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St Patrick's College, Silverstream; people and events.
History
HistoryFor a major article on the school's history, see the March 17, 1981 (fortuitously St Patrick's Day) Upper Hutt 'Leader', which covered the school's 50th anniversary.
The September 17, 1975 printed an article on a 14-week $300 000 fund-raising campaign for completing the new chapel and starting work on a library and science facilities; it would be run by Mr I Thomas, former general manager of New Zealand railways, and currently resident director of Thomas Nationwide Transport.
An article on the 1980 awards ceremony mentioned problems with bureaucracy. The Hutt Valley Drainage Board had tried to designate almost all of the lower farm for a sewage treatment plant, and the proposed acquisition of the Pumpkin Cottage land had not allowed for the land's possible industrial or commercial value. All told, legal costs had risen to five figures.
The February 2, 1982 'Leader' printed a picture taken looking north-west towards hills owned by the college; trees were being planted on the bare ground visible; 25 hectares per annum for six years; the first planting had been in August. The college was part of a syndicate of Catholic organisations and private investors. Forest enterprises Ltd of Masterton would run the project.
When the school became integrated into the state system, a board of governors had to be elected; they were pictured in the June 14, 1983 'Leader'.
In March 17, 1992 the 'Leader' reported that the original block, now named the Dowling Block in memory of the first rector, had been strengthened against earthquakes; unreinforced brick walls would now fall outwards. Most of the strengthening was internal, so that outside appearance would be unchanged. It housed priests' quarters, boarding rooms and offices, infirmary, and one other office, but classrooms had gone. There was also a new administration block.
A September 29, 2004 'Leader' article in an education feature pointed out that 5-day boarding was available for sons of busy parents.
The August 15, 2020 'Dominion Post' and August 19 'Leader' announced a proposal to raise ground by the Mawaihakona Stream by 3 metres for urban development; about 550 000 cubic metres of clean fill. A 20-metre green corridor either side of the stream might be reduced to 12 metres. Friends of Mawaihakona Stream had planted 10 200 trees to restore the area; about half of the planting would be lost.
Principals (rectors):-
1. 1931-1937; Rev. Father J.W. Dowling, S.M., M.A., F.R.E.S.
1944-49; Father Leo Evatt, S M; returned in 1988
1968
1967-1969; Father Gerald Patrick Gill; died July 7, 1989 after 11 years as priest, St Mary of the Angels; 'Leader' obituary July 12.
10. June 1974-1980; Father Fredrick Bliss. In April 1981 he was elected Provincial (head) of the Society of Mary priests in New Zealand for a four-year term.
11. 1981-Aug 1987; Father M V ('Vince') Curtain; previously senior dean, St Pat's, Wellington, and rector, Hato Paora Maori Boys' College. His sister Ursula Curtain was Matron in 1981.
Sept. 1987-1993; Father Jim Dooley
Sept.1993; David Levy; first layman rector, previously deputy, appointed to take over in 1994.
On his appointment, Mrs Susan Watterson, who had been assistant rector since starting in 1991, became deputy. In December 1994 she took up the post of principal of Nga Tawa, the Wellington Diocesan School for Girls, at Marton.
There had been Marist priests associated with the school since its inception; the last ones left in January 2001, tough they had ceased teaching several years before. Fr Mark walls had been the last to teach, and retired as chaplain. Marist priests would continue to visit.
The September 17, 1975 printed an article on a 14-week $300 000 fund-raising campaign for completing the new chapel and starting work on a library and science facilities; it would be run by Mr I Thomas, former general manager of New Zealand railways, and currently resident director of Thomas Nationwide Transport.
An article on the 1980 awards ceremony mentioned problems with bureaucracy. The Hutt Valley Drainage Board had tried to designate almost all of the lower farm for a sewage treatment plant, and the proposed acquisition of the Pumpkin Cottage land had not allowed for the land's possible industrial or commercial value. All told, legal costs had risen to five figures.
The February 2, 1982 'Leader' printed a picture taken looking north-west towards hills owned by the college; trees were being planted on the bare ground visible; 25 hectares per annum for six years; the first planting had been in August. The college was part of a syndicate of Catholic organisations and private investors. Forest enterprises Ltd of Masterton would run the project.
When the school became integrated into the state system, a board of governors had to be elected; they were pictured in the June 14, 1983 'Leader'.
In March 17, 1992 the 'Leader' reported that the original block, now named the Dowling Block in memory of the first rector, had been strengthened against earthquakes; unreinforced brick walls would now fall outwards. Most of the strengthening was internal, so that outside appearance would be unchanged. It housed priests' quarters, boarding rooms and offices, infirmary, and one other office, but classrooms had gone. There was also a new administration block.
A September 29, 2004 'Leader' article in an education feature pointed out that 5-day boarding was available for sons of busy parents.
The August 15, 2020 'Dominion Post' and August 19 'Leader' announced a proposal to raise ground by the Mawaihakona Stream by 3 metres for urban development; about 550 000 cubic metres of clean fill. A 20-metre green corridor either side of the stream might be reduced to 12 metres. Friends of Mawaihakona Stream had planted 10 200 trees to restore the area; about half of the planting would be lost.
Principals (rectors):-
1. 1931-1937; Rev. Father J.W. Dowling, S.M., M.A., F.R.E.S.
1944-49; Father Leo Evatt, S M; returned in 1988
1968
1967-1969; Father Gerald Patrick Gill; died July 7, 1989 after 11 years as priest, St Mary of the Angels; 'Leader' obituary July 12.
10. June 1974-1980; Father Fredrick Bliss. In April 1981 he was elected Provincial (head) of the Society of Mary priests in New Zealand for a four-year term.
11. 1981-Aug 1987; Father M V ('Vince') Curtain; previously senior dean, St Pat's, Wellington, and rector, Hato Paora Maori Boys' College. His sister Ursula Curtain was Matron in 1981.
Sept. 1987-1993; Father Jim Dooley
Sept.1993; David Levy; first layman rector, previously deputy, appointed to take over in 1994.
On his appointment, Mrs Susan Watterson, who had been assistant rector since starting in 1991, became deputy. In December 1994 she took up the post of principal of Nga Tawa, the Wellington Diocesan School for Girls, at Marton.
There had been Marist priests associated with the school since its inception; the last ones left in January 2001, tough they had ceased teaching several years before. Fr Mark walls had been the last to teach, and retired as chaplain. Marist priests would continue to visit.
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Organisation typeEducationalFunctionPrimarily a Catholic boarding secondary school.
FunctionPrimarily a Catholic boarding secondary school.More information
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St Patrick's College, Silverstream; people and events.. Upper Hutt City Library, accessed 19/03/2026, https://uhcl.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/16017