| 135 T T Kim Newth Restoration of heritage centrepiece The heritage building, known today as Shand House, dates back to 1880. “We’ve had several cohorts of students go through the school now who have never been inside Shand House, so to finally have it open again is going to be quite something.” COMMUNITY Craighead Diocesan School: Shand House An exciting project is underway to restore the heritage heart of Timaru’s Craighead Diocesan School, Shand House, which has been closed since the Canterbury earthquakes, awaiting seismic strengthening. Considered the school’s centrepiece, Shand House has a rich history and is a beautiful example of Italianate villa-style period architecture of the 1870s/80s. From its inception in 1875, Shand House was altered and extended through the years. The heritage building, known today as Shand House, dates back to 1880. It sits close by the school’s boarding accommodation facilities, Len Home Wing (housing students in Years 7-10) and the senior boarding wing, completed in 2015. A second phase of building works saw a new gymnasium built at the school in 2018. Craighead Diocesan’s staff, students and community are now all looking forward to seeing Shand House get a new lease of life at the heart of the school. The restoration work is due to be completed in late 2025. “It is exciting to have the restoration underway and Henderson Building is doing a brilliant job,” says principal Lara Hearn-Rollo. “We’ve had several cohorts of students go through the school now who have never been inside Shand House, so to finally have it open again is going to be quite something.” A focal point of the restoration is to equip Shand House to serve as the main boarding house reception, where boarders and their families will be welcomed to the school. “From there, they will be able to link through to the senior boarding wing and into Len Home Wing. There’s currently quite a bit of building being done around the back to link these three buildings together.” Shand House will link to the senior boarding wing on the second floor that will have a games room, fit-for-purpose accommodation for international students as well as capacity for staff sleepovers. As part of the restoration, there are also plans to open up the main downstairs lounge area as a meeting space for the wider school community. Craighead Diocesan School has long provided a safe, well-managed and well-provisioned home away from home for 115-120 boarding students, who make up around a third of the school roll. Boarding students stay at the school over a long period of time, forming lasting friendships. Students from a wide area – including the Chatham Islands, Invercargill, Marlborough, Hokitika and Westport – come to board at the school, which enjoys a high retention rate. The original Shand House was built as a family home (then named ‘Heathcliffe’) for early settlers Henry and Emma Sealy. By 1881, Henry Le Cren had purchased the property, renaming it ‘Craighead’ after his brother-in-law’s castle in Forfarshire, Scotland. By 1910, Craighead had been taken up by a leading teacher and academic of the day, John Shand. Four of his daughters (Eleanor, Fanny, Elizabeth and Anna) then opened Craighead School in May 1911, starting with a roll of six boarders and 11 day girls. From those small beginnings, the school has flourished to become what it is today, providing a nurturing environment where students feel at home and are supported in their pursuit of personal excellence. nder $1M for the Canterbury Region WE’VE WON REGIONAL SUPREME HOUSE OF THE YEAR UNDER $1 MILLION! FOR CANTERBURY REGION PROUD TO SUPPORT CRAIGHEAD DIOCESAN SCHOOL SPECIFY - MEASURE - QUANTIFY - ESTIMATE WALLBOARD STOPPING AND INTERIOR PLASTERING INTUMESCENT FIRE RETARDANT SYSTEMS ROOF COATINGS AND MAINTENANCE INDUSTRIAL AND EPOXY COATING SYSTEMS RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PAINTING AND DECORATING CONCRETE CUTTING AND DRILLING CONCRETE GRINDING AND POLISHING RESIN AND SPECIALIST FLOOR TOPPING 0800 RANGER EXPERT TEAM EXPERT KNOWLEDGE QUALITY RESULTS www.ranger.co.nz coatings@ranger.co.nz PROUD TO SUPPORT CRAIGHEAD DIOCESAN SCHOOL
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