Selwyn College, Otago
Encyclopedia
Selwyn College is a residential college affiliated to the University of Otago
in Dunedin
, New Zealand
. It was founded by Bishop Samuel Tarratt Nevill
as a theological college training clergy
for the Anglican Church and as a hall of residence for students attending the university. It is named after George Augustus Selwyn
, the first Bishop of New Zealand and is owned by the Anglican Diocese of Dunedin.
It was opened on 15 January 1893. It was Otago's first residential college and on the model of an English university college it included students of all subjects. Women were admitted in 1983. The main building is listed as a Category II Historic Place. Selwyn is one of the most popular colleges in Dunedin, its 160 available places oversubscribed every year.
hall of residence) began an annual sporting and cultural exchange. This still occurs with the Principal's and Warden's Cup being added into the prize mix after the 1980s. Selwyn is generally not involved with the OUSA Orientation events, such as the toga parade, instead holding its own events, such as the Ori Ball. In 1932, initiations at Selwyn College were started including the Turner Tossing Trophy (now replaced with the Homage Run) and the Leith Run in 1935. The Lindskii Battle and the 21sters Ball are still annual events at the College and are immensely popular with the residents.
Selwyn College and Knox College also compete for the Nevill Cup, a cultural competition, and the Cameron Shield, a sporting competition. These are intense contests, fiercely fought out each year. Selwyn holds both The Cameron Shield and The Neville Cup.
on Cumberland Street which is both the college chapel and with the college buildings forms a larger Anglican precinct. The church's nave and baptistry were opened in 1865, designed by the partnership of Mason & Clayton although it is not entirely clear if William Mason (William Mason (architect)) or W.H. Clayton (William Clayton (architect)
) was responsible. Some sources favour Clayton. The transepts and chancel added in 1873 were certainly the work of Mason. The church's principally red brick construction perhaps set the theme for the later complex although its Early English Gothic style (English Gothic architecture
) (Gothic revival architecture
) is in contrast with the main college buildings' domestic Tudor manner (Tudor style architecture
).
All Saints is a significant structure. It reflects the arrival in New Zealand of the influence of the Oxford Movement
and The Ecclesiological Society, developments in thought about the Gothic revival epitomised by the work of William Butterfield
(1814–1900). His All Saints, Margaret Street
in London had been completed in 1859 and one supposes was known to the designers of its Dunedin namesake. The latter's slate roof has been replaced with decramastic tiles and its east and south walls have been rendered in cement which rather spoils its appearance and reduces its complementarity with the principal college buildings. (There are plans to remedy some of these defects.) The old church hall immediately to the north is a wooden structure older than the church which was rendered in cement in the 1960s. The old vicarage site is immediately to the north again but the house on it now forming part of the college quadrangle is of mid 20th century origin.
. His building for the college is the range to the north of the archway, including one of its towers, to first floor height. He seems to have anticipated its later extrapolation into the full range with the central archway and two towers, the arch centred on the unusual, gabled chancel of All Saints. In red brick in the Domestic Tudor Gothic style it uses the same manner employed at Selwyn College, Cambridge
which is perhaps not an accident. (Sir Arthur Blomfield
's chapel there was completed in 1895.) Indeed, these two Selwyn Colleges' histories are indirectly linked since, prior to the foundation of the Selwyn College in Cambridge, Bishop Nevill had urged that that institution should be established in New Zealand, rather than in England. While modest by comparison, especially this first small portion of the later, larger range, the Castle Street building was a pleasing exercise in the manner and capable of expansion into a more impressive composition.
Just that happened in 1929 to 1930 when Burnside's building was extended into the present range. Adding a third floor to Burnside's structure it formed the arch with its towers and its oriel window and extended in two reaches to the south, the further slightly set back from the street. This was the work of, or certainly supervised by, H. McDowell Smith (1887–1965) and cost 13,840 pounds. There was a dining room on the ground floor with a bay window looking into the quadrangle with good stone lattice work and the interior decorated in period style. The whole building, with its archway, makes a clear reference to Hampton Court Palace
in England.
