History

In 1919, in the aftermath of WW1, benefactors and elders within the Presbyterian Church in South Australia came together to fund a new school that would be a memorial to the “Sons of Scotland” who lost their lives in the great war. The school motto of Knowledge, Humanity and Religion made for a solid foundation for the school that would become Scotch College. It was incorporated under an Act of Parliament in 1922.

When Scotch moved to Torrens Park in 1919, the daunting task of turning an elegant but run-down Victorian mansion into a first-class boys’ college was a challenge met by Norman Gratton, founding Scotch College Headmaster. Under his energetic leadership classrooms and dormitories were created, army huts were converted to classrooms or workshops, the coach-house became a science block and the stables a gymnasium.

Since its establishment, Scotch has been at the forefront of educational innovation, building fierce loyalty and a strong community between students, parents and teachers, both during and beyond their school years.

In 1923 Scotch became the first school in South Australia to have a fully operational farm on campus, established in recognition of the needs of the boarders who were from the country and needed skills as well as academics with which to return home. It was the first agricultural school in South Australia.

Scotch’s fully functioning agricultural farm is complete with cattle, alpacas, chickens and sheep. An established vineyard, orchard, stable and shearing shed complement the livestock enterprises. It is here students can learn animal husbandry as well as participating in oenology, horticultural, agricultural and aquaculture activities.

Goose Island is a unique place for Year 10 students, with each class spending five days on the island. The expedition is a highly anticipated experience, unique to Scotch. The Goose Island Conservation Park lies to the north of Wardang Island in Spencer Gulf, 13 kilometres from Port Victoria.

The College’s Outdoor Education and Nature Conservation programs were strengthened by the acquisition of the lease to Goose Island in 1966. The first hut was built on the Island in January 1967 and since then has been regularly visited by staff, students and parents. The College leases the island from the Department of Heritage and Environment and are cooperatively responsible for its management. This includes controlling feral animals and the eradication of introduced plant species, in particular boxthorn.

In 1972 the College became co-educational, a decision that launched a new era in educational practices, helping to foster gender equality and inclusivity to meet the rapidly changing needs and demands of society. The Middle School was launched just a year later in 1973.

In 1993 Apple Macintosh laptop computers were introduced for every student in Year 7. By 1999 all Middle and Senior School students had laptops, connected to the College’s own wireless network.

In 1995, the Scotch College Preschool was opened on the Mitcham Campus, educating children from the age of three, which would later become the Scotch College Early Learning Centre. The ELC teaches children to respect each other and to value their interactions with others through play and discovery.

In 2014, the Scotch ELC was one of the first ELCs to be awarded ACECQA’s coveted national Excellent rating for its outstanding practice and commitment to delivering quality outcomes for children and families.

In 2004, the College acquired a portion of land on Kangaroo Island, named Kyre Campus after the original forefathers of the College.

Kyre provides students with an opportunity to understand environmental sustainability and management and utilises and collaborates with experts to enhance learning at the wilderness campus.

For 100 years, Scotch College Adelaide has hosted boarders from regional and rural Australia.

Boarding has always been an important part of the College, and our offering was greatly enhanced by the opening of the Rosevear Boarding Precinct in 2011, one of the first co-educational independent school boarding facilities in the country.

At Rosevear, we provide a safe and supportive living environment underpinned by respect. Guided by this overarching ethos, Scotch College has been a home away from home for hundreds of boarders across multiple generations and one of the world’s best boarding experiences.

The College of 2019 is vastly different to its humble Kyre College beginnings of 1919, but like those before them, Scotch’s leaders continue to look forward and outward, striving to educate and challenge students in preparation for the new world in which they will live and work.

Celebratory events in 2019 included the unveiling of two commissioned sculptures, the Scotch 100 Festival, the Centenary Gala Dinner, a Business Leaders Breakfast and a Student Educational Forum.

In 2020, the College commenced construction on the Wellbeing & Sports Centre, a $27 million addition to its Torrens Park Campus that will be the largest building project in the College’s 100-year history.

Purruna, Spencer Newton Centre will provide infrastructure to deliver the College’s Live Well program, a key component of its whole-of-school curriculum and a major contributor to both high-achieving academic results and personal and professional success in later life.

The centre’s name is a tribute to both the traditional owners of the land on which we meet and gather, and two icons in the history of Scotch College (Raymond Spencer and Dr John Newton), who have both been instrumental in the most significant building project in the College’s history.