The old home of the South Australian Sports Institute bought by Catholic Archdiocese as part of long-term education strategy

The Catholic Archdiocese has acquired a 4.2ha site near the River Torrens for nearly $20m to expand its educational offerings in the west.

The 4.2ha property has plenty of open space. Photo: Naomi Jellicoe

The Catholic Archdiocese has acquired an expansive western suburbs site for nearly $20m to expand its education offerings, but mystery surrounds the future school.

The 4.2ha property at 27 Valetta Rd, Kidman Park, is home to the South Australian Sports Institute, which must vacate the site at the end of the month.

“The acquisition of the property is part of our long-term planning strategy to support and enhance Catholic education in the western suburbs,” an Archdiocese spokeswoman said.

“At this stage, there are no immediate plans for the site. We believe this foresight ensures that we can continue to meet the future needs of our community.”

The South Australian Sports Institute site in Kidman Park. Photo: Naomi Jellicoe

The site is adjacent to Fairland’s St James development, which will include 400 new homes on a 11ha parcel of land previously home to Metcash’s distribution centre.

Catholic Education SA executive director Neil McGoran they had seen a strong growth in enrolments across the state “including a high demand in the western suburbs of Adelaide”.

“We can attribute this to our commitment to providing excellence for every child whose learning and education is entrusted to our care,” Dr McGoran said.

“By responding to this demand and keeping school fees as low as possible we can ensure a Catholic education is affordable and accessible to all.”

An artist impressions of the new South Australian Sports Institute headquarters at Mile End. Picture: Supplied

Catholic Education SA last year opened a $50m Nazareth Catholic Community campus on Findon Rd, in Kidman Park, to cater for 800 year 11 and 12 students.

Nazareth principal Brian Schumacher said families and students found the middle and senior school structure highly beneficial from both a teaching, learning and wellbeing perspective.

Mr Schumacher added Nazareth’s primary school at Findon was “at capacity and has been for a significant time, with waitlists across most year levels”.

“It is important to note that across Catholic primary schools in the western suburbs there are places available and should children attend a catholic primary school, they have a prioritised pathway into Catholic secondary schools at Year 7,” he said.

“Overall, there is a high demand for Catholic education in primary and secondary schooling in the western suburbs, as a result of its accessibility for families and breadth of opportunities for young people in addition to the growth in small and large housing developments across the west.”

SASI will vacate the Kidman Park site at the end of the month and move to its new $88m headquarters at Mile End.