When the College Board next determined to extend the complex, in 1966, it again wished to build "on traditional lines", that is in period style. It wanted another three storeyed wing to the north of the Castle Street range, perhaps meaning to complete the quadrangle. Its efforts to raise the necessary 80,000 pounds were unsuccessful. It decided instead to build three separate three storeyed residential blocks and commissioned one from Miller, White and Dunn, a Dunedin architectural practice. In the event only one was built, Nevill House, which opened on the 4th of March 1973. This is a small tower, immediately to the north of the Castle Street range and close to the street, of Modernist design. Its concrete framework is visibly expressed and it has red brick infills to contextualise it.
A further extension was made with another free standing building to the north again, to house the library which was completed on the 1st of August 1976. It was called the Northcroft Library, after another generous donor and was designed by John Harrison (b.1935). Amidst controversy the library was dispersed in 1988. This is another Modernist building but now in contrasting materials. The most dissonant structure in the group it has steeply inclined slab roofs and extensive areas of glazing.
In 1988 too the first of three buildings providing self-contained flats was completed, Irvine House. Further to the north Millar House and Newcombe House were completed in 1989. These were all designed by Roger Dodd (1939–2001). Millar and Newcombe Houses face Dundas Street, the thoroughfare linking Castle to Cumberland Street at the north end of the city block containing Selwyn College. The two are linked to form an archway giving access to the quadrangle from the north. All three of these buildings are two storeyed and are finished in unpainted, rendered cement. Their forms are those of hipped roof houses. They are rather plain and the northward linked pair are set behind a brick wall along the street.
In 1993 the archway of the Castle Street range was shut off for security reasons with a large glass wall incorporating a door of the same material. The view from the street to the All Saints chancel remained. It has since been eclipsed by the construction of a solid walled cross way joining the ground floor of each wing through the archway.
visited the college in his 1996 documentary Full Circle with Michael Palin
on his journey through New Zealand.
Ray Hargreaves, Selwyn College's First Century Dunedin, NZ; Centennial Committee, Selwyn College Board of Governors, 1993. ISBN 0 473 01954 X.
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
in Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It was founded by Bishop Samuel Tarratt Nevill
Samuel Tarratt Nevill
The Most Reverend Samuel Tarratt Nevill, DD was the first Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of Dunedin in Dunedin, New Zealand....
as a theological college training clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
for the Anglican Church and as a hall of residence for students attending the university. It is named after George Augustus Selwyn
George Augustus Selwyn
George Augustus Selwyn was the first Anglican Bishop of New Zealand. He was Bishop of New Zealand from 1841 to 1858. His diocese was then subdivided and Selwyn was Primate of New Zealand from 1858 to 1868. He was Bishop of Lichfield from 1868 to 1878...
, the first Bishop of New Zealand and is owned by the Anglican Diocese of Dunedin.
It was opened on 15 January 1893. It was Otago's first residential college and on the model of an English university college it included students of all subjects. Women were admitted in 1983. The main building is listed as a Category II Historic Place. Selwyn is one of the most popular colleges in Dunedin, its 160 available places oversubscribed every year.
Competitions and events
In 1930 Selwyn College and College House (a University of CanterburyUniversity of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
hall of residence) began an annual sporting and cultural exchange. This still occurs with the Principal's and Warden's Cup being added into the prize mix after the 1980s. Selwyn is generally not involved with the OUSA Orientation events, such as the toga parade, instead holding its own events, such as the Ori Ball. In 1932, initiations at Selwyn College were started including the Turner Tossing Trophy (now replaced with the Homage Run) and the Leith Run in 1935. The Lindskii Battle and the 21sters Ball are still annual events at the College and are immensely popular with the residents.
Students Association
The committee of the Selwyn College Students Association (SCSA) is a group of leading second years who run the College's student life. They have various responsibilities that concern the different roles they are given. The SCSA committee for 2011 are as follows:- President: Thomas Heaton
- Vice President: Angus Neill
- Treasurer: Angus Adams
- Internal Affairs Representative: Kyle Grabowski
- Sports Representative: Katie Rademaker
- Cultural Representative: Matthew Ramsay
- Social Representative: Ollie Salt
All Saints church
The college is sited behind All Saints Church, DunedinAll Saints Church, Dunedin
All Saints parish is the Anglican parish of the northern part of the city of Dunedin, New Zealand. It is part of the Diocese of Dunedin. The parish boundaries include North Dunedin, Ravensbourne and Leith Valley....
on Cumberland Street which is both the college chapel and with the college buildings forms a larger Anglican precinct. The church's nave and baptistry were opened in 1865, designed by the partnership of Mason & Clayton although it is not entirely clear if William Mason (William Mason (architect)) or W.H. Clayton (William Clayton (architect)
William Clayton (architect)
William Henry Clayton was a New Zealand colonial architect.-Early life:Born in Norfolk Plains, Australia, Clayton trained as an architect in England, and designed more than three hundred buildings in Tasmania before emigrating to New Zealand in 1863.-New Zealand career:He established the practice...
