1856 he was elected to the Otago Education Board to further his belief that children should be given a sound and liberal education, a philosophy that the college still adheres to today.
Nearly 100 years later, the college has taught more than 6000 boys who have experienced its special character; boys from rural and urban backgrounds have passed through the Christian-influenced environment.
Boarding facilities have been a central feature of the college’s special character, and in the early days, church ministers throughout Otago and Southland were requested to encourage farmers to send their sons to the newly opened boarding school. Today, boarders make up about a quarter of the 500 enrolled pupils.
It was not always plain sailing. Originally a private school, for the first 70 years its fortunes were dictated by the size of its roll.
That uncertainty and the need to upgrade facilities came to a head in the 1980s, and in 1990 John McGlashan College became state-integrated, meaning the college owned the facilities, for which it charged families of students an attendance due fee, but staff and running costs were funded by the Government.
The original McGlashan homestead was demolished in the late 1950s for the memorial hall and dining room, which opened in 1960, and the original teaching block was replaced in the early 1990s. But several original buildings remain.
The original dining room built in 1918 remains, having served as a school hall, gymnasium, library and classroom, and the Balmacewen boarding house, opened a year later and now the Edgar Learning Centre, also remains, housing the library, teaching and meeting rooms.
The college has had 10 principals and today is led by Neil Garry, who has taught at the college since 1986.
FROM THE ARCHIVES: BOARDING IN THE EARLY YEARS
Centennial Celebrations
One hundred years ago, the McGlashan sisters, daughters of John McGlashan, saw their vision become a reality with the opening of John McGlashan College.
This weekend, over 500 past pupils will walk the same grounds and celebrate the McGlashan family’s generosity in gifting an academic centre providing quality education for boys in the South.
During the weekend, every decade since the 40s will be represented and the noise levels and laughter will be high, as old friendships are rekindled and memories are unlocked.
The chair of the 100 committee, George Friedlander, said,
“There is a wonderful level of excitement amongst old boys attending, they are really looking forward to this weekend. Registrations have come in from around the globe, including Sweden and Canada, an acknowledgement of the loyalty and love these people have for their old school.”
A range of activities are planned for the weekend, including the annual Founders’ Day service for current and past pupils; cricket and touch rugby with current boys versus old boys, and the Celebration Dinner in the Dunedin Town Hall.
The weekend will close with a boarders’ breakfast in the school dining hall and a traditional Chapel service at 10.30am Sunday 11th February, open to anyone with an interest in the school.
Full details for the weekend are posted on www.mcglashan100.nz
EMBRACING OUR DIVERSITY
The college understands the individuality of each boy and we provide every student with strong foundations for life and extensive opportunities to develop his unique abilities and passions. Our school is small enough that every boy is well known by staff and becomes an integral part of College life, either through their involvement in cultural or sporting pursuits, or their commitment to engaging in our community. We celebrate students’ differences and offer them pathways that allow them to achieve their own personal success – academically, socially, culturally or in a sporting realm. Over the decades, the McGlashan education has continually developed but some things remain at the heart of what we offer. We value intellectual excellence, aesthetic awareness and the ideal of a healthy mind in a healthy body. We expect our boys to become well-educated independent young men of integrity, who believe in the standards of our heritage: honesty, respect and concern for others are fundamental to the way we do things. High-quality teaching and learning is the hallmark of the college and it is based on positive learning relationships between staff and students.
Academic - McGlashan's tradition of academic excellence is a source of pride and an inspiration towards continuous improvement. Click here to read more...
Sport - Sporting activities are seen as a major part of a student’s life at John McGlashan College. Sport is encouraged for students across all seven years. Click here to read more...
Arts & Culture - Arts subjects can help us break out of traditional patterns of thinking and adopt fresh approaches to intellectual experiences. Click here to read more...
