Barnicoat House
Built in 1931 Barnicoat House is named after the Honourable JW Barnicoat, one of the foundation Governors of Nelson College and a member of the Council of Governors for nearly 50 years. Barnicoat was one of two boarding houses commissioned by the Board of Governors following the 1929 Murchison earthquake.
Barnicoat students relocated to Rutherford House in 2015 while Barnicoat House underwent extensive refurbishment. In January 2017 after spending $2.4 million upgrading Barnicoat House, the boys moved back into the ‘House on the Hill’.
Rutherford House
Built in 1931 Rutherford House is named after one of the College’s most distinguished Old Boys, Nobel Laureate, Ernest Rutherford (1887-1889). Rutherford House was one of two boarding houses commissioned by the Board of Governors following the 1929 earthquake. Laying of the Foundation Stone of Rutherford House took place on 25 November 1930 by Nelson MP, and Minister of Education, Harry Atmore who said the new houses “… were designed in accordance with modern scientific requirements… they were to be earthquake proof.”
Rutherford House was closed for full refurbishment in 2016 and opened again at the beginning of 2019.
