Our History

In May 1991, well before building construction had even begun, over five hundred people gathered on a dairy farm at Yatala to celebrate the Foundation of Rivermount College. Visualising the College was a real challenge that day, as the building locations were marked only with stakes and surveyors’ tape. A happy carnival atmosphere was provided with colourful marquees while the performance of the Imbala Dance Group entertained the crowds with their dances and music from the Dreamtime. Dr Neville Bonner AO unveiled a commemorative plaque marking the founding of the College.

Nine months later in January 1992, the College welcomed it’s first cohort of one hundred students from Prep to Year 8. Mr Hank Young AM, Founding President of Rivermount College officially opened the College on the 6th June 1992.

Rivermount College was founded under the auspices of The Hank Young Foundation, a charitable educational trust. The vision of the founders was to create a Primary and Secondary School which would provide a holistic and integrated approach to education with the aim to educate and develop the whole person by integrating the intellectual, spiritual, emotional, physical and social aspects of education and training from a Biblical perspective.

In addition, the vision of the founders was to create a school, which would promote a greater awareness of Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders, their history, conditions and general welfare and education. It would promote harmonious relationships and the co-existence of aboriginal and non-aboriginal people alike as well as the elimination of cultural alienation, racism and negative social attitudes. This vision came to realisation through the dedication of the Founding Patron of the College, the late Dr Neville Bonner AO who was instrumental in encouraging the community commitment to Indigenous education.

Under the leadership of the Founding Principal, Mr Colin Young, the College community has continued to grow steadily with exciting increases in student enrolments and facilities. Today the College has over 1,000 students from Kindergarten to Year 12. The once dairy farm has undergone an unbelievable transformation to become a first class educational institution providing students with outstanding resources and facilities.

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