JOURNEYING WITH YOUTH
By Fr Peter Hosking SJ, Rector, Saint Ignatius’ College Adelaide
Today, Saint Ignatius’ College Adelaide celebrates its 75th birthday. It has grown from humble beginnings into a vibrant, welcoming community recognised for its excellence, generosity of spirit, commitment to faith and justice, and its dedication to forming young people of strong character. As part of a global network of more than 900 Jesuit schools and many universities educating over two million students worldwide, the College carries forward a tradition that stretches across centuries and continents.
When Saint Ignatius’ College first opened its doors in Norwood in 1951 (above), it was a small but spirited community of just 55 students and five Jesuit teachers.
Jesuit education in Australia began in Sevenhill, South Australia, where St Aloysius’ College served families from the 1850s to the 1880s. In the decades that followed, Jesuits in South Australia taught in a school on Adelaide’s Franklin Street in the 1870s and later at the parish school on Queen Street from the early 1900s — cultivating a spirit of learning and faith that would eventually inspire the foundation of Saint Ignatius’ College in Norwood.
This photo of students (two of whom have sadly passed away) was taken exactly 75 years ago, on 13 February 1951 at Norwood.
At the same time, the Jesuit educational mission was flourishing on the east coast. Jesuits took over Saint Patrick’s College, East Melbourne in 1865. Xavier College in Kew opened in 1878, followed by Saint Aloysius’ College at Milsons Point in 1879 and Saint Ignatius’ College Riverview in 1880. Together, these communities helped shape the rich and enduring tapestry of Jesuit education in Australia.
When Saint Ignatius’ College first opened its doors in Norwood in 1951, it was a small but spirited community of just 55 students and five Jesuit teachers. Even in those early days, the College became known for its strong academic standards and its care for the whole person — nurturing not only minds, but hearts and character as well.
This 1967 photo was taken on the first day at the new campus in Athelstone.
By the mid 1960s, the College was growing quickly. Girls began joining boys for selected subjects, an important early step toward becoming fully coeducational. Enrolments climbed to nearly 500 by 1967, leading to the creation of a second campus at Athelstone. With more space and new opportunities, the College continued to grow, even through times of challenge. In 1996, Saint Ignatius’ College became fully coeducational from Reception to Year 12, embracing a more inclusive and forward-looking vision for every student.
Today, the Norwood campus is home to Ignatius Early Years—around 100 children supported by 20 dedicated educators—and the Junior School, where 510 students learn and grow with the guidance of 70 staff. The Athelstone campus welcomes Years 7–12, with 990 students and a team of 150 teachers and support staff. Across these campuses, one vibrant, united community continues the Ignatian mission: forming young people of integrity, curiosity, compassion, and hope.
At Saint Ignatius’ College, our Ignatian ethos focuses on the dignity of every student, a commitment to faith and service, and a long-standing pursuit of academic excellence. We strive to form young people who are generous, balanced, imaginative, and courageous. Students are supported in their intellectual, social, emotional, physical, and spiritual growth as they discover their identity and purpose. With a love of learning at its heart, the College helps each young person leave with wisdom, confidence, and a desire to serve.
These photos taken in 1996, on the first day of coeducation, depict (left) students from the Junior School and (right) Senior School vice-captains Margaret Centenera, Edward Piazza and Philip Moller (now Fr Philip Moller SJ). Images supplied by Saint Ignatius’ College Adelaide.
Today, Jesuit and Companion Schools Australasia (JACSA) forms a vibrant community of educators and learners committed to shaping people of conscience, competence, compassion, and courage. Within this network are Xavier College in Melbourne, Saint Aloysius’ College and Saint Ignatius’ College Riverview in Sydney, along with Redfern Jarjum College — founded in 2011 to serve and support First Nations children with care and dignity.
JACSA’s mission also reaches across Australia and New Zealand through valued partnerships with John XXIII College (Perth), Loyola College (Watsonia), Saint Ignatius College (Geelong), Xavier Catholic College (Ballina), Xavier Catholic College (Hervey Bay), and St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College (Auckland). Grounded in the Ignatian tradition, these schools stand together in accompanying young people as they grow in faith, wisdom, and a generous spirit of service — ready to make a difference in the world.
Banner image of the chapel at Saint Ignatius’ College Adelaide by David McMahon