College House (University of Canterbury)

Colleges of the University of Canterbury College House
College name	College House
Established	1850
Status	Affiliated
Principal	Mrs Laraine Sharr
Undergraduates	152
Graduates	<10
Location	Ilam
'Pro Ecclesia Dei' (Latin, "For the church of God")
College website

College House is a Hall of Residence associated with the University of Canterbury. It is located in Ilam, Christchurch, New Zealand The hall provides accommodation for 152 undergraduate students. It is the oldest hall in New Zealand. Originally founded as part of Christ's College in 1850, the house became independent from Christ's College in 1957. In 1966, the house moved from central Christchurch, to Ilam, as part of the University of Canterbury's relocation to its new Ilam campus. The buildings were designed by Sir Miles Warren and won the Institute of Architects' Gold Medal. In 1990, the College began accommodating female students. Additional buildings were built at this time.

College House is unusual among New Zealand halls of residence in that it has a high proportion of returning students; it is common to stay for two years, which helps to maintain many of the College's traditions. There are a variety of long-standing traditions, among them Shambles Fortnight, where over a two-week period each house must perform a large prank or 'shambles' on the rest of the College.

The College is divided into ten houses, each with distinct identities. The houses are named after various former Principals, bishops, Board members and other places or endowments. To date, the houses are Stanford, Carrington, Wilford, Parr, Warren, Watts Russell, Chichele, Rymer (formerly College), Hardie, and Beadel.

History

College House was founded as the Upper Department of Christ's College and has evolved into an independent Hall of Residence at the University of Canterbury. Upon the establishment of Canterbury College (now the University of Canterbury) College House began to separate from Christ's College. In 1877 the students moved into a house of their own on the east frontage of the Christs College quadrangle. The Reverend F.A. Hare was appointed as the Hulsean-Chichele Professor, Chaplain of Christ's College and Supervisor of the Upper Department. The house became known as Chichele. Canon Stanford was appointed as the first full time principal in 1882 and in 1885 the upper department moved to new premises on the corner of Rolleston Avenue and Cashel Street. College House achieved full separation from Christ's College in 1957. At this time the college was renamed Christchurch College. This name was used until 1981 when the college reverted to using the name College House.

For many years College House was run as a teaching institution of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. This function was shared with St John's College in Auckland and Selwyn College in Dunedin. Over time the tertiary education and theological aspects of the College drifted apart and theology is now taught by Theology House in Merivale, with the library and chapel being the main physical reminders of the former union.

While the current College House has a chaplain and falls under the jurisdiction of the Anglican Diocese of Christchurch, there is no religious requirement for entry.

When the University of Canterbury moved from the old site in town to the new site at Ilam, College House was still a male-only institution and was built on the opposite side of small stream from Bishop Julius Hall, the female-only parallel. Both have since become co-educational.

The buildings survived the 2010 and 2011 Canterbury Earthquakes with no significant damage.

Architecture

The current college was designed by Warren and Mahoney. The architect's brief was simply to design a college for 120 men.^[1] Designed in the early 1960s the buildings feature many elements which formed part of that firm's practice at that time. Reinforced masonry combined with fairfaced concrete beams, as seen in the Dorset St Flats and distinctive roof shapes (particularly on the Dining Hall and Chapel), reminiscent of that on 65 Cambridge Terrace, are prominent features. The chapel itself is particularly distinctive and is known to be one of Sir Miles' favourite examples of the firm's work during his time with the firm. The interior of the chapel ceiling features impressive carpentry, similar to the Harewood Crematorium and the atrium of the New Zealand Chancery in Washington. Warren and Mahoney's design for the College won the Institute of Architect's Gold Medal.

Alex Baird Art Collection

During the 1980s the College House Board of Governors, at the instigation of Dr Alex Baird, began building a collection of modern New Zealand art. The collection has grown steadily and now features a number of important works, including 'View' by Shane Cotton, 'Staten Landt' by Bill Hammond and 'You are what you eat' by Richard Killeen. The collection also includes works by Don Binney, Ralph Hotere, Pat Hanly, Michael Smither and Bill Sutton.

Former Principals

• Dr Andrew Stockley (1997–2006) - Subsequently Senior Tutor at Brasenose College (Oxford) and now Dean of the University of Auckland School of Law

Former Chaplains

• Very Rev Gavin Yates (2006)
• Rev David Moore
• Rev Paul Stanaway (2009–2010)

Notable housemen and women

Name Entered Notability Reference The Most Reverend David Penman Anglican Church: Archbishop of Melbourne The Most Reverend David Moxon Anglican Church: Archbishop of New Zealand Nick Davidson QC Law and Sport: Barrister and Queen's Counsel, President of New Zealand Football, NZRU, SANZAR and IRB Judicial Officer, New Zealand Cricket Commissioner, Deputy Chair of the Sports Tribunal. Also a current member of the College House Board of Governors Norman Hardie Mountaineering, engineering: Member of the team who made the first ascent of Mount Kanchenjunga, author of "On my own two feet", Distinguished Fellow of the Institute of NZ Engineers, Leader of Scott Base Roger Kerr Business and economics: Executive director of the New Zealand Business Roundtable, former director of the Electricity Corporation of New Zealand Charlotte Kight 2007–2008 Sport: Netballer: member of the Canterbury Tactix and Silver Ferns Bridget Kight Sport: Member of the Black Sticks hockey team Jordan Luck Music: Member of the Dance Exponents, singer and songwriter Sam Neill DCNZM OBE Entertainment: Actor Dr Shailer Weston Medicine: Aide de Camp to Governor General Sir Arthur Porritt The Right Reverend John William Bluck Anglican Church: Former Dean of the Christchurch Cathedral, former bishop of Waiapu The Most Reverend Whakahuihui Vercoe PCNZM MBE Anglican Church: Bishop of Aotearoa and Archbishop of New Zealand Cameron Sinclair Sport: Weightlifting competitor at 2010 Commonwealth Games Murray Pickering QC Law: Queen's Counsel practising in England Bruce Squire QC Law: Queen's Counsel specialising in criminal law both as a prosecutor and as defence counsel. Former Chairman of the Judicial Control Authority for Racing.

Other Halls of Residence at the University of Canterbury

• Bishop Julius Hall
• Ilam Apartments
• Rochester and Rutherford Hall
• Sonoda
• University Hall

External links

• College House website
• Theology House website

References

1. ^ "Distinctive Christchurch by Warren and Mahoney". The Press. 13 June 2008. http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/lifestyle/mainlander/487495/Distinctive-Christchurch-by-Warren-and-Mahoney. Retrieved 25 September 2011.