Victoria University’s Kelburn Campus, which was established more than 100 years ago, is home to buildings of a wide variety of ages, sizes and styles, as well as garden spaces and courtyards. Many of these buildings and spaces are marked with official plaques recognising important people in the University’s history, or the buildings and spaces themselves.
In line with the University’s aim to preserve its past and present history, an inventory of all official plaques within the historic Campus has been conducted. These plaques do not include those that accompany art works or those within Halls of Residences.
Information about these plaques in HTML format is below, and on the World War I Memorial Plaques page. You can also download information about the plaques as a PDF document. Our Kelburn Campus Map will help you to find these plaques.
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 Kelburn Campus Plaques |
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Hunter Building: Outside near Memorial Window
This stone was laid in memory of the members of this college who fell in the Great War 1914-1919.
Mortalitale relicta vivunt immortalitale induti
Hunter Building: Inside Original Entrance Vestibule
The Hunter Building
Designed by F Penty and EM Black and constructed between 1904 and 1923, this historic building was saved from demolition through the efforts of the Friends of Hunter, the New Zealand Historic Places Trust and the University. It was strengthened and restored between 1991 and 1994 by Victoria University with financial contributions from: Friends of Hunter Incorporated, New Zealand Lottery Grants Board, The Todd Foundation, Thomas George Macarthy Trust, the Sutherland Self Help Trust, Wellington City Council.
Architects: Ampersand Architects Ltd, assisted by Craig Craig Moller Ltd.Services Engineers: Stephenson and Turner New Zealand Ltd.Contractor: McKee-Fehl Constructions Ltd.Structural Engineers: Beca Carter Hollings and Ferner Ltd.Quantity Surveyor: Dean Murray and Partners Ltd.
Hunter Building ground floor foyer, on pillar near reception
Foundation Campaign for Victoria University 1994. The significant support for the campaign of the following commercial suppliers to Victoria University is gratefully acknowledged: AESEC Association Electronic and Security Systems Ltd; Apple Computers; Craig Craig Moller; Damba Steel Furniture Wellington Ltd; Ericsson Communications Ltd; Feltex Carpets New Zealand; Fuji Xerox New Zealand Ltd; Haines Recruitment Advertising; OTC Office Supplies Ltd; P&O Crothalls; Stephenson and Turner New Zealand Ltd.
Hunter Building ground floor foyer
The first home of Victoria College resulted from a design competition won by F Penty and EM Blake. It was constructed by Alan Maguire in four stages opening in 1906, 1910, 1922 and 1923. Named in 1959 after Sir Thomas Hunter, the first fulltime Principal, the Hunter Building was deemed an earthquake risk and evacuated in 1974. The efforts of the Friends of Hunter saved it from demolition. In 1985 a new architectural competition was held and joint winners were Gordon Moller from Craig Craig Moller and Grahame Anderson from Ampersand Architects, who eventually won the commission in 1986. Construction by McKee Fehl took place 1991-1993. Unveiled to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the laying of the Foundation Stone by Leone Harkness, Chairman of the Friends of Hunter, on 27 August 2004.
