A thoroughly modern school for Richmond

Robyn Parkes

In 1928, the board of Richmond School first lobbied for the erection of a new school as it was identified that the current one had served its purpose and was outdated, so plans were prepared and an application for a grant was completed.

It was then suggested that the school should be built on a better site within the borough, which resulted in the matter being delayed. Eight years later, in early May 1936, the school committee chairman, W Coleman, stated that the prospects of a new school were brighter than they had been for some time and that there was hope that something would eventuate for Richmond.

By September the proposed plans were submitted and approved and were sent to the Department of Education. In May 1937, the dream of a new school came to fruition as building began on the site where Richmond School sits today.

Described as one of the finest buildings of its type in the Dominion, the new school was opened on 29 January 1938 by the chairman of Nelson Education Board, the Hon. W. H. Mclntyre. It sat on an ideal site of about three and a half acres, centrally situated and conveniently removed from the main line of traffic.

The school was built on the most modern lines from plans prepared by the board’s architect, Mr A. Leaper, after investigations had been made into the latest features in school construction.

The impressive main entrance had double doors and four imposing kauri pillars extending from the veranda floor to the ceiling. The building was cutting edge for its time with open-air classrooms with a total classroom floor space of 2064 square feet, capable of accommodating up to