School History

Our school was named after the Somerville Family who owned the land on which the school was built. 

Pre-1850

Ngai Tai people occupied several paa, or fortified villages, in the Mangemangeroa Valley, using the forest and marine environments for food and shelter. Evidence of midden sites, kumara pits and stepping stones show occupation occurred in at least five different sites within the Valley.

1863

Archibald Somerville purchased an extensive area of farm land (then known as the Paparoa Farm).

The Original Somerville Family Homestead

1870

Maori who were living in Mangemangeroa, left for Waiheke as more farms developed.

1988

The Somerville Family subdivided and sold off areas of their undeveloped farm, earmarking a portion of land to be used for a school after Archibald Somerville's death.

1992

Archibald Somerville died at the age of 60.

1996

With the large number of houses being built in the area, a new intermediate school was needed and so the building of our school commenced.

1997

Somerville Intermediate School opened to students on 28 January 1997.