Our Story
College History
The story of Xavier College began with a long-held dream of parishioners from Gawler and neighbouring parishes to have a regional Catholic secondary school.
The vision began to take shape in 1990 when Catholic Education South Australia approved establishment of the College in 1992. In late 1994, Fr Dennis Handley, a priest of the Salesians of Don Bosco, was appointed the inaugural Principal. His mission was to have Xavier College ready to commence for the beginning of the 1995 school year.
Fr Handley brought with him contemporary educational experience and the rich Salesian Tradition. He also carried with him the single-minded determination to turn ideas into buildings, classrooms, courtyards, playgrounds and ovals. With 83 Year 8 students, the College commenced at Gawler Belt in February 1995. There were five relocatable classrooms, science laboratory, temporary information centre and the first stage of an administration building. The expansion since that time has been remarkable.
The College entered a new phase in 2019 with the decision to establish a new campus at Two Wells. Two Wells Campus officially opened in February 2021 with 187 students across Reception to Year 7. The Two Wells Campus continues to grow and will accommodate Reception to Year 12 by 2027.
At the beginning of 2023 the former St Brigid’s Catholic School Evanston was welcomed into the College community as our third campus, now known as Evanston Campus. Educating students from Reception to Year 6, the inclusion of Evanston Campus enables Xavier College to offer a clear R–12 pathway for students’ whole journey through Catholic education.
COLLEGE PATRON
Saint John Bosco
The College patron is Saint John Bosco (1815-1888), founder of the Salesian Order.
St John Bosco is more affectionately known by students as Don Bosco, ‘don’ being the Italian word for father. He gave his life to working with the neglected and exploited youth of Turin during a time of religious, political and social unrest in 19th Century Italy.
St John Bosco’s innovative educational approach, which focuses on positive engagement with young people, became known as the “Preventive System.” In contrast to the strictly authoritarian and repressive methods of the times, he employed, “reason, religion and loving kindness.” This provided an education that enabled his youngsters to flourish and become, “Good Christians and honest citizens.” In this way St John Bosco lived the gentleness and loving-kindness of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd.
Today there are over 14,000 Salesian priests and brothers, as well as almost 12,000 Salesians sisters working in more than 133 countries. Across every continent there are also tens of thousands of lay people helping to continue Don Bosco’s mission to the young.
Image: Don Bosco at His Window, David Pastor Corbi, Spain, 2020.
Reproduced by the kind permission of the artist.