Westminster School was born out of a perceived need by the Methodist Church in South Australia for a day and boarding school in Adelaide to accommodate demand additional to that satisfied by the long-established Methodist-based school
Prince Alfred College. Planning for Westminster began with a meeting on 7 June 1957, although at that stage it was not known where or when the school would be built, or indeed what it would be named. With growing momentum, it was resolved in December of that year to purchase 10.1 hectares (twenty-five acres) of vineyards from the
South Australian Housing Trust at
Marion. At the inaugural fundraising dinner on 9 June 1959, 160 men volunteered to solicit 3000 prospective contributors to achieve a target of $200,000 for the first building phase. The amount ultimately raised by those who have been affectionately called "the Men of Westminster" was $320,000. The school commenced on 7 February 1961. At the first assembly, broadcast on radio station
5KA, the Headmaster's opening address began with the words, "Let the life of the school begin". The foundation Headmaster, Douglas Forder, presided over an initial enrolment of 143 students with a staff of seven. The initial buildings comprised a single classroom block (known as "200" Block), the Headmaster's residence and a changeroom block. Throughout the 1960s the campus expanded from its modest beginnings with the addition of the Boarding House (1962), Preparatory School (1963), Administration Block (known as "100" block) (1965), Carter Laboratories (1965), Chapel (1967), Gymnasium / Hall (1967) and in 1974 the Fricker Library was opened. Boarders were originally housed at Shaftesbury House at 97 South Tce Adelaide, before on-campus dormitory style accommodation (known as "Heaslip House") was opened in 1962. The boarding facility also included a dining room and common room. In 1964 a further dormitory wing was added, which became known as "Woollacott House". The move to become coeducational in 1978 arguably provided a catalyst in transforming Westminster from an institution that had been formed in the shadow of Prince Alfred College, to the significant entity which it now is in its own right. In the 1990s, following the introduction of female boarders, the school acquired existing home units in Adeline Court, adjoining the school property, and progressively purchased additional units and land as boarding numbers grew. == Campus ==