ABOUT Victoria University of Wellington

The University was founded in 1897 and teaching began in April 1899 with 115 students enrolled in the first year. For the first few years, lectures took place in rented accommodation in the city while a debate raged over where the new University’s home should be built. Eventually, the College Council decided to build on ‘six vertical acres’ in Kelburn, the site of the Kelburn campus today. Research at the University began in 1899 following the arrival of the University’s four pioneering Professors—Thomas Easterfield, Hugh Mackenzie, Richard Maclaurin and John Rankine Brown. In 1904, the first stage of what is today known as the Hunter Building was begun, and the building was opened in 1906 by the Governor of New Zealand, Lord Plunket. In 1961, the University of New Zealand system was dissolved, and on 1 January 1962, Victoria University of Wellington was established as an independent entity. From a single campus in Kelburn with fewer than 260 students, Victoria University of Wellington has grown into a network of campuses, research centres, institutes and partnerships worldwide. Campus plaques are located across the University offering insights to those who have contributed to the University since it was established in 1897.