Purruna

SPENCER NEWTON CENTRE

Scotch College has a fine tradition of innovation. We question norms. We do not apply tired solutions to new problems.

As a result of a community consultation regarding existing infrastructure, it became obvious that new sports facilities were vital for Scotch’s future. The College Council and Leadership Team decided that any building project to address this need was to be more than just a pool and a gym.

We challenged ourselves not just to replace old for new, but to dare to replace the old with the bold.

The most enlightened organisations in the world have discovered that the wellbeing of their people is not only good in itself, but makes a profound difference to the satisfaction, performance and achievements of their employees.

Scotch has been at the forefront of wellbeing research and implementation in South Australia for 15 years. During that time, the College has seen exponential growth in its enrolments and increasing achievement in academic results.

Scotch also boasts a record of achievements beyond the classroom which have enhanced the lives of young people and earned them skills, not just in Sport and Performing Arts, but also in Oratory, Service Learning, Global Awareness, Entrepreneurship and Social Responsibility.

Purruna Memberships

Feel well and energised with our range of classes in our new state of the art wellness studio with beautiful views overlooking the city of Adelaide. Our classes are designed to connect you with your body, whether you are looking for something to get the heart pumping or something more peaceful and calm.

Learn more and sign up at purruna.ymca.org.au

Linking Facilities and Education Programs

Purruna Spencer Newton Centre symbolises and enhances what makes Scotch College one of the most effective and high achieving schools in Australia. Its facilities include two new indoor courts, fitness suites and a swimming centre, plus classroom spaces, consultation rooms and breakout areas which enhance our wellbeing offer for all year groups.

To support the College’s overall investment and take the facility from good to great, the college raised nearly $10 million through philanthropy via the DARE Campaign. The remainder was funded through borrowing, to be repaid through the College’s modest surplus earnings over a 10-year period.

Of critical importance to us, but somewhat unusually for most schools, this infrastructure development goes hand in hand with a brand-new educational program. It is not simply a new building or set of facilities.

Wellbeing & Sustainability in Action

The Live Well Program comprises six elements. Sustainability and responsible use of world resources, as well as nutrition and healthy eating are the first two. It has been proved that physical education, the third element, and good diet support the fourth element in our Live Well Program, mental health and wellbeing. Our intentions however are not simply to look after ourselves. Service Learning and Global Awareness are the fifth and sixth elements that the students learn about from Year 5 through to Year 8 and continue to practise during the senior part of their Scotch College journey.

Scotch is preparing its students for fulfilled lives as professionals, citizens and parents for the 50 years beyond school – lives well-lived that will transform the lives of others and fully utilise the educational experience that they have enjoyed at this remarkable school.

Learning in Partnership

Wellbeing and community engagement are core elements that have influenced Purruna from concept to reality, allowing Scotch to create a dynamic ecosystem where education, wellbeing, and community thrive in harmony. Our community is both inside and outside of Scotch, bringing together our students and parents both past and present, the educational sector, and local residents and visitors.

YMCA South Australia is an organisation that shares Scotch’s values and vision of enriching lives through wellbeing in action. Founded in 1850 (one of the first YMCA’s in the world), YMCA South Australia is known for managing some of the state’s best recreation facilities, pools, court stadiums, gymnastics and Out of School Hours Care centres.

The Y brings a unique and proven skillset to managing the swimming, pilates, studio and courts areas of the facility, enabling Purruna to become home to a wide range of activities that are open to the local community, accessible and available to the public and sporting groups not associated with the College.

Together, Scotch College and YMCA South Australia are crafting an educational landscape where student learning intertwines seamlessly with holistic wellbeing initiatives and vibrant community engagement.

Visit The Y at Purruna

Purruna Swim Team

Established in October 2024, the Purruna Swim Team is South Australia’s newest Swimming SA affiliated club, based at the state-of-the-art Purruna Spencer Newton Centre at Scotch College Adelaide. More than just a swim program, the Purruna Swim Team is committed to nurturing each swimmer’s growth, offering expert coaching, regular squad sessions, skill development, and opportunities to compete at state, regional, and national levels.

Inspired by the Kaurna word ‘Purruna,’ meaning mind, body, and spirit, the team encourages swimmers to realise their full potential, both in and out of the pool. In partnership with Scotch College Adelaide, the Purruna Spencer Newton Centre and YMCA, the Club welcomes young swimmers of all abilities and backgrounds, providing a supportive environment where every individual is valued and inspired to excel.

Visit Purruna Swim Team

What’s in a Name?

In the language of the Kaurna people, the name of our new Wellbeing & Sports Centre is a word that gives life. It is about living, the wellbeing of our physical self and how our mind and our hearts enable us to connect in a wise and knowledgeable way, both with each other and the land.

Purruna Spencer Newton Centre 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. The Scotch College Council of Governors is thrilled to bestow such a fitting name on a facility that will represent the spirit of Scotch as we enter our second century.