Knox College is a residential college, founded and operated by the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand and affiliated with the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. The college is set in a landscaped site in Opoho on the opposite side of the Dunedin Botanic Gardens from the university.
As the second oldest residential college in New Zealand, Knox is also one of the more traditional colleges, having been founded in the mould of those at Oxbridge. Throughout the last century, Knox managed to maintain much of its distinctively collegiate institutional character while continually evolving to promote and maintain a welcoming and inclusive academic community for its student body, which has been co-educational since 1983. The college has produced 18 Rhodes Scholars, as well as several Gates Scholars and Fulbright Scholars.
History and function Knox College was established in 1909 to provide residence for male students and to house an existing seminary for Presbyterian ministers. It became co-educational in 1983. It also houses the Presbyterian Church's Knox Centre for Ministry and Leadership and the Presbyterian Research Centre (comprising the Hewitson Library and Presbyterian Archives). The college is named after John Knox, a sixteenth century leader of the Scottish Reformation, whose efforts in establishing a universal system of free education comprising both academic learning and character formation had a profound influence, not just in Scotland, but internationally, as subsequent generations of Scottish settlers, products of the Scottish Enlightenment, emigrated to far-flung corners of the globe, including New Zealand, taking with them a deep-seated belief in the benefits of applied knowledge and a broad and liberal education.
Academic support for residents takes the form of tutorials, the monitoring of individual academic performances, and progress interviews as needed. In addition, the college benefits from an on-campus library, the Hewitson Library, which provides continuous access for students to study space and the library's various collections of books and journals, some of which are of historical significance. Knox College counts among its alumni eighteen Rhodes Scholars.
Upon entry into Knox College, undergraduate residents become part of the Junior Common Room (JCR), which is distinct from the Senior Common Room (SCR). The latter largely consists of post-graduates, (non-resident) academics, and leading figures within the academic and ecclesiastical the community who are elected as fellows on a quinquennial basis. The list of College Fellows currently includes both the Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Otago. Other members of the SCR include postgraduate students in residence, including the Ross Fellow, and the college's Sub-master team. The Ross Fellowship, established in 1920, is the oldest such award in the university.
Until the 1990s, certain Chairs in Theology were held at Knox College.For example: ; These were disestablished when the University of Otago assumed responsibility (from the then Theological Hall) for teaching the university's Theology programme.
The Visitor is the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Knox College Students' Club
The Knox College Students' Club (KCSC) was an incorporated society and was the oldest college organisation of its kind in New Zealand until it was dissolved in 2023. The majority of student social events and intercollegiate events were organised through the KCSC Executive Committee, or student nominated club members, and used to form a broad range of activities throughout the year, including the annual Ball held at Larnach Castle, the Concert on the Stairwell, and the various sporting and cultural events that compose the Cameron Shield and Nevill Cup competitions against Selwyn College. The KCSC Executive consisted of a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, cultural representative, male and female sports representative, and social representative. These functions are now fulfilled by a team of student leaders in collaboration with College staff.
Three former presidents of the Students' Club later became masters of Knox College: the Rev Dr Hubert Ryburn (KCSC president, 1921), the Rev Peter Marshall (1962) and Mr. Bruce Aitken (1971). Other notable names on the list of KCSC presidents are Professor Sir David Skegg (1969), who later served as vice-chancellor of the university (2004–11), Judge E.O.K. Blaikie (1967), and Mr Joel Amosa (2009), winner of New Zealand's top singing prize, the Lexus Song Quest (2018).
A distinguishing characteristic of Knox, courtesy of it being independently owned, is the freedom it has to accept students back for a second, or even third, year. Students are not obliged to leave the college at the end of their first year. Returners play a role in setting the tone of the college, passing on traditions, and making incoming students feel welcome. In recent years, the male:female ratio has approximated 40:60, which is reflective of the male:female student ratio throughout the university.
Centennial celebrations
The college achieved its centenary in 2009, with approximately 600 guests attending a variety of events over the celebration weekend in early August. The oldest returning resident (res. 1938–1943) planted a Centennial Oak in the college grounds to commemorate the occasion.Knoxonian (college magazine), 2009
Dissolution The KCSC as of 2024 was dissolved and replaced with student leadership roles. There is still a student president and vice-president although the dynamic is different to that of the KCSC role.
Relationships with other colleges Knox College shares its site with Salmond College. Although the two colleges are mostly autonomous in regards to their daily operations, they are governed by the same body, the Board of Knox College and Salmond College, and, being part of the same organisation, they share several staff, including a General Manager, a Food Services Manager, a Property Manager and a Groundsman.
