WHEN Fiji was ceded to Great Britain in 1874, Her Majesty Queen Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; May 24, 1819-January 22, 1901) reigned over the empire and she had the honour of receiving the Deed of Cession from Fiji’s chiefs. At the time she was also Empress of India.
In 1878 the Great Council of Chiefs decided that they seek the blessings of her representative in Fiji, the then governor Sir Hercules Robinson, to establish two training institutions for young Fijians. They would be styled in vocational studies to give them skills.
One would be on Viti Levu and the other Vanua Levu. In 1881 the colonial administration endorsed the establishment of the new school at Yanawai, Bua and decided to open it to boys from the age 12-16. The school was constructed and the Yanawai school was opened in 1883.
In 1894, the school moved to Naikorokoro between Montfort Boys Town and Togalevu near Suva. 1902 the school closed and the Great Council of Chiefs passed a motion that a new school be established this time to train young leaders for 100 students and to pay five pounds each but the governor decided to subsidise the cost. The chiefs also wanted to build a hall in memory of Queen Victoria who had passed away a year earlier.
When the then governor Sir Henry Jackson opened the Great Council of Chiefs meeting that year, he revealed the proposal to build a school for young Fijians and a hall in memory of the late queen had been endorsed and government would provide 1000 pounds for this purpose.
He said they would also provide scholarships for students who performed exceptionally to continue their tertiary studies in the UK.
However, it was not until 1905 that government finally provided funding for these purposes and chose British teacher JV Thompson to become the first principal. He arrived from Cyprus that year.
While plans were to build a hall named after Queen Vctoria, it turned into a four-room classroom block where the Fiji National University’s Nasinu campus now sits.
QVS, Nasinu 1906-1942
The school was built in 1906 and opened its doors in Nasinu on January 3, 1907 with an initial roll of 32 pupils who came from:
* Two from Ba and Yasawa;
* two from Bua;
* three from Cakaudrove;
* one from Colo East;
* one from Colo North
* one from Colo West;
* two from Kadavu;
* two from Lau;
* two from Lomaiviti;
* two from Macuata;
* two from Nadroga;
* one from Naitasiri;
* one from Namosi;
* two from Ra;
* two from Rewa;
* one from Serua;
* three from Tailevu; and
* two from Rotuma.
The school roll rose from 50 to 100 students as more young Fijians sought an education.
It was not until 1916 that the school was granted permission to charge school fees at six pounds per year and the school started exams for students wishing to enter the school gates.
In 1912 four British teachers were aided by locals.
In 1917 the GCC approved 3600 pounds to build the following provincial schools:
* Povincial Southern School to be based at where Adi Cakobau School is today for students from Tailevu South, Serua, Namosi, Naitasiri, Colo East and Rewa;
* Provincial School Eastern where Ratu Kadavulevu School is at Lodoni to cater for students from Colo North, Ra, Lomaiviti and Tailevu North;
* Provincial School Western where Namaka Public School sits. It was to cater for students from Nadroga/Navosa, Nadi, Lautoka Yasawa and Ba;
* Provincial School Northern at Bucalevu would cater for students from Cakaudrove, Bua and Macuata;
* Provincial School Lau would cater for students from Lau; and
* Provincial School Kadavu at Vunisea would cater for students of Kadavu.
The provincial schools would serve as feeder schools and all students would sit a QVS entrance exam to gain entry.
When World War II started, the school in Nasinu was closed and became a hospital for the US Army so students were sent to PSS at Sawani while another lot were sent to PSE at Lodoni.
During the break, the remaining students were moved to Nanukuloa, Ra in 1943.
QVS Nanukuloa
1943-1948
Government had also promised to look for a permanent location for the school as Nanukuloa would be a temporary site as they had also secured the new bust of the late queen by then.
Three bure were built there for Bau, Rewa and Verata houses with the backdrop of Korotiki hill behind them, which also looks like the top of a Fijian bure, and the serene Navitilevu Bay providing a scenic location for the students.
In the 1948 school break, the message to leave Nanukuloa was broadcast to students over the radio that they were being relocated to Lodoni the following year.
QVS Lodoni 1949-1952
Headmaster at the time was a CJ Smith and he had teachers like the late Netani Druavesi, Semesa Sikivou and Ratu Seci Nawalowalo.
Ratu Kadavulevu School and QVS then shared the same compound with the main school block being QVS and the lower blocks with the dorms being RKS.
In 1948, the colonial powers secured Matavatucou, then owned by Sir Henry Scott, for the permanent location of QVS to be constructed at the cost of 100,000 pounds. The site was secured by Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna.
The foundation was laid in full Fijian ceremony and pomp in 1950 and attended by the GCC representatives and students from Adi Cakobau School.
Matavatucou 1953-2007
QVS in its present location opened its doors in 1953 under CJ Smith with some iTaukei teachers.
Some of the schools first students became parliamentarians led by the legendary statesman former president and PM of Fiji the late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara and included names like Ratu Joji Kadavulevu Cakobau, Ratu Etuate Cakobau and Ratu Penaia Ganilau.
Former prime ministers after Ratu Sir Kamisese include Dr Timoci Bavadra, Sitiveni Rabuka and Laisenia Qarase.
Apart from producing some of the nation’s finest civil servants they also had the first local army commanders in Colonel Paul Manueli, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau and Major General Sitiveni Rabuka. The current commander of the RFMF, Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto, is also a former student of QVS.
In sports, the school has produced rugby legends such as the late Ratu Sir George Cakobau, Ratu Nacanieli Uluiviti, Joeli Naucabalavu, Tevita Rabuli , Vilikesa Mocelutu, Inoke Tabualevu, Sitiveni Rabuka, Joape Kunikoro, Mosese Taga (Fiji skipper), Naibuka Vuli (Fiji skipper), Paula Bale (first Fijian to wear New Zealand All Black sevens jersey and first to wear the Canterbury colours) Bill Cavubati (Wellington and Fiji), the late Viliame Rauluni, rugby sevens legend, Adriu Delai (Fiji), Ro Alivereti Doviverata (Fiji skipper) Joeli Vidiri NZ All Black, Fiji and Nadi rugby rep, Waisale Vatuvoka (Fiji) Waisea Luveniyali, Kini Murimurivalu (Fiji) Henry Speight ACT Brumbies and Wallabies, Patrick Osborne Highlanders.
* Robert Matau is a former student of the school.
