Celebrating 25 Years

2001-2025

In 2025, Encounter Lutheran College celebrates 25 years since the commencement of our College here in Victor Harbor. Across this year, we look forward to celebrating with joy this special milestone with you, with a number of special key events. Stay tuned for further details, or check this page across the year for further details.

A Brief History of Encounter Lutheran College

In December 1998 plans were well and truly underway for a Lutheran School in Victor Harbor with plans to go out to the public disclosing the 2.54ha (6 acres) development which would be staged over five years with the first stage completed for the beginning of the school year in 2001. This stage would cater for students from Reception to Year 7 and provide four classrooms, an administration centre, technical resource building, an oval, a two-court hard play area, amenities and car parking for 22 vehicles.

Chairman of the Feasibility Study Committee, Mr John Haynes, was quoted as saying that “the school aims to provide a Christ-centred education, which supports the home, congregation and community. Students will be encouraged to develop knowledge, attitudes, skills and behaviours that will equip them as effective citizens of society. it is planned that the school curriculum will include key learning areas, with due emphasis on pastoral care and a Christian living program”.

On Monday 13th March 2000 the City of Victor Harbor approved the building of the primary school campus with the Minister for Education, Children’s Services and Training announcing in June 2000, the approval of Encounter Lutheran School, Victor Harbor, to commence in January 2001.

On Sunday 23rd July 2000 a “turning of the soil” ceremony was held officiated by Pastor Michael Parker which was attended by many dignitaries including the Director of Lutheran Schools Association SA/ NT/ WA, Mr Barry Kahl, Architect Adrian Cavanagh, Builder Ray Mins, School Council Chairman Mr John Haynes and the newly appointed Principal, Mr Neil Borgas.

On January 15th 2001 the first-ever Encounter Lutheran Information Night was held with the doors opening on 5th February 2001 at the beginning of Term 1 with 70 students and 9 staff – Mr Neil Borgas (Principal), teaching staff including Kelvin Grivell, Sue Ellis, Sandra Thiele, Raeleen Wandel, Robyn Didelot, Trish Walker, and administration staff of Bev Baum and Natalie Ordynski.

The school steadily began to grow as it introduced Early Encounters (Early Learning Centre) in 2008, continued on to secondary education in 2012 and was renamed Encounter Lutheran College. In 2016 our first cohort of 18 Year 12s successfully graduated, many of whom have now completed apprenticeships, university degrees and other tertiary pathways.

On 18th November 2019, Encounter Lutheran College purchased an additional 69 acres of land bordering Adelaide Road and Waterport Road. Initially referred to as “Encounter’s Backyard”, then named ‘Block 69’; today it is known as ‘Wurar Ruwi’ meaning, “land of the red gums”.

In 2020 we celebrated our 20th year and are proud to be an ELC – Year 12 College of over 630 students, over 80 staff and having just completed our 9th stage of Capital Building Projects. Stage 11 was constructed in 2022 catering for a third stream of Year 7 students who commenced at the College.

2024 saw the final stages of the College’s masterplan come to fruition with the Wilderness Centre opened on Wurar Ruwi (Stage 11) and a new purpose-built Early Learning Centre (Stage 12) known as Lighthouse Early Learning.

In 2025 we celebrate our 25th year and are proud to be an Early Learning to Year 12 College of over 800 students. We look forward to our bright future where we continue to positively impact and nurture our students in an environment that looks like school, feels like home.