St Dominic's Priory College vs Wilderness School
St Dominic's Priory College (North Adelaide) is a catholic school and Wilderness School (Medindie) is a independent school. Both are a girls’ school. Both teach R-12. Only Wilderness School takes boarders. St Dominic's Priory College has 658 students and Wilderness School has 856 (ACARA 2025). They are about 2.4 km apart in a straight line.
Photos: St Dominic's Priory College: Jesse Smythe (site owner) · Wilderness School: Photo: Michael Coghlan, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr
See both schools’ full fees, ATAR results and cost to Year 12
Every year level’s fees from each school’s own schedule, the results each school publishes, and the total cost to Year 12, side by side.
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Key numbers
Students, ICSEA, students per teacher and girls/boys: ACARA My School 2025 (students per teacher is total enrolments divided by full-time-equivalent teaching staff; it isn’t class size).
Fees and results
Side by side
| Fact | St Dominic's Priory College | Wilderness School |
|---|---|---|
| Suburb | North Adelaide | Medindie |
| Region | Adelaide - Central and Hills | Adelaide - Central and Hills |
| Sector | Catholic | Independent |
| Students | Girls | Girls |
| Year levels | R-12 | R-12 |
| Religion | Catholic (Dominican) | Non-denominational |
| Boarding | No | Yes |
| Senior years | SACE | SACE (IB not found) |
| Facilities and sport (school site) | Gym, Library, Science / STEM labs, Soccer, Netball, Basketball, Swimming, Athletics, Tennis, Hockey, Volleyball, Badminton, Water polo | Gym, Theatre / performing arts centre, Music centre, Boarding, Early learning centre, Library, Science / STEM labs, Australian rules football, Soccer, Netball, Basketball, Rowing, Swimming, Athletics, Tennis, Hockey, Volleyball, Badminton, Water polo |
| Distance apart | About 2.4 km in a straight line | |
Facts from ACARA (2025) and each school’s own website.
Which suits whom
- Families needing boarding: only Wilderness School takes boarders.
- Families choosing by faith: St Dominic's Priory College is Catholic (Dominican); Wilderness School is Non-denominational.
- Size: Wilderness School is the larger school, with 198 more students.
- Listed by Wilderness School but not St Dominic's Priory College: Theatre / performing arts centre, Music centre, Boarding, Early learning centre, Australian rules football and Rowing.
History
St Dominic's Priory College
In August 1883, Mother Rose Columba Adams and a group of Dominican Sisters arrived in North Adelaide from Stone in Staffordshire, England, invited to take on nursing work. After a difficult start they opened St Dominic’s Priory College in Molesworth Street in February 1884.
Source: stdominics.sa.edu.au
Wilderness School
Wilderness began in 1884, when Margaret Hamilton Brown started a small school in her parents’ home, with her youngest sister Mamie among the first five pupils. A kindergarten based on Friedrich Froebel’s ideas followed, and in 1893 Margaret bought a building on Northcote Terrace for a school she later named “The Wilderness”.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Questions parents ask
What is the difference between St Dominic's Priory College and Wilderness School?
Both are a girls’ school. Both teach R-12. Only Wilderness School takes boarders.
Is St Dominic's Priory College or Wilderness School co-ed?
Both are a girls’ school.
Which is bigger, St Dominic's Priory College or Wilderness School?
Wilderness School is bigger: 856 students against 658 (ACARA 2025).
How many students per teacher do St Dominic's Priory College and Wilderness School have?
St Dominic's Priory College has 12.0 students per teacher and Wilderness School has 11.1 (ACARA My School 2025: total enrolments divided by full-time-equivalent teaching staff).
Which is older, St Dominic's Priory College or Wilderness School?
St Dominic's Priory College is older. St Dominic's Priory College was founded in 1884 and Wilderness School in 1884.
Do St Dominic's Priory College and Wilderness School take boarders?
Only Wilderness School takes boarders.
How far apart are St Dominic's Priory College and Wilderness School?
About 2.4 km in a straight line: St Dominic's Priory College is in North Adelaide and Wilderness School is in Medindie.
How do St Dominic's Priory College and Wilderness School fees compare?
Each school publishes its own fee schedule. Members see both schedules year by year, the results each school reports and the total cost to Year 12. Always confirm current fees with the school.
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School profiles
Get the full picture: fees, ATAR results and cost to Year 12
Every year level’s fees from each school’s own schedule, the results each school publishes, and the total cost to Year 12, side by side.
Compare these schools in full →A$9.99 a year, cancel anytimeSecure payment by Stripe
Source and date
Enrolment, ICSEA, students per teacher and girls/boys: ACARA My School 2025. Other facts: each school’s website, checked 21 October 2026. Distance is a straight line between the schools’ map points, not travel distance. Check details with the schools before deciding. Methodology