Fifty years ago, Newington College celebrated its Centenary. Like this year’s Sesquicentenary, our Centenary celebrations were the result of years of planning and culminated in a series of events around the anniversary of the College’s establishment in July.

‘Centenary Week’ extended over ten days and started with the Old Newingtonians’ Union’s Wyvern Centenary Ball, attended by 1,200 people at the Trocadero on George Street and featuring the presentation of twelve debutantes to the Governor of New South Wales. The next day was Old Boys’ Day (today’s Back to Newington Day), which was moved from its usual September date to be part of Centenary Week.

A particular highlight was the ‘Pilgrimage to Old Newington’, in which four hundred people visited Newington House, the College’s first home and, in 1963, part of the Newington State Hospital. The excursion was organised by the late Dr John Moulton (ON’ 47), great-grandson of the College’s first Head Master, while a memorial plaque was unveiled by Rev Dr David Manton (ON ’53), great-grandson of our founding President.

An Open Day included displays of students’ work and of gymnastics, presentations by a range of student clubs, and a display of archives and historical objects. The day finished with afternoon tea, in which an immense, multi-tiered cake, donated by the Bowes family, was submitted to ‘the ravages of hungry appetites’, as The Newingtonian reported.

The culmination of Centenary Week was the opening of the Centenary Hall by Sir Owen Dixon, Chief Justice of the High Court, attended by some 2,300 people. This included a Dedication Service, in which the assembled Newington community rose and formally presented the Hall to the President of the College Council, who accepted it on behalf of the College.

The first event held in the Centenary Hall after its opening was a Thanksgiving Service marking the end of the main celebrations. Other events included the ONU Centenary Dinner, a commemorative luncheon hosted by the Council, and a Centenary Banquet in a marquee on the Johnson Oval. In the following months, there were a ‘Centenary Musicale’ in the new Hall, a reception for the staff, a Ceremonial Parade and presentation of flags to the Cadet and Air Training Corps, and a Centenary Festival of Music, Drama and Art.

The College’s connection with Tonga was marked by the visit of Moulton Finau, one of the original Tongan students from 1896, and his son, Lupeti Finau (ON ’36). Lupeti’s son, Steve Finau (ON ’66) was studying at Newington at this time.

Throughout Centenary Week, the Founders Building, Centenary Hall and Nesbitt Wing were floodlit at night.

David Roberts
College Archivist