Otago Girls' High School has established a permanent house system aimed at building on the school's camaraderie and competitive spirit.

Principal Linda Miller said other than for a few months in 1979, this was the first time the school had introduced a house system.

The school is 143 years old.

After consultation with pupils, staff and alumni, it was decided the houses would be named after ex-pupils - Allan (orange), Benjamin (blue), Cruickshank (red) and Williams (green).

Allan House is named after Flora Allan, dux of Otago Girls' High School in 1879 and principal of the school from 1912-21.

She attended the school from 1876 to 1879.

Benjamin House is named after Ethel Benjamin, New Zealand's first woman law graduate (1897) and the first woman in the British Empire to appear as counsel in court.

She started at Otago Girls' in 1883 when she was 8 years old and was a pupil at the school until 1892.

Cruickshank House was named after Dr Margaret Cruickshank, New Zealand's first woman to be registered as a doctor.

She was a pupil at the school from 1888 to 1891 and dux in her final year.

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OGHS introduces house system