Our History
A Brief History of Encounter Lutheran College
Showing the Way
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.
1998
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.
2000
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.
2000
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.
2001
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.
2001
Encounter Lutheran School was officially opened on Sunday 4th March 2001 by Hon Dean Brown MP and Dedicated by Rev Robert Voigt.
2005
Mrs Elaine Nitschke commences as Encounter Lutheran School’s second Principal.
2008
The school steadily began to grow as it introduced Early Encounters (Early Learning Centre) in 2008.
2010
Official Opening of the Kondole on 6 August 2010 by Ms Gay Thompson MP, Member for Reynell. Prior to the Kondole being built, all worship and assemblies were held at the Lutheran Church Centre.
2012
Kelvin Grivell commences as the third Principal of Encounter Lutheran School.
2012
Encounter continued on to offer secondary education, with our first cohort of Year 8 students commencing in 2012, and the school was renamed to Encounter Lutheran College.
2015
Official Opening of our College library, The Nest by Hon Mr Jamie Briggs MP on 20 February 2015.
2016
Stages 7 & 8 consisting of the Design Technology Centre, Food Technology, Art and the GPS Cafe were completed and officially opened on 21 September 2016.
2016
In 2016 our first cohort of 18 Year 12s successfully graduated, many of whom have now completed apprenticeships, university degrees and other tertiary pathways.
2019
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 gum”.
2020
Official Opening of the new Senior Centre and Administration Buildings on 25th November 2020 by Senator the Hon Anne Ruston, Minister for Families and Social Services, Senator for South Australia.
2020
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.
2022
Construction commenced on Stage 11, a new Year 7 & 8 building, catering for a third stream of Year 7 students who commenced at the College.
2024
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.
2025
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.
About our name and the logo
The name Encounter was chosen for its meaningful dual significance.
Firstly, it reflects our hope that everyone within our College community will have opportunities to encounter Jesus Christ in a real and personal way.
Secondly, Encounter connects us to our unique geographical and historical context. In April 1802, in the waters now known as Encounter Bay near Victor Harbor, the English navigator Matthew Flinders aboard Investigator met the French explorer Nicolas Baudin aboard Le Géographe. This historic meeting gave the region its name.
Our College logo symbolises these foundations: the cross represents our Christian faith; the silhouette of the Bluff at Encounter Bay anchors us to our local landscape; and the bow of a sailing boat honours the nautical origins of our region and that significant encounter between Flinders and Baudin in 1802.
Encounter Lutheran College acknowledges the Ramindjeri people of the Ngarrindjeri Country as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live, work and learn. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
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