Marlborough Boys' College

History

Overview

The first board of Marlborough High School met on 13 November 1899. Three acres on Stephenson Street (1.2 hectares) were purchased for £600 and another 3 acres (12,000 m2) were donated by Thomas Carter, taking the grounds through to Francis Street. Dr John Innes was appointed the first Head Teacher. The school opened in the Church Of Nativity Sunday School building on Alfred Street, on 26 March 1900, with 18 pupils attending on the first day. The cornerstone for the first school building on the Stephenson Street site was laid on 22 September 1900.

Marlborough High School was co-educational and fee paying with free places to those who could not afford it but who had proved themselves able in the proficiency examination. The change in name from Marlborough High School to Marlborough College was made in 1919.

In 1926 Mr Stewart (Headmaster) was awarded a travelling scholarship to visit junior high schools in Canada and the United States. The department of education was interested in incorporating a Junior High (Intermediate) into the college structure. In 1927 an intermediate (forms 1 and 2 or years 7 and 8 in current terminology) was established on the site with 275 pupils taking the total roll to 557. The intermediate continued on the site until 1957, when roll pressures required the establishment of Bohally Intermediate on Mclauchlan Street.

In 1963 the Marlborough Girls' College was founded and Marlborough Boys' College continued on the original site. The first official discussion on the division of the college having taken place in June 1947. Mr Insull, the Headmaster at the time, suggested that “the time would come when the board would have to consider the question of separate boys’ and girls’ schools ... and that the girls school might be established on the other side of town (Mclauchlan Street)". (Marlborough Express, June 10, 1947)

X Static FM89

X Static FM was a radio station in the Marlborough Region of New Zealand which originated as a Marlborough College-based radio station, X-Static FM operated by The X-Static Society. The station was based at the college and broadcast on 89FM with the callsign 2STA. Two years earlier the school ran a temporary radio station as part of a school fundraiser called Artyfacts FM. This station was the first FM broadcast in the South Island. X- Static went on air in February 1986 and only operated on a part-time basis during school lunch times and some evenings. The station was rebranded as Marlborough's 89FM in 1988 and remained at Marlborough Boys' College until 1989 when the station moved to new premises at the Blenheim Post Office Building; by this time the station was broadcasting from 6AM to 12AM. In 1990 the X-Static Society in partnership with Fifeshire FM from Nelson launched a new station Sounds 93FM using a commercial frequency purchased at auction from the government. Sounds FM broadcast in both Picton, Blenheim and Kaikoura.

Marlborough High School building development 1900–1919

1901 – Old School Building opened

1902 – Nosworthy House purchased as Headmaster residence or Rectory (on site of present technology faculty)

1910 – Tower added to old school

1910 – First gymnasium built

The college is located off Stephenson Street, with a large white building housing the English, maths and languages departments on the street front. In 2003–04 a new hall was built to the rear of the complex, and the music department was updated to include new music suites. It has a small swimming pool and is located in the vicinity of St Mary's church.

Proposed relocation

The intention to relocate both Marlborough Boys' College and Marlborough Girls' College on the site currently occupied by MGC and Bohally Intermediate is being planned by a consortium led by construction company Naylor Love. Bohally Intermediate would relocate to the current MBC site on Stephenson Street. The relocation plan was scrapped in 2024.

Marlborough Boys’ College (MBC) is undergoing a major multi-year redevelopment, with construction ramping up in 2026, including a new Innovation and Technology Block, gymnasium, and site-wide upgrades. Following a 2024 decision to scrap the full co-location with Marlborough Girls' College, the Ministry of Education is now focusing on in-situ redevelopment of the existing campus. The Science Block has already been redeveloped as of March 2026.

House Systems

Like many New Zealand secondary schools, Marlborough Boys' College uses a house system to organise students into groups that compete in sporting, cultural, and academic events throughout the year. The house system encourages teamwork and participation. Students are placed into one of several houses when they enter the school in their first academic year, Each house usually includes students from different year levels and is supported by staff members who act as house leaders.

Houses compete in events such as athletics, swimming sports, and other inter-house competitions, with points awarded for participation and results. House winners may be rewarded a price, but varies by year.

There are four houses for each of the four rivers in the Wairau Region, Awatere, Waihopai, Ōpaoa and Wairau.

Principals

John Innes (1900–1922)

John Stewart (1922–1946)

Herbert A H Insull (1946–1964)

Dugald S McKenzie (1964–1981)

Peter J Voss (1982–1991)

John Rodgers (1992–2009)

Dave Turnbull (Interim Principal, Terms 3–4 2009)

Wayne Hegarty (2010–2019)

Jeremy Marshall (Interim Principal 2020)

John Kendal (2021–2024)

Jarrod Dunn (2025-Current)

Notable alumni

Sport

Cyril Allcott — New Zealand Test cricketer

Ma'ara Ave — Cook Island cricketer

Gary Bartlett — New Zealand Test cricketer

Geoff Barnett — Canadian international cricketer

Carl Bulfin — New Zealand cricketer

Fen Cresswell — New Zealand cricketer

Brendon Diamanti — New Zealand cricketer

Ben Wheeler — New Zealand cricketer

Jason Allen — professional cyclist, track world cup champion

Graeme Miller — double Commonwealth Games gold medallist in cycling

Robin Reid — professional cyclist, Olympian

Michael O'Keeffe — New Zealand football representative

Dylan Hayes – Top 14

David Hill — All Black

Leon MacDonald — All Black, and Head Coach

Quentin MacDonald — Super Rugby player, Crusaders

Atu Moli — All Black

Sam Moli — Tongan Rugby International

Toby Morland — Super Rugby player (multiple franchises)

Ben O'Keeffe — international rugby referee, New Zealand

Other

Sir Gordon Bell (1887–1970) — surgeon

Eileen Duggan (1894–1972) — poet and journalist

Tom Murray (born 1994) — Olympic rower

Notable staff

Sydney Jones (1894–1982) – National MP for Hastings (1949–1954)

William Sheat (1899–1982) – National MP for Taranaki electorates (1926–1928)