Martinborough School
This year Martinborough School, whose motto is ‘Facta non Verba’ (Deeds not words), celebrates 140 years of providing education for the young people of Martinborough.
By 1871 a substantial settlement had been established around the Ferry Road – Weld Street area and representation was made to the Education Department for the establishment of a school. The Department replied that it was not prepared to establish a school in ‘such an out of the way district’. However if the people of the district provided a suitable building the department would supply a teacher.
The Presbyterian Church members offered their church (where the Presbyterian Hall now stands) and the Department followed up with their offer. In Autumn 1872 a Mr Scott arrived to teach part time sharing his teaching between the school and one established at Kaiwaiwai.
In June 1874 the first full time teacher, Mr J Badland, arrived. (Mr Badland died in 1890 and is buried in the old cemetery beside the present school). The school was originally know as either Wharekaka or Waihenga School and in 1877 Mr Badland asked the Education department for a ruling on an official name. It appears that the Department had more pressing things on its plate for a decision did not come through until 1898 when it became officially Martinborough School.
