Sturt Grove Farm in 2024 expands for Adelaide's Westminster School agricultural studies started in 1972

Westminster School;s Sturt Grove Farm at its campus in Adelaide's Marion (middle right) in 2024 added a new agricultural centre (top right), backed by Thomas Foods Ininternational who also sponsored the farm's show team (at left). The farm also included its own small winery.
Images courtesy Westminster School

A new agriculture centre was part of a $5.6 million upgrade in 2014 to Westminster School’s onsite Sturt Grove Farm in suburban Adelaide, with agricultural studies part of the school’s curriculum since 1972.

The school and its foundation partnered with South Australian meat and seafood provider Thomas Foods International to develop the new centre in 2024 as part of the 4.5 hectares farm’s upgrade to include multidisciplinary classrooms, equipped wet labs, food tech areas, an extra paddock, shearing shed and a community shop selling produce from the farm.

The Sturt Grove Farm opened in s 1972 under head of agriculture Ian Young who worked to make it a dynamic hub for developing agricultural careers. When Young retired in 2000, the school was on its way to hosting agricultural programmes for students from early learning to Year 12 in subjects such as stock handling, horticulture and aquaculture. The farm also created its own small winery for its viticulture programme.

The farm's livestock paddocks and enclosures were home to sheep, steers, dairy cattle, goats, pigs and chickens at various times during the year. The school’s agricultural show team, sponsored by Thomas Foods International, continued to be a major drawcard among students.

The school aimed for Sturt Grove Farm to teach students the importance of efficient, sustainable agriculture, weaving in biodynamic and organic practices. It wanted to build an understanding of how technology, science and design supported the agriculture industry to ultimately foster a sense of connection to the natural world.

Westminster School principal Simon Shepherd said in 2024 that the new centre would “build on the strengths of our agriculture program. Our students will not only be learning from some of the best agricultural practitioners and experts in Australia but will be doing so with access to one of the best school facilities of this type in the country.”  

Thomas Foods International general manager Tom Davies said the new centre built on the company’s “long association” with Westminster:.“Australia’s food industry is growing on the global stage and the next generation are coming in at a very exciting time,.”