) was responsible. Some sources favour Clayton. The transepts and chancel added in 1873 were certainly the work of Mason. The church's principally red brick construction perhaps set the theme for the later complex although its Early English Gothic style (English Gothic architecture
English Gothic architecture
English Gothic is the name of the architectural style that flourished in England from about 1180 until about 1520.-Introduction:As with the Gothic architecture of other parts of Europe, English Gothic is defined by its pointed arches, vaulted roofs, buttresses, large windows, and spires...
) (Gothic revival architecture
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
) is in contrast with the main college buildings' domestic Tudor manner (Tudor style architecture
Tudor style architecture
The Tudor architectural style is the final development of medieval architecture during the Tudor period and even beyond, for conservative college patrons...
).
All Saints is a significant structure. It reflects the arrival in New Zealand of the influence of the Oxford Movement
Oxford Movement
The Oxford Movement was a movement of High Church Anglicans, eventually developing into Anglo-Catholicism. The movement, whose members were often associated with the University of Oxford, argued for the reinstatement of lost Christian traditions of faith and their inclusion into Anglican liturgy...
and The Ecclesiological Society, developments in thought about the Gothic revival epitomised by the work of William Butterfield
William Butterfield
William Butterfield was a Gothic Revival architect and associated with the Oxford Movement . He is noted for his use of polychromy-Biography:...
(1814–1900). His All Saints, Margaret Street
All Saints, Margaret Street
All Saints, Margaret Street is an Anglican church in London built in the High Victorian Gothic style by the architect William Butterfield and completed in 1859....
in London had been completed in 1859 and one supposes was known to the designers of its Dunedin namesake. The latter's slate roof has been replaced with decramastic tiles and its east and south walls have been rendered in cement which rather spoils its appearance and reduces its complementarity with the principal college buildings. (There are plans to remedy some of these defects.) The old church hall immediately to the north is a wooden structure older than the church which was rendered in cement in the 1960s. The old vicarage site is immediately to the north again but the house on it now forming part of the college quadrangle is of mid 20th century origin.
Early outlay
In 1891 work started on the first college building behind the church and facing Castle Street to the design of J.A. Burnside (1856–1920). It appears to have been complete by October 1892 and was dedicated on the 25th of January the following year. Burnside also designed Transit House, a blue stone mansion in Park Street and the oldest part of the Otago Settlers MuseumOtago Settlers Museum
The Otago Settlers Museum is a regional history museum in Dunedin, New Zealand. Its brief covers the territory of the old Otago Province, that is, New Zealand from the Waitaki River south. It is New Zealand's oldest and most extensive history museum...
. His building for the college is the range to the north of the archway, including one of its towers, to first floor height. He seems to have anticipated its later extrapolation into the full range with the central archway and two towers, the arch centred on the unusual, gabled chancel of All Saints. In red brick in the Domestic Tudor Gothic style it uses the same manner employed at Selwyn College, Cambridge
Selwyn College, Cambridge
Selwyn College is a constituent college in the University of Cambridge in England, United Kingdom.The college was founded by the Selwyn Memorial Committee in memory of the Rt Reverend George Selwyn , who rowed on the Cambridge crew in the first Varsity Boat Race in 1829, and went on to become the...
which is perhaps not an accident. (Sir Arthur Blomfield
Arthur Blomfield
Sir Arthur William Blomfield was an English architect.-Background:The fourth son of Charles James Blomfield, an Anglican Bishop of London helpfully began a programme of new church construction in the capital. Born in Fulham Palace, Arthur Blomfield was educated at Rugby and Trinity College,...
's chapel there was completed in 1895.) Indeed, these two Selwyn Colleges' histories are indirectly linked since, prior to the foundation of the Selwyn College in Cambridge, Bishop Nevill had urged that that institution should be established in New Zealand, rather than in England. While modest by comparison, especially this first small portion of the later, larger range, the Castle Street building was a pleasing exercise in the manner and capable of expansion into a more impressive composition.
