Wellesley College is a boys-only independent primary school founded in 1914 as Croydon in Days Bay, Eastbourne, New Zealand.

The sheltered waters of Day's Bay and its bush-clad backdrop give opportunities for less structured activities.

Day's Bay House was built in 1903 for ship-owner, J H Williams, turned ferry service and eastern-harbour property developer.

His Wellington Steam Ferry Company Limited made the heart of Day's Bay a destination resort and sports complex.

A comparatively well built first-floor room was added on high posts at the north-east corner to form a sick-bay.

Two corrugated-iron walled additions were made at the back of the main building; an assembly hall cum gymnasium with a very rarely used fireplace all on the same level as the main building and a two-storied block of four small classrooms up on the slope behind it, each with a tiny fireplace.

[8] Board personnel were: Dr Sprott (bishop), Miss Baber (Marsden school), Rev R Franklin (St Barnabas Roseneath, diocesan organising secretary), Messrs. A E Mabin, W J Birch, G Shirtcliffe and J F Studholme.

[note 1][8] The generous help of the last four men as guarantors was acknowledged by the bishop when the school re-opened on 6 June 1919.

[5] Wellesley College, at 98 The Terrace, Wellington, was registered in 1938 to W. H. Stevens Ltd.[10] In 1940 William Hutton Stevens leased the premises of Croydon School from the Wellington Diocesan Board and moved his day school, Wellesley College, which had been situated on The Terrace, to Day's Bay and into them.

[11] The pupils of the Wellington Diocesan School for Boys (Croydon) were taken over by W. H. Stevens Ltd.; and the company was required to provide for religious instruction in accordance with the doctrines of the Church of England in co-operation with the local vicar.

[16] In 1965 the Diocesan Board regained management of the premises and in the end elected to retain the name Wellesley.

[5] The corrugated-iron additions with the sick-bay annexe and laundry were demolished and new buildings erected there and on the former bowling-green tennis courts.