Hunter Building stairwell leading to second floor
The Foundation Stone of this College was laid by the Governor of this Colony 27 th August 1904. Sapientia Magis Auro Desideranda
Hunter Council Chamber, beneath the Memorial Window
Inscribed below are the names of the members of this college who gave their lives in the Great War 1914-18View names listed on this plaqueBrevis a natvra vita nobis data est at memoria bene redditae vitae sempiterna
Hunter Council Chamber, on Chamber pillars (four plaques)
Members of the College who served in the Great War 1914-1918View names listed on these plaques
Hunter Building, level 2
Honorary Graduates and other awardsView names listed on these plaques
Hunter Building, outside HU LT323
Supporting Learning at Victoria UniversityThis plaque commemorates the support of staff and alumni of Victoria University of Wellington who donated funds to help preserve the memory of the lecture theatre. The fund acknowledges the time that has been spent teaching and learning in the lecture space since the 1920s.Led by the Chancellor at the time, Elizabeth Orr, donations to the fund were received over a number of years from 1994. The fund now provides scholarships for second year students from any discipline within the University.The impetus for the fund was sparked by the restoration of the Hunter Building in the 1990s, which reminded many alumni and staff of their close connection with one of the key rooms in the University’s early history, renowned for the steepness of its tiered seating.The South wing of the Hunter Building was constructed in 1923, originally to provide teaching space for the Physics Department. The lecture theatre, now known as HU LT323, was originally known as , as each level of the Hunter Building was labelled alphabetically.One of the supporters of the fund was Sir Frank Holmes, Emeritus Professor in the School of Economics and Finance at Victoria.He taught his first lectures in in the 1950s and remembers being very nervous and slighted daunted by the looming tiered room before him:“Most students were part-time, and the majority of classes were held after 4pm. Sometimes it was difficult to capture their attention in the 7-8pm classes on Fridays.”The architects for both the North and South wings of the Hunter Building were Swan, Lawrence and Swan, who worked in practice together from 1915 until Lawrence’s death in 1933. Buildings by all three architects still remain in Wellington, with John Swan, in particular, designing a number of landmark Wellington buildings, including Erskine College and the former Clarendon Hotel on the corner of Courtenay Place and Taranaki Street. C3 Fund Janice Campbell Edith Campion Professor Margaret Clark CMG Colin Blair OBE Douglas Fraser OBE Bernard Galvin CB Emeritus Professor Ian Gordon Sir Frank Holmes Professor Patrick Hutchings Margaret Jeffries Emeritus Professor Stuart Johnston Elizabeth Orr CNZM John Perham William and Margery Renwick Dr Eddie Robertson The Hon Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan ONZ Beverley Wakem CBE Peter Young C3 Professors and Students
Exterior of Adam Art Gallery, near entrance
Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi Opened by His Excellency, The Rt Hon Sir Michael Hardie-Boys, GNZM, Governor General of New Zealand, on 22 September 1999. Chancellor: Douglas White QC, Vice-Chancellor: Professor Michael Irving Athfield Architects Ltd, LT McGuinness Ltd
Inside Student Union Building, on wall beside stairs leading up from atrium
The construction of the Student Union Extension was a joint venture between the Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association Trust and Victoria University. Opened by Her Excellency Dame Catherine Tizard, GCMG, DBE Governor General of New Zealand on May 13, 1992. Architect: Athfield Architects Ltd Building Contractor: Mainzeal Construction Ltd.
Inside Student Union Building, on pillar inside atrium
New Zealand Institute of Architects National Award for Architecture 1993 Student Union Extension Victoria University of Wellington Athfield Architects Ltd
Student Union Building, ground floor, north entrance
Sapienta Magis Auro Desideranda George Finlay Dixon CBEA Foundation student who during 50 years has continuously given unsparing service in advancing the welfare of this College and its students. He has done much to incorporate the spirit of unselfish devotion in the tradition of the College. Students of 1899-1949 hereby record their gratitude and esteem.
Beside the path between the Student Union Building and the Mount Street Cemetery
In Living Memory of Anne Butler, S.B.S. Technician, 1900-1991
On Kelburn Parade, between Gate 1 and the Hunter Courtyard
A seat for everyone and no one. EM Kingston
Hunter Courtyard, under tree
Celebrating the life of John R. McCreary Professor of Social Work 1971-1982 Lest auld acquaintance be forgot.
