History

College House is the oldest university college in New Zealand. Founded as part of Christ’s College in 1850, College House has evolved into an independent hall of residence at the University of Canterbury.

College House traces its history back to the earliest days of the European settlement of Canterbury. In May 1850 the Canterbury Association resolved to establish a college to consist of two departments: a grammar school for boys, and a collegiate or upper department for young men. The Rev. Henry Jacobs, Headmaster of Lancing College, England, was appointed the first headmaster of the grammar school and principal of the collegiate department, and arrived in Lyttelton in December 1850.

First named Christ Church College (several prominent members of the Canterbury Association having been educated at Christ Church, Oxford), teaching was conducted at several different sites until 1857 when permanent buildings were constructed along what is now Rolleston Avenue. The Canterbury Provincial Council had granted the college ten acres of the Domains block in 1855 and incorporated it under the name of Christ’s College, the then Superintendent of the province (J.E. Fitzgerald) having studied at Christ’s College, Cambridge.

From the earliest days, university-age students were taught alongside grammar school boys. In 1851 the college taught 5 students and 16 boys. Henry Jacobs recalled that from 1858 the students “wore the academical cap and scholar’s gown, and worked in the students’ class, being quite distinct from the Sixth Form of the Grammar School, although they necessarily sat in the same room.” Many of the first students were seeking ordination as Anglican ministers, meaning that the upper department of the college was strongly theological in nature (other boys reaching university age tended to return to work on farms or went into business).

The college was instrumental in the establishment of Canterbury University in the early 1870s. Otago University had been founded in 1869, and a University of New Zealand was established in 1870. In 1871 the college formed a ‘collegiate union’ with the Museum Trust (the Canterbury Museum and Library), became affiliated to the University of New Zealand, and began offering evening lectures in 1872. These proved so popular that the Collegiate Union petitioned the Canterbury Provincial Council for the establishment of Canterbury College (now Canterbury University). This was founded in 1873, and a year later the Collegiate Union handed over its records and a little cash to the new university.

The upper department of Christ’s College now took its place as a residential college for the new university which became established across the road in Rolleston Avenue. In 1877 the college students moved into a house of their own on the east frontage of the Christ’s College quadrangle. The Rev. F.A. Hare was appointed Hulsean-Chichele Professor, Chaplain of Christ’s College, and Supervisor of the upper department.