The land on which St Paul’s Collegiate School was built was once a dairy and crop farm. Jean Green was one of the original owners and has celebrated a very special milestone at the school, her 100th birthday.
Jean Green, along with her husband Bob, and his brother Logan and wife Nancy, owned the 50 acre farm which was sold to the Waikato Anglican Boys’ College Trust in 1958, for the creation of St Paul’s Collegiate School.
The two brothers and their wives had purchased the farm, known as “Great Oaks,” from Wilfred Johnston, just four years earlier.
As the story goes, Mr Johnston sold the land conditional upon a “gentleman’s agreement” that the property’s magnificent trees were protected.
“He said ‘I’ll sell it to you as long as you don’t cut the trees down’ and that was the same basis on which it was sold to St Paul’s,” says Jean’s son John Green.
At the time, Logan Green was a Senior Lecturer in Dairy Husbandry and Manager of the Massey College dairy farms in Palmerston North.
The two brothers intended to farm the land, but after Logan’s sudden death aged 41 in 1956, plans changed and the farm was put up for sale.
The Greens could have made more money subdividing the land, but by honouring the original promise to protect the trees, they left a legacy which led to the creation of rural school grounds in a city setting, enjoyed by many generations since.
The Anglican Boys’ College Trust paid 21,987 pounds for the land, and St Paul’s opened in February 1959 with a roll of 60 boys.
Bob and Jean Green also owned the farm opposite, on the corner of Hukanui Rd and Crosby Roads, part of which became the city’s athletics ground, Porritt Stadium.
The Greens’ agreed for the Council, under land contribution rules, to take the more desirable elevated section when the farm was subdivided.
“They did what they believed was right for all, even though that left them with the less valuable lower flat portion,” says John.
Jean, who lives in Hamilton rest home, St Joan’s, recalls those early days on the farms, raising their four children, Noelene, Geoffrey and twins John and Brian.
Great Oaks was a dairy and crop farm. The cows were taken over the road to be milked.
“It wasn’t a big farm, as far as dairy farms go. It was like city living and not too far out in the country. It was good land, and my sons helped out a bit looking after the animals. It was all good living.”
“Now I have just had my 100th my memory is not as sharp as it used to be, but we enjoyed those early days.”
John Green, who lives in Tauranga, remembers helping his father work the land.
“Dad cropped and grew maize, I remember growing turnips and whenever he did a crop he would put in a couple of furrows of potatoes.”
“The city relations would come down from Auckland and car boots would get filled with farm produce.”
“It was always a beautiful property with the trees – the oak trees, huge camellia and the double flowering peach trees up the driveway. There was a huge walnut tree that used to have great big walnuts. I remember bagging them u and we used to sell them, as kids.”
John says researching the family history as part of preparations for Jean 100th birthday reinforced a sense of sadness at Logan’s premature death and what may have been.
“It certainly wasn’t easy for them. When they came to the first farm before the war it was in such a run-down condition. The family abused them, especially mum’s side of the family, for taking her into the countryside into such appalling conditions. But those were the times.”
He says his parents have made a big contribution to the city.
“It is a real treasure that we look at now as a family, the legacy that mum and dad have left to Hamilton regarding St Paul’s and Porritt Stadium. To see it not all whacked up into sections; not to see it covered in red tile rooftops is a real blessing.”
When the Greens sold “Great Oaks” they retained three sections on Kensington Place, near the school, and built their retirement home there in 1974. From there they looked out over the St Paul’s playing fields.
“It has always been good watching the school’s growth and it is a very good school. I have got a great-grandson going to the school this year so that is a bit of history for us,” Jean says.
Adam Jefferis is a boarder in his first year, and is the first family member to attend St Paul’s.
Jean retains ownership of the Kensington Place house and her son Geoff lives there.
Long-serving teacher and St Paul’s Fellow, Pat Plant, spoke at Jean’s 100th birthday celebration and knew Jean’s late husband Bob who died in 1996.
“Bob loved to step over the boundary and watch the rugby. He did not just watch the First XV, but in fact I think he used to enjoy the house games in the middle of the week more than the big games, and he certainly picked out particular players and watched their progress through the school.”
With his vast experience in farming Bob assisted the school’s Young Farmer’s Club.
“Bob and Jean watched the growth of the school with great interest and I am sure the will have taken great pride in its development.”
Pat also acknowledged the significance of the farm sale.
“Bob and Jean could have made more money by subdividing rather than selling to the school Trust. Their decision has resulted in this lovely rural space and a great asset to the city.”
He said to Jean, “To achieve such a great age as Jean is one thing, and at the same time you can lay claim to being responsible for the presence of two major cultural assets to your city means you have left a legacy to future generations as a last memorial of your life.”
The interesting history of the land is reflected in different ways with the school shop named “Great Oaks” operated by the Great Oaks Trading Company.
Each year fallen acorns are collected from the oak trees and propagated into seedlings which are presented to school leavers.
The memory of “Great Oaks” lives on.
Jean says it was a wonderful party, held at St Paul’s on 14 March 2015. “Everyone enjoyed it. It was just a happy time for everyone, reminiscing.”
The family organised a colourful display of memorabilia including many of Jean’s old formal dresses and her wedding dress which were also on show at another party held at The Link centre at Hamilton’s St Andrews Presbyterian church, where Bob and Jean were married on 18 February 1937.
