New Riverlea school to open in 2027
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Work on a state-of-the-art, multi-million dollar Catholic school in Adelaide’s north is expected to begin later this year, with students enrolled from January 2027.
The new campus for Xavier College is a partnership between Catholic Education South Australia (CESA), the City of Playford and national developer Walker Corporation, and will be the first school built in the rapidly growing Riverlea neighbourhood, just south of Port Gawler. It will also anchor a district-level community sports facility.
The $60 million Stage 1 build of Xavier College Riverlea Park will feature a three-storey building with centralised communal spaces flowing through to dedicated science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) facilities, multimedia studios and a food technology centre.
CESA executive director Neil McGoran said the new school will be the fourth campus of Xavier College and 120th Catholic campus in South Australia.
“Xavier College Riverlea Park is part of our commitment to expanding Catholic Education pathways and building an even stronger focus on student learning and quality teaching,” Dr McGoran said.
“Our partnership provides shared access to district-level recreational and sports facilities that will benefit the whole community.
“With 40,000 people calling Riverlea home in the future, we are honoured to be delivering the first school in this founding community.”
The school will initially cater for students from Reception to Year 6, progressively growing to provide a full academic pathway through to Year 12. An Out of School Hours Care space is incorporated into the Stage 1 build while a co-located Early Learning Centre will provide care for children from six weeks of age to five years old.
Features across the 15 hectare site will include:
- A Sacred Space used for school and community gatherings to foster meaningful faith-inspired connections;
- 300 square metres of landscaping which pays respect to First Nations people with the inclusion of a cultural trail, yarning circles and nature play;
- Extensive school hour access to the neighbouring district level sporting facilities;
- A rooftop garden fully integrated into the campus’ Food Technology Program;
- Green energy efficient building design.
Under a shared use agreement, Xavier College students and the wider community will share access to a district-level sportsground, including soccer pitches, multi-sport oval and other recreational amenities and in time, a gymnasium.
The education and sport facilities will be co-delivered by CESA and Walker Corporation with the district sportsgrounds to be managed by the City of Playford.
City of Playford mayor Glenn Docherty, said the project was a good example of what can be achieved through strong partnerships.
“By working together with Walker and CESA, council is delivering real outcomes for families in the north,” he said.
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