30 Kelburn Parade
Maurice Hugh Frederick Wilkins 1962 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine Born Pongaroa, 1916. Lived here at 30 Kelburn Parade as a boy.Received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Francis Harry Compton Crick and James Dewey Watson, “for their discoveries concerning the molecular structure of nucleic acids and its significant for information transfer in living material.”In 1945 Maurice Wilkins decided to study the molecular structure of genes. In 1947 he began studying genes in living cells, DNA, and viruses using new types of optical microscopes. In 1950 he concentrated on x-ray diffraction of DNA with Raymond Gosling and Alexander Stokes, and they discovered that DNA was helical. In January 1951 Rosalind E. Franklin (1920-1958) joined the work at King’s College, followed by Herbert Wilson in September 1952, and their work considerably aided the X-ray studies. In April 1953, Nature published the Watson Crick model of DNA. The crystallographic data supporting the model appeared in the same issue in two separate papers by Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins.To commemorate the 50 th anniversary of the publication of the discovery, this plaque was unveiled on 11 February 2003 by the Nobel Laureates in Chemistry who together discovered and developed conductive polymers: Professor Alan J Heeger, Professor Alan G MacDiarmid (Victoria University of Wellington alumnus), Professor Hideki Shirakawa. Maurice Hugh Frederick Wilkins Nobel Laureate
In the garden outside the Von Zedlitz Building
This garden was given in memory of Audrey B. O’Brien B.Sc. 1927-1981 By her family
Te Herenga Waka Marae, Kelburn Parade
Te Tumu Herenga Waka 6 o Hakihea 1986
Third floor of Kirk Building, near KK301
Harry Borrer Kirk, first Professor of Biology, appointed 1903.This building is founded upon his great services to Victoria College which stands enriched by his inspiration and example Colleagues and students of 1903-1940 hereby record their gratitude, affection and esteem. HE TAUMATA * HE WHARE NUI
New Kirk Building, Level 2
The H.D. Gordon Herbarium Professor and Head Botany Department 1947-1977
New Kirk Building, Level 5
The Heyes Laboratory J K Heyes, Professor of Botany 1970-1993
Orb Cafe (formerly the Ilott Cafe), third floor of Kirk Building
Jack Ilott B.Com 1940 Student, after retirement, from 1982 Generous benefactor of the university and donor of this coffee lounge in 1985.
Under a tree on steps leading up to the Quad from the Old Kirk Building
In memory of Jan Pinborg, 1937-1982. Professor of Classical Philology at the University of Copenhagen. This tree was planted by his friends at Victoria University.
Two seats, on path to Waiteata Road houses
Presented by Mrs A Danilow in memory of her husband Dr Nicholas Danilow who pioneered the teaching of Russian at Victoria University of Wellington from 1942-1967.
In courtyard between MacLaurin Building and Rankine Brown Building
In memory of Jim Ansell Professor of Geophysics d. 28 July 1993
Inside the Kelburn Parade entrance of the Easterfield Building
Sapienta Magis Auro Desideranda
Inside the foyer of Easterfield Building, set into the staircase
This stone was laid on 15 th May 1956 by The Rt. Hon. S.G. Holland C.H M.P Prime Minister of New Zealand Gray Young Morton & Calder Architects Fletcher Construction Company Limited Contractors
Laby Building foyer
Victoria University of Wellington Te Whare Wananga o te Upoko o te Ika a Maui School of Chemical and Physical SciencesProfessor Alan MacDiarmid is a New Zealander and an alumnus of Victoria University of Wellington where he studied Chemistry and Physics and graduated from the University of New Zealand. Professor MacDiarmid is a co-recipient of the 2000 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work in conducting polymers.
Laby Building foyer
Victoria University of Wellington Te Whare Wananga o te Upoko o te Ika a Maui The Extensions to the Laby Laboratories of the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences Te Wānanga Matū were opened on 22 July, 1999, by Alumnus Professor Michael Kelly, FRS, FREng Chancellor: Douglas White, QC Vice-Chancellor: Professor Michael Irving Head of School: Associate Professor James Johnston
Half-way down steps to Devon St
This Kowhai Tree commemorates the founding of the Speech Communication Association (NZ)Inc following a meeting held on this campus in October 1952. Presented by The New Zealand Speech Board November 1992.