Prince Alfred College - History

History

Prince Alfred College was named after Alfred, one of the four sons of Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert. Being named after a member of the Royal Family of the Commonwealth Realms, the school has attracted royal visitors since its foundation, including Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.

The founders of PAC were determined that the religious traditions of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, should be indoctrinated in the school. Young Methodist men of the colony and PAC were encouraged to live disciplined, hard working and predominantly Christian lives, even though they were mocked facing society’s temptations.

By the year of PAC's foundation in 1869, the population of Adelaide was estimated to be the second highest in the continent. No South Australian country town, however, had a population greater than 10,000. At the same time, nearly all the land in the city of Adelaide, laid out by Colonel Light, had been occupied. Across the parklands that surrounded the city were well established residential suburbs such as Kent Town and Norwood to the east and industrial precincts such as Hindmarsh and Thebarton to the west. The suburb of Kent Town, along with the city itself, formed a consolidated urban area in which the school was located.

In September 2005 it was revealed that the College held 70,000 shares in Coopers Brewery, received in a bequest. At the time, Coopers were the subject of an unsolicited takeover bid by Japanese-controlled brewer Lion Nathan, and the shares were valued at between $18 million and $22 million. At the same time, the College was involved in a $15 million redevelopment project and was appealing to parents and former students for $3.5 million to enable building to begin. Although Coopers made a "counter offer" of a share buy-back (with attractive tax benefits) to those shareholders who may be wishing to sell, the college chose not to sell any of its holding.