Onehunga Primary School - links to our history

The first purpose-built school in Onehunga was established in 1876. In 1897 Onehunga became the first public school to form a Cadet Corp for boys aged 15 years and older.

On 20 November 1901, the Onehunga Primary School building, built of kauri, opened. The new school building was constructed by G. M. Handcock for £2,374, with an additional £60 for the belfry. It was designed by John Mitchell (c.1859-1947) and Robert Watt (1860-1907), who were architects to the Auckland Education Board from 1892 to 1907. Mitchell and Watt designed many schools in the Auckland and Waikato districts. Their designs represent an important phase in the architectural development of school buildings in New Zealand.

A secondary school was also established on the site of Onehunga Primary School in July 1903, with 90 students. However, there was a lack of space – 51 were on the waiting list by September of the same year. Because the high school was stretched beyond its capacity, it was closed in 1911, and children in Onehunga instead went to Grammar Schools elsewhere in Auckland.

In the early 1920s, a concrete building at Onehunga Primary School, and, across the road, woodwork and cooking rooms (Manual Buildings) were built. The woodwork room was labelled "Boys" and the cooking room "Girls". By this time, the roll was between 700 and 800. In 1936, there were 806 children. By September 1943, the school roll of Onehunga Primary School was 501. In June 1945, it was 522 and in 1947, it was 529. In 1961, the large trees (probably macrocarpa) on the Selwyn Street boundary were cut down as their roots were making the sealed areas uneven and the stumps remain today. In 1973, Onehunga Primary School had 370 children.

The Onehunga Primary School building served its original purpose for 80 years, until a replacement building was built on the lower part of the site in 1981. The timber building is now used as the Onehunga Community House, hired out for use by various community groups.

From Onehunga Heritage Trail

The Onehunga Community House was first built in 1901 to house the Onehunga Primary School and it served this purpose for almost 80 years.

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In 1981, the building was going to be demolished when members of the local community decided to save it. These people recognized the historic value of the all-Kauri wood building and distinctive architectural style. The building was re-designated the Onehunga Community House in 1982.

Find out more about the Community House here

The designers were John Mitchell (c.1859-1947) and Robert Watt (1860-1907), who were architects to the Auckland Education Board from 1892 to 1907. Mitchell and Watt designed many schools in the Auckland and Waikato districts, including the former Bayfield School, Herne Bay (Record no. 112, Category I historic place), and produced grand formal compositions in their larger commissions.

Their designs are held to represent an important phase in the architectural development of school buildings in New Zealand.506 The Onehunga Primary School building served its original purpose for 80 years, until a replacement building was built on the lower part of the site in 1981.

The timber building is now used as the Onehunga Community House, hired out by community groups. It is scheduled as a Category A historic heritage place (UID 1841), and is significant as the work of Mitchell and Watt. 

In the early 1920s, a concrete building was erected at Onehunga Primary School, and, over the road, woodwork and cooking rooms (Manual Buildings) were built. By this time, the roll was between 700 and 800. In 1936, there were 806 children. By September 1943, the school roll of Onehunga Primary School was 501. In June 1945, it was 522 and in 1947, it was 529. 

In 1961, the large trees (probably macrocarpa) on the Selwyn Street boundary were cut down as their roots were making the sealed areas uneven,508 and the stumps remain today. In 1973, Onehunga Primary School had 370 children

Onehunga Heritage Report - Dec 2013