Our Story

Providing holistic education for more than 80 years

Humble Beginning

Darling Downs Adventist College was established in March, 1942, with a grand total of 17 students – 16 boys and just one girl! Originally, known as the Toowoomba Adventist Primary School, the school was given a blue-print for holistic education by its founders - the South Queensland Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

In 1942, the world was in the midst of a terrible war. Two slit trenches dug at the back of the school were to be used in the event of an air raid and regular drills were carried out. The school’s first teacher and principal, Miss Niebuhr, was renowned for never using the cane. Detention was a much stronger deterrent in those days as they would also lose the pocket money they made from selling newspapers to American soldiers after school.

Moving Forward

Classes continued at the Perth Street campus for the next 14 years. However, in July 1956, the school moved to 135 Hume Street, opposite Queen’s Park, a very central location in Toowoomba. Student numbers steadily increased and in September, 1959, the first Parents and Friends Society was formed to raise funds for the school. In May 1966, two new brick classrooms were completed beside the existing timber classroom. The school’s first Tuckshop also began. On the menu were six different sandwiches, all 20 cents each and two cordials (orange and blackcurrant) at 10 cents a cup.

Time For Change

In 1982, the school moved again, this time to Charnley Street in western Toowoomba. It had taken 41 years of planning and faith, but the school now boasted an impressive campus with 2 classrooms, cooking and instruction areas, a library and eventually a tennis court, adventure playground and playing fields. Hats were added to the uniform for the first time in 1985.

A Rural Outlook

Toowoomba Adventist Primary School began to outgrow their Charnley Street campus and the goal of one day growing to a high school was established. School leaders also saw the need for a more rural campus to help further fulfil the school’s ethos of encouraging holistic education – a place where students could experience nature and learn essential life skills. In January 2001, the school moved to its current location on McDougall Street and the name Darling Downs Christian School was used for the first time. At that time, the campus was surrounded by fields and some questioned why they would build a school so far from anywhere. Twelve months later, the first Year 8 class began and the long-awaited dream of providing students with a Prep to Year 12 education was fulfilled. The school has continued to expand its facilities at the new campus, with spacious classrooms, beautiful agricultural gardens and a barn, specialised classrooms and an impressive Learning Resource Centre.

Global Adventist Education Brand

In 2022 the school began a period of steady growth and the junior secondary year levels were split into double streams. This enabled more subject offerings and more support avenues for students. Coinciding with this growth, the governing Board of Directors requested that the school align to the global brand for Adventist Education. At the start of 2024, the school proudly opened its doors rebranded as Darling Downs Adventist College.

Looking back over our school history, we are mindful of the hard work and sacrifice of many dedicated teachers and staff that have enabled us to be the college we are today. We are thankful for the strong support and commitment of parents and volunteers who have created the beautiful campus and nurturing community we now enjoy.