Rewi Alley’s informative years in Christchurch
Wharenui School: Fredrick Alley becomes the first headmaster of the school
In 1907, the Alley family moved from Amberley to Christchurch when Frederick Alley (Rewi’s father) accepted the role of headmaster (principal) at this newly-established school in Matipo Street, Riccarton, Christchurch.
The school is still located today at 32 Matipo Street, Riccarton, Christchurch
The school has a memorial hall named in honour of Rewi Alley.
The formative years of Rewi Alley at Christchurch Boys High School
The early life of Rewi Alley was a dynamic blend of intellectual curiosity, physical vigour, and a deep appreciation for camaraderie. His experiences at Christchurch Boys’ High School and on his family’s farm laid a strong foundation for the remarkable man he would become.
A love for literature and sport
At Christchurch Boys’ High School, Rewi dedicated himself to both his studies and athletic pursuits. He showed a keen interest in history, geography, and English, but it was his love for literature that truly stood out. By candlelight, he would lose himself in adventure stories and classic novels from authors like Walter Scott, Jules Verne, Charles Dickens, and William Makepeace Thackeray. He also enjoyed Shakespeare’s sonnets and what he called “poems of action.”
Not every subject came easily to him, however. One memorable encounter with a maths teacher, who struggled to teach a trigonometry theorem, led to the remark that Rewi would only ever be good for breaking stones. Demonstrating a characteristically practical outlook, Rewi responded that breaking stones would suit him perfectly well if that was what was needed.
Beyond the classroom, Rewi was a natural athlete. He excelled in sports, particularly rugby, rowing, and shooting. He took immense pride in his achievements, especially making the First Rowing Four and enjoying rugby on the fields of Hagley Park. These activities nurtured his sense of teamwork and discipline.
Farm life and a glimpse of the future
While Rewi found that the active life on his family’s farm suited him better than formal education, he also discovered that the profound isolation was not for him. He recognized his own need for comradeship, a theme that would resonate throughout his life.
His time at high school also foreshadowed his future path. As a member of the school’s military cadet corps, Rewi developed an early sense of duty. Inspired by his older brother Eric, who joined the Southland Regiment in 1914, Rewi falsified his age in an attempt to enlist in 1915. He left school at the end of that year and, after advancing his age by seven months, successfully enlisted in early 1916. This decisive step marked the end of his boyhood and the beginning of a new chapter in his extraordinary journey.
Christchurch Boys' High School today
Founded in 1881, Christchurch Boys’ High School has upheld its enduring values of commitment, bravery, honour and service, which continue to shape the school today.
When the school opened (in what is now the Arts Centre) it shared its site with Christchurch Girls’ High School and Canterbury College in Worcester Street, central Christchurch. In 1926, Christchurch Boys’ High School moved to its current site at 71 Straven Road, Fendalton. The move was necessitated by enrolment pressure and the need for a larger space.
In honour Rewi’s connection to the school, a plaque acknowledging his life’s work stands at the base of the school’s flagpole. Artefacts connected to Rewi Alley and other outstanding past pupils are housed in the main building.
