Concordia College (South Australia)

Concordia College at Murtoa, c.1890s

The college at Highgate on opening day, 1905

Gymnasium team in front of the main building, c.1921

Concordia College was founded by W. F. Peters, a Lutheran pastor in the Victorian country township of Murtoa. Peters purchased a private school founded in 1887 by T. W. Boehm, and re-established it in 1890 as a boys' college and training ground for future pastors and teachers. Lutheran leaders in South Australia moved the college to its present Highgate site in 1905. With the involvement of Pastor P. B. Zweck, Concordia became a Christian co-educational secondary college in 1927, operating under the South Australian District Synod of the Lutheran Church of Australia. Today, the college accepts all students whose parents are prepared to support the educational program and Christian ethos.

In 2016, Concordia College amalgamated with the neighbouring St John's Lutheran School to form an ELC to Year 12 college, which was followed by a further amalgamation with St Peters Lutheran School at Blackwood in 2023. As a three-campus college, leadership restructuring between 2021 and 2023 led to the creation of a new role, "Head of College", that holds responsibility across all three campuses of the college. The Head of college is supported by three campus principals: Principal – Concordia Campus, Principal – St John's Campus and Principal – St Peters Campus.

Over the last two years, there has been significant and ongoing construction activity at both the St John's Campus and Concordia Campus, which has seen the redevelopment of many primary school facilities and the construction of 'Fortiter' - a new ELC to Year 12 gymnasium complex.

Concordia is located on three campuses across Adelaide: Concordia and St John's Campuses are situated in suburban Highgate, south of the Adelaide CBD, while St Peters Campus is located in the foothills of Adelaide in Blackwood. The Concordia Campus offers education for students in Years 7 to 12, while the St John's and St Peters Campuses both remain as Early Learning to Year 6 schools.

The Concordia Campus includes:

• Concordia College Chapel: The Chapel features a waterfall and fountain visible through a glass wall behind the altar, and a cross with a crown of thorns. The facility doubles as an assembly hall and a performance venue.
• The Suaviter: Named from the school motto, the Suaviter is one of the original school buildings, and was formerly the chapel. Retaining its stained glass windows, it has been converted into a conference and exhibition/display centre with catering facilities, where students participating in the hospitality curriculum receive training.[1]
• The Yangadlitya Resource Centre was opened on 29 May 2006 by Ningali Cullen, one of the first female indigenous Concordia College students (class of 1954). The college was given permission to use the name "Yangadlitya" (meaning "for the future") by the elders of the Kaurna people, who are the traditional custodians of the land on which Concordia stands.
• Murtoa: Named after the town Murtoa, Victoria, the original location of the school, and built in 2010, this building includes a television studio and media-editing suite as well as several multipurpose classrooms. The music centre has been expanded into the building featuring new practice rooms. Built by Sarah Constructions, it features a design similar to the Yangadlitya building, including a skybridge connecting the two.
• The Hamann Wing: The original building of Malvern College purchased by Concordia for the relocation to Adelaide. Later renamed after former headmaster Professor H.P.A. Hamann, it is a heritage listed building.[2]
• Fortiter: Named after the college motto "Fortiter in Re, Suaviter in Modo", Fortiter was opened by Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC, 36th Governor of South Australia in September 2023. As an ELC-12 gymnasium, this multipurpose facility includes two large courts, a weights room, changing rooms, various classrooms, administrative and function spaces, kitchen facilities and a large foyer area. The gymnasium can be also converted into an events venue for services, functions and other significant events at the college.
• The Tech Centre: Facilities for woodworking, metalworking, plastics and electronics.
• The Former Gymnasium: A large gym area (used for basketball, netball, volleyball, etc.) with a weights room, classroom, changing rooms, administrative facilities, and foyer.
• The Atrium (formerly Maths Centre): Senior classrooms.[3]
• The Nautilus Centre: Opened by Hieu Van Le AC, 35th Governor of South Australia in 2017, the science building includes laboratories, classrooms and associated offices. The Nautilus Centre features a swinging pendulum which was purchased by the Ajaero family.
• The Peter Schmidt Music Centre: Practice rooms, a computer room and an ensemble room. Named after former Head of Music, Peter Schmidt
• The Drama Centre: Originally the school gym, it is now a performance area with lights, sound and video facilities.
• The Concordia Cafe: An externally managed business from which students can purchase food and drink items at recess and lunch.

Co-curricular programs and activities offered include national subject competitions, career counselling and work experience, excursions, field camps and instrumental music tuition. Other extra-curricular programs include Middle School, Year 9 & Senior School choirs, the annual College musical, Big Bands, School Orchestra, Concert Band, Music Ensembles (Concert Vocal, String, Percussion), Chapel music, Chess Club, Debating, Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Pedal Prix, Snow Trip, Writers' Club, Mind and Body Club, Electronics Club and House competitions.

As with most Australian schools, Concordia College utilises a house system. There are currently four houses, three named after three of the streets surrounding the college and the fourth, Malvern after the neighbouring suburb.

Students represent their house in a number of activities, including Sports Day, Swimming Carnival and lunchtime house sports. Students earn points for their house through participation in these activities, and the house with the most points at the conclusion of the school year is awarded the House Shield.

• Ernest George Moll, Australian poet[8]
• Vern Schuppan, Motor racing driver
• Ron Nagorcka, Contemporary composer, didjeridu and keyboard player
• Errol Wayne Noack, First Australian National Service conscript to be killed in the Vietnam War[9]
• John Noack, Australian rules footballer for Sturt and Geelong
• Jay Schulz, Full Forward for Port Adelaide and Richmond
• James Aish, Midfielder for Fremantle Football Club
• Cameron Bayly, Cyclist for OCBC Singapore Cycling Team and Search2Retain Cycling Team
• Kayla Itsines, Personal trainer, entrepreneur, and author
• Connor Fearon, Cyclist for Kona Gravity / Enduro Team[10]
• Odette England, Contemporary artist and photographer
• Mason Redman, Australian rules footballer for Glenelg and Essendon
• Amy Clark, Journalist/Podcast host
• Ryan Harrison, Labor Candidate for Unley in the 2022 South Australian state election[11]
• Tom Johnson, 7NEWS Tasmania Journalist
• Oscar Zi8gzag,[12] professional Geoguessr
• Iswinder Singh, Sikh Preacher

• Agnes Marie Johanna Dorsch,[13] teacher
• Carl Friedrich Graebner,[14] headmaster 1905–1939

• List of schools in South Australia
• List of Lutheran schools in Australia

• Leske, E. 1990. Concordia 100 years, Murtoa-Adelaide: a history of Concordia College, Adelaide. Concordia College, Highgate, South Australia. ISBN 0-646-00401-8.

• Official website