Treasured Donations Enrich Our Archives
Our Archives have been fortunate to receive several donations in recent months, each offering a unique window into St Cuthbert's rich history.
August: A Glimpse into 1940s School Life
Christine Wong She (Barton) donated a collection of items that belonged to her mother, Rita Christie (m. Barton), who attended St Cuthbert's from 1944 to 1947. Among the treasures was Rita's sewing book, (pictured below), complete with meticulously crafted samples and instructions, including a plain buttonhole that earned her a mark of 27/30.
September: Celebrating Academic Excellence
Richard Osborne contributed three Scholarship Certificates belonging to Gladys Erson (pictured here), awarded by ME Bews, Principal of Mt Eden College, for highest marks in English, French and Mathematics.
Gladys attended Mt Eden College from 1903 to 1914 before joining St Cuthbert's College, as a junior school teacher from 1915 to 1919. She later served as president of the Mt Eden College Old Girls' Association and, in 1946, presented St Cuthbert's with a memorial school bell on behalf of the Association. Now known as the Bews Bell, this treasured memorial to Misses Bews is rung each year by our Year 13 Leavers on their last day of school.
Photo below: The Bews Bell being rung by 2025 graduates which is now a tradition for our Year 13 Leavers’.
October: Preserving Our Mt Eden Heritage
Kathy Moorhouse donated a collection that included the nine captioned photographs below from the days before 1925, when St Cuthbert's was located at Stokes Road, Mt Eden. The images capture The Lodge, Upper Tennis Courts and School House, Anzac Day 1919, Miss Isobel Macdonald (Principal), Upper School 1919, The Kindergarten and Hostel, The Lodge 1919, Middle and Lower Schools 1919, and Presbyterian Church Mt Eden.
Some may recognise the Upper School building, which was relocated to the Epsom Campus in 1924. Over the years, it has served many purposes, including a sanatorium for boarders, a residence for GAP tutors, a learning centre, Junior School reception classes, and most recently, the home of the Smith Grey Library for the Junior School. The Cottage, as it is now known, was reopened following refurbishment on 28 April 2025 by the Hon. Brooke Van Velden, Minister of Internal Affairs and Old Girl (peer year 2010), as part of our 100th Epsom Campus Anniversary celebrations.
If you have any items you would like to donate to the St Cuthbert’s College Archives, please get in touch by email to archives@stcuthberts.school.nz.
Alternatively, should you like to visit the Archives, tour the campus or submit an enquiry for research please connect with the alumni team via email to alumni@stcuthberts.school.nz.