Warriappendi School to make fresh start near the Torrens
A renowned school for Aboriginal students will move to bigger and better premises at Thebarton as part of a State Government relocation plan linked to the River Torrens to Darlington Project.
From the start of the 2025 school year, Warriappendi School will shift from its current location at Marleston to the refurbished former TechinSA building in Thebarton, making way for construction of the T2D motorway.
The school, established in 1980 and attended by about 80 Aboriginal students from across Greater Adelaide, supports the move. It has outgrown its current John Street campus with the rejuvenation of an underused precinct east of South Road, next to the River Torrens / Karrawirra Parri, the new location.
The school’s new site next to the river is a culturally significant place for Kaurna people, who are the traditional custodians.
The new design has carefully considered cultural requirements through close consultation with the school community, with appropriate cultural design, stakeholder engagement and Aboriginal employment outcomes a focus for the project team.
The new school will be housed in the existing building on the former TechinSA site, which will be updated to a contemporary, purpose-designed school that will accommodate 150 students. It will include spaces for general and cultural learning, STEM, art, drama and music, wellbeing, a library, kitchen and a new 900 square-metre gymnasium.
Landscaping will feature yarning spaces, an outdoor half court, open space with AFL goals, and a playground and walking trail that links to produce gardens and artwork.
The precinct, situated between the south bank of the River Torrens and West Thebarton Road, also has potential for further development to include a shared-use riverside path, pedestrian bridge across the river and planting of native trees.
The school will become an immediate neighbour of Torrensville Bowling Club, which has previously announced will relocate to a nearbysite on Ann Nelson Drive.
A select tender has been released for design and construction works on both the school and bowls club, with a contract expected to be awarded in late 2023.
The completed T2D Project will complete the 78km North-South Corridor and provide a non-stop motorway between Gawler and Old Noarlunga, allowing motorists to bypass 21 sets of traffic lights on the journey between the River Torrens and Darlington.