Swannanoa School
The first 150 years
In 2021, Swannanoa School celebrates its 150th anniversary. Led by Principal Brian Price, Swannanoa is a vibrant community of 320 students, 17 teachers and support staff, all preparing for four days of celebrations over Labour Weekend, 21-25 October.
Much has changed since June 28th 1871, when a simple public gathering over tea marked the opening of Mandeville Plains District Primary School. The 35 children enrolled were taught by Mr James Thomson, with help from his wife. Renamed Swannanoa School in 1909, pupils arrived at school by foot or on horseback, turning out their horses into a dedicated paddock.
A story from 1911 reports that Head Mistress Miss Craig was particularly proud of her two buggy horses, Dandy and Rangi. At the weekend, she would often drive the buggy drawn by Dandy into Christchurch to visit friends, leaving Dandy in a section nearby. But, the hustle and bustle of a burgeoning city was not always to Dandy's liking. He would break out and make his own way home, patiently waiting outside the school paddock gate to be let in. On Monday morning's, you might have seen the taxi slowly travelling up Tram Road with a less-than-impressed Miss Craig onboard and the buggy tied on behind.
This infamous horse paddock is now the multi-purpose Swannanoa School sports field. A car boot sale held in 1997 heralded the beginning of the now renowned Swannanoa Country Fair. The biggest event on the school calendar, the fair brings the community together for a massive fundraising effort. In 2020, the school welcomed 9500 people through the fair gates and converted the sports field to a giant car park. Unfortunately, the school had to cancel the March 2021 fair due to Covid restrictions.
From one classroom to many, education at Swannanoa has dramatically changed over 150 years. In the past, quiet students sat in rows in one single room with slates. Today, Swannanoa School students work in a calm, focussed collaborative environment where staff, students, whanau and community work together.
Being set in a rural setting and surrounded by lifestyle blocks helps define the school's character. Students can still look after the school's goats, chickens or quails and care for gardens. When playing outside, they swim in the school pool or challenge themselves on the purpose-built playgrounds. The A-frame house and Pirate Ship have remained the favourite setting for imaginative games since being built as part of the Adventure Playground during the early 1980s. One hundred and fifty years of education has bought many changes.
Come along and experience what this change looks like at Swannanoa by attending the variety of celebrations planned from 21- 25 October 2021. The events culminate in a mix and mingle, fun "reunion" event on Saturday for everyone with a past or present connection to the school.
The 150th organising committee continually evaluates the Covid restrictions but remains hopeful that everything will continue as planned under Level 1. If you have yet to register, please follow the link on the school website as soon as possible. Updated information will be communicated via the website, Facebook page and sent directly to registered attendees.
