Then and Now

The first school in Gisborne was situated in Lowe Street where the Gisborne Hotel now stands. It was opened in 1872 and the headmaster was Mr D. Lysnar. A few years later the school was shifted to a site in Derby Street opposite the present school.

In the middle 1880s a new two storeyed wooden school was opened on the present site of the Central School, but the front half of this building was destroyed by fire on Boxing Day, 1906.

The present brick building was erected in 1907. After the 1931 earthquake the building was substantially reinforced with steel and concrete to the extent where it is virtually indestructible. The bell tower was also removed after the earthquake.

The school is shown (above) as it was when first built and (below) as it is today with part of the first wooden building to the right.