Daniell's interest in technical education was spurred by the illiteracy rates he saw among building workers, and by his steadfast faith in Methodism when led him to see universal education as important in lifting community standards.
His fellow trustees agreed about the need and the trust set up a small school in rooms formed in the front of the Drill Hall in Lincoln Rd, the courses generally being part-time, and in vocational subjects.
By late 1899, there were from 200 to 300 students and it was clear more suitable premises were needed.
In May 1907, Daniell's fellow Methodist and Masterton's mayor Jim Coradine proposed the town build a "Seddon Memorial Technical School" to suitably commemorate the late Premier and to also house an expanded base for the vocational students.
Local fundraising raised 1200, and the Department of Education matched the amount, and also gave a special grant of 1000.
The resultant buildings were a far cry from the old Drill Hall. The main building was built of brick and richly ornamented in the Italianate style then in vogue.
It contained four classrooms augmented with detached workshops for plumbing, carpentry and building.
The new building was opened by the Minister of Education, George Fowlds, in an impressive ceremony on December 10, 1908. Among the official guests were the late Premier's son and daughter, although his widow was unable to attend due to illness.
In his speech, Mr Fowlds stressed how appropriate it was that the new building, purpose-built to house the Technical School, should be a memorial to Seddon as the late Premier had a special interest in the technical branch of education.
He went on to say it was part of government policy that technical education should be stressed and the new building was just one of several they were constructing throughout New Zealand, bringing the number of such schools to about 40.
Wairarapa MP Alexander Hogg also spoke, stressing the importance of technical education, saying he thought the country should be able to make the most of the natural advantages it had to lead the world in production, in a similar way to the part it played in social reforms.
A generation of Masterton people received their vocational education in the Seddon building and its associated facilities, although it was not a full technical high school until 1934.
By that time the Wairarapa High School had been established in Pownall St, offering a more academic curriculum.
In 1938, the inevitable marrying of the two high schools occurred - the Technical School shifted to the High School campus and Wairarapa College was born.
The trust assumed ownership of the Seddon building, briefly letting it to the Operatic Society for a rehearsal space, but it was converted to office space and in 1939 was leased to the newly formed Social Security Department.
Unfortunately there was to be little security for the new tenants as the earthquakes of June 1942 caused a lot of damage to the upper portions of the building.
The upper storey walls were demolished and most of the first floor removed. The ground floor was given extensive repairs and made ready for use.
The town had lost much of its office space to earthquake damage, and repairs were slow in wartime conditions.
In 1944, the National Service Department, responsible for administering compulsory military service and also in charge of organising home defence manpower, took over the building.
Later, Inland Revenue rented the building and Social Welfare spent time in there too, as did the Valuation Department.
A building at the rear was used by St John for many years.
In the mid-1960s, a club formed by slot car enthusiasts took over one of the rooms, building an extensive track and running long distance races. Later in the decade, the building was used as a youth facility, with the trust allowing the Kerbside Youth Club to operate, arranging dances and debates, even briefly serving as a movie set for a film shot by the Wairarapa Junior Arts Foundation.
In the 1980s, two long-term community-based tenants were found. The Hiona Club, a combined social, cultural and sporting organisation for Maori took over the ground floor, while the Wairarapa Playcentre Association took over the upstairs room.
The old Seddon building is undergoing major alterations after it was found not to be compliant with new earthquake regulations. Masterton Lands Trust has spent a lot of money and time strengthening and redesigning much of the building, while retaining many of the distinctive architectural features, such as the decorative staircase, timber floors and decorative pressed metal ceilings. Its conversion into a Lone Star restaurant will mean the building will once more serve as a valuable community facility.
