Chris Hayes
Xavier College principal Dr Chris Hayes said the boys had been expelled from the Melbourne-based Jesuit school for their "level of involvement" in the July 17 thefts.
A Queenstown police investigation found 15 stores had been targeted by a group 16 pupils, who were part of a 30-strong touring party, aged between 14 and 17.
The boys were made to return the stolen goods and apologise to the shop owners.
The 16 boys involved in the theft were initially suspended for a week, but four of the ringleaders had been asked to leave the $22,000-a-year school.
"Their behaviour was unacceptable and goes against everything Xavier College stands for," Dr Hayes told Melbourne newspaper The Age.
