Well hidden from view from most people,Erskin College is located by Melbourne Road and Avon Street which is set back from Island Bays main road,The Parade.
Walking around the building you get a sense of its size and how it imposed itself on the surrounds,but now days it is well hidden by the surrounding houses and trees.
Its not until you see from above you get to see its size. A good place is from the City to Sea Walkway where it meets Quebec Street,
The building was constructed in 1905-06 by The Society of the Sacred Heart as a girls school. From its opening in 1907 through to its closure in 1985 it saw around 3000 girls go through it.
The Sister came to Wellington after being invited by Francis Redwood,the then Archbishop of Wellington who’s aim was to have a girls school in his diocese.
There are 2 main building. The main one is the 4 storey brick built and Gothic looking main Block which currently has a CAT11 Historic Place,whilst the Chapel which sits behind the main building has a CAT1 Historic Place.
The main building was added too on a number of occasions as the number of students increased,whilst the chapel called Chapel of Sacred Heart was built between 1929-30.
At the front of the building is the remains of its garden,although now overgrown you can still walk through it and get a feel of it.
The school is currently the oldest surviving purpose built secondary school in Wellington.
After it was closed in 1985 it was used over the next few years up to its closure in 2009 by The Learning Connection who used the main building,whilst the Chapel was refurnished in 2003.
The school was also used in the film The Frighteners by Peter Jackson which was released in 1996.
The Building was bought in 2009 but over the last few years it has fallen into some disrepair.
Note. The building has been Red Ticketed by Wellington Council, This means the you can not go onto the site although depending on how you arrive at the site the signs will not be seen.
Historic Register NZ
Save Erskine College FaceBook Page.
John Sydney Swan History.
wildbaynz/windyhillflyingclub 2013
WildBay 
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