Knox College enjoys a close relationship with its Anglican equivalent and arch-rival Selwyn College. The two colleges compete annually for the Nevill Cup (cultural events) and Cameron Shield (sporting events). The eighth Master of Knox College, the Very Rev Dr Graham Redding (2015–2021), was a former Warden of Selwyn College (1989–1991).
Building history The college buildings are an imposing group representing a persistent and successful effort to carry out an architectural idea over an extended time which saw considerable change.
Initial outlay The Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland opened a seminary for Ministers, its Theological Hall, in Dunedin in 1876. Early in the 20th century it acquired the core of the site in Opoho, above North East Valley, intending to re-house the seminary and to provide accommodation for its students and others attending the University of Otago. It established a brief and conducted an architectural competition won in 1906 by the 21-year old William Gray Young of Wellington. J. Louis Salmond (1868–1950) came second.Except where otherwise stated information here about the buildings' history is drawn from Salmond 2003, which in turn relies substantially on Milnes 2002.
Young's plans envisaged development well beyond the college's immediate requirements taking the form of four ranges surrounding a central quadrangle. After the first stage was completed he was retained as architectural adviser and remained responsible for the buildings' design for more than forty years. His successors remained true to his conception through challenging circumstances.
The construction contract for the main accommodation block was won by Fletcher Brothers at a price of £9120. The chairman of the project was Rev Andrew Cameron and the contract winner was his son-in-law James Fletcher.Pride of Place: A history of the Fletcher Construction Company, Peter Shaw p. 6
Because Young was based in Wellington and perhaps also because of his youth, Salmond was appointed supervising architect. The plan called for a principal range facing west with a large, square, central tower. It had subordinate ranges reaching forward at either extremity in a generally symmetrical composition. Behind the west range there were to be others at right angles to it, extending east, forming the north and south sides of the quadrangle.
The first building stage was the tower and the northward parts of the west range together with the range behind that trending east on the north side of the intended quadrangle (the "North Wing"). This part, the range on the north side of the quadrangle, included not only provision for teaching but a dining hall and servants' accommodation.
The foundation stone was laid on 6 April 1908 and the building was opened on 23 June 1909 having cost £19,307. The foundations were Port Chalmers breccia. The walls were finished in brick with Oamaru stone trims and the roofs were red clay tiles.
The building was in the Jacobethan style, a late form of the Gothic revival still vigorous in the early 20th century. Knox has the characteristic Tudor arches, oriel windows and battlements and the elaboration of forms and details, if not to the extent of Harlaxton Manor, sometimes pointed to as the type, or template, of the style.Curl, 2000. "Jacobethan."; Encyclopedia.com. 25 Apr 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.
Early development The second stage was the southern part of the west range, including the forward projecting chapel. Behind this part of the west range the first part of the quadrangle's southern range was also to be built. A tender was accepted in September 1912 and completed by March 1914. Construction had cost £10,525.
At this point the College Council's ambitions and those of their architect were becoming clear. On their high site the buildings are very visible. The council had insisted on raising the architect's four-storeyed tower to five storeys. The three storeyed ranges and the forward thrusting subordinate reaches present a complex, but legible and imposing face to the world.
The interiors were spacious and finished with period detailing, including panels and hammer beams in the Dining Hall and stained glass and elaborate plasterwork, notably in the chapel. Even so, the college, as Young had conceived it, was far from complete.
Plans to extend the southern range, known as the "South Wing", were prepared by him in enough detail to be estimated by 1929 but the Depression and the Second World War prevented their execution. In 1952 with plans and funding almost complete the project was suspended.
Post-war progress Meanwhile, the combination of seminary and residential hall was proving difficult to accommodate in the existing space. In 1945 a fund was established to provide additional room. Young was getting old. He oversaw the drafting of the plans but advised the committee of his resignation in 1952. Salmond had died in 1950. His son, Arthur Salmond, (1906–1994) now in partnership with Harry Burt, took over the project.Otago Daily Times, 5 February 1994. Obituary Arthur Louis Salmond. A contract was signed in 1953, building commenced the next year and the new Theological Hall was opened on 12 November 1955 for a cost of £80,000.
The new building, to become known as the Hewitson Wing, was set parallel to the main west range, behind it, forming the east flank of the quadrangle. With a library as its front, facing the quadrangle, and with a hall behind, this structure is very deep. It is linked by an arch to the north range, closing the quadrangle's corner at that point.