In the early 1970’s an upsurge of interest led to the establishment of Adelaide’s first Jewish kindergarten.

The official opening was made in February 1971, with Mrs. Miriam Millingen, assisted by Mrs. Madeline Berger, as Kindergarten Director. The kindergarten was named in memory of the late a Past President of the Board of Deputies, to whom the idea of a kindergarten had been particularly dear.

The Kindergarten opened with 4 pupils and it took only until 1977 for the full enrolment of 30 places to be filled.

In late 1974, with the kindergarten fully developed and running smoothly, plans began to take shape for the establishment of a Jewish primary school. The school opened its doors in February 1976 with 3 students. By the end of the first year the enrolment had risen to 6.  The numbers fluctuated annually as children came and went for the first years, but the growth of the school was considerably faster than the early growth of the kindergarten.

A remarkable flow on from the kindergarten has been achieved and we now have over 60 children aged from three to twelve years in kindergarten through to Year 7.

In 1990, in keeping with the ethos of being a Jewish community school, the Kindergarten and the College moved to their present new premises in Flemington Street, Glenside.

Because the College has catered to children with an above average IQ and because of its focus on individually tailored educational programmes, the College has become renowned as one of the forerunners in gifted education in South Australia.

Now in 2008, we enter a unique era of opening the doors of Massada to encourage children from non-Jewish families to attend the school and enhance its viability. We believe that Massada College and its Jewish Education has much to benefit the wider community. However and perhaps more importantly the school members are reaffirming Massada College has the academic, social and moral hub of the Jewish community in Adelaide.

Many dynamic changes have occurred in Jewish education in Australia over the years and Massada College has been in the forefront of these, and will continue to do so, towards the decades ahead.