TŪHURATIA TE RĀRANGI • EXPLORE THE LIST
WORDS: ANNA DUNLOP / IMAGERY: MIKE HEYDON
Work of art Once integral to the development of secondary education in New Zealand, Dunedin’s former King Edward Technical College is now a community hub for the arts
D
and technical classes for
for it to be citizen led, so it
young people.
became a state-run technical
The first evening classes
education service. It was a
were held on 1 May 1889
complete game changer for
in rooms on Moray Place;
education in New Zealand.”
204 students enrolled, with
In fact, the venture proved
arithmetic being the most
so popular that finding
popular subject. Classes
suitable accommodation
gradually expanded to include
for students became an
literary (English, French,
ongoing problem.
German and shorthand),
KETC was eventually
scientific (mathematics,
purpose built for the task,
unedin isn’t short
“KETC represents the
chemistry and physics) and
and the foundation stone
of magnificent
development of technical
manual (freehand, mechanical
was laid on 20 March 1913.
architecture and grand
education in New Zealand,
drawing, carpentry, and wood
Mandeno designed a grand
buildings, but one of the most
from concerned citizens
and metal-turning) subjects.
building, constructed in red
imposing is the former King
adopting international trends
Edward Technical College
to state-run mainstream
Gallagher, Area Manager
pediments, pilasters, quoins
(KETC) – now known as King
technical education.”
Otago/Southland for New
and other detailing, and
According to Sarah
brick with Oamaru stone
Edward Court – which sits on
The school represents the
Zealand Heritage Pouhere
featuring Neo-Baroque and
a corner of Stuart Street, just
growing importance placed
Taonga, the DTCA aimed
Georgian Revival motifs.
500 metres from the Octagon
on continuing education for
to direct the attention of
Inside, past the grand
in the central city.
all, not just the wealthy, and is
youth to “higher aims and
entrance vestibule featuring
Designed by prominent
a prime example of a citizen-
objectives” and was inspired
wood panelling, a tiled floor
architect Harry Mandeno and
led programme that brought
by the City and Guilds of
and a decorative plaster
built in 1914, KETC, a Category
about nationwide change.
London Institute.
ceiling, is an extensive maze
1 historic place, was the largest
In 1888 the Dunedin
“It served to upskill and
of corridors that is said to be
secondary school in New
Technical Classes Association
uplift individuals and therefore
inhabited by the ghost
Zealand for more than 20
(DTCA) was formed by some
had positive flow-on effects
of a 13-year-old girl.
years, and one of the country’s
of the city’s most prominent
for the community,” she says.
While the three-storey
first technical schools. The
citizens, who wanted to
“It became so successful,
brick edifice on Stuart Street
listing information states:
provide continuing education
10 Raumati • Summer 2024 / Heritage.org.nz
that it was no longer feasible
is the most recognisable