Just that happened in 1929 to 1930 when Burnside's building was extended into the present range. Adding a third floor to Burnside's structure it formed the arch with its towers and its oriel window and extended in two reaches to the south, the further slightly set back from the street. This was the work of, or certainly supervised by, H. McDowell Smith (1887–1965) and cost 13,840 pounds. There was a dining room on the ground floor with a bay window looking into the quadrangle with good stone lattice work and the interior decorated in period style. The whole building, with its archway, makes a clear reference to Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace is a royal palace in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, Greater London; it has not been inhabited by the British royal family since the 18th century. The palace is located south west of Charing Cross and upstream of Central London on the River Thames...
in England.
Later extensions
In 1950 and 1956 McDowell Smith was called on again to add another large building to the complex. Sargood Hall, named after a major benefactor, extends at right angles from the southern reach of the Castle Street range to form the south flank of the interior quadrangle. This too is in red brick in the Domestic Tudor style which by this time, after the second world war, represented a bold and expensive decision in New Zealand. The whole project appears to have cost something more than 25,000 pounds. The building is free standing with a narrow passage between it and the Castle Street range. It is two storeyed. Its principal, north face has a central break front with a pleasingly modelled entrance and the Hall's name in raised relief in a stone fascia above. There are also forward reaching fronts at either end of the main elevation.When the College Board next determined to extend the complex, in 1966, it again wished to build "on traditional lines", that is in period style. It wanted another three storeyed wing to the north of the Castle Street range, perhaps meaning to complete the quadrangle. Its efforts to raise the necessary 80,000 pounds were unsuccessful. It decided instead to build three separate three storeyed residential blocks and commissioned one from Miller, White and Dunn, a Dunedin architectural practice. In the event only one was built, Nevill House, which opened on the 4th of March 1973. This is a small tower, immediately to the north of the Castle Street range and close to the street, of Modernist design. Its concrete framework is visibly expressed and it has red brick infills to contextualise it.
A further extension was made with another free standing building to the north again, to house the library which was completed on the 1st of August 1976. It was called the Northcroft Library, after another generous donor and was designed by John Harrison (b.1935). Amidst controversy the library was dispersed in 1988. This is another Modernist building but now in contrasting materials. The most dissonant structure in the group it has steeply inclined slab roofs and extensive areas of glazing.
In 1988 too the first of three buildings providing self-contained flats was completed, Irvine House. Further to the north Millar House and Newcombe House were completed in 1989. These were all designed by Roger Dodd (1939–2001). Millar and Newcombe Houses face Dundas Street, the thoroughfare linking Castle to Cumberland Street at the north end of the city block containing Selwyn College. The two are linked to form an archway giving access to the quadrangle from the north. All three of these buildings are two storeyed and are finished in unpainted, rendered cement. Their forms are those of hipped roof houses. They are rather plain and the northward linked pair are set behind a brick wall along the street.
In 1993 the archway of the Castle Street range was shut off for security reasons with a large glass wall incorporating a door of the same material. The view from the street to the All Saints chancel remained. It has since been eclipsed by the construction of a solid walled cross way joining the ground floor of each wing through the archway.
Summary
There are some other college buildings more or less integral to the group but the Castle Street range and Sargood Hall with their orientation around All Saints church show a sustained and successful effort to build a university hall of residence in the revived Tudor style.Notable Selwynites
Other information
Actor-turned-travel documentary presenter Michael PalinMichael Palin
Michael Edward Palin, CBE FRGS is an English comedian, actor, writer and television presenter best known for being one of the members of the comedy group Monty Python and for his travel documentaries....
visited the college in his 1996 documentary Full Circle with Michael Palin
Full Circle with Michael Palin
Full Circle with Michael Palin is the title of a 1997 documentary television series produced by the British Broadcasting Corporation. Presented by Michael Palin of Monty Python fame, Full Circle was one of a series of programmes in which Palin made unusual and interesting trips.The series...
on his journey through New Zealand.
Sources
Charles Croot, Dunedin Churches Past and Present Dunedin, NZ; Otago Settlers Association, 1999. ISBN 0-473-03979-6.Ray Hargreaves, Selwyn College's First Century Dunedin, NZ; Centennial Committee, Selwyn College Board of Governors, 1993. ISBN 0 473 01954 X.