Bid to reopen rundown SA school that closed a decade ago

845 Hunt Rd, Loveday.

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A former Riverland school forced to shut more than a decade ago could once again buzz with the sounds of children as two church groups vie to re-open the site.

The Catholic Church and a “minority’’ religious group were among those interested in purchasing the former Loveday Primary School, with both intending to re-establish it as a local education facility, confirmed selling agent Natasha Brooks, of Property Stop Realestate.

Ms Brooks said the Loveday community would be ecstatic to see the school reopened, with local children forced to travel to nearby Barmera since Loveday Primary closed at the end of 2013.

845 Hunt Rd, Loveday.

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845 Hunt Rd, Loveday.

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845 Hunt Rd, Loveday.

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845 Hunt Rd, Loveday.

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“That (re-establishing a school on the site) would be the best outcome,’’ Ms Brooks said.

“There’s quite a bit of a community there (at Loveday) now, a lot of them are families and the young kids have to travel into (school at) Barmera.

“It would be good to see the town (of Loveday) come to life again (by reopening the school).’’

As well as re-establishing a primary school, Ms Brooks said one of the groups also “might potentially put some churches’’ on the site.

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Just nine students were at Loveday Primary when its governing council voted to close the government-run school at the end of 2013, with only four children expected to remain enrolled had the school continued the following year.

The 1.47ha site, which includes four main buildings, shedding and a toilet block, was sold by Renewal SA for an undisclosed sum in 2015, with the new owner making some attempts to convert the school into his forever home.

845 Hunt Rd, Loveday.

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845 Hunt Rd, Loveday.

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845 Hunt Rd, Loveday.

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845 Hunt Rd, Loveday.

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But Ms Brooks said development delays, along with ill-health, had thwarted the man’s plans and he now wished to off-load the property in an expressions of interest campaign, with offers expected to be in the $500,000 price range.

Ms Brooks said the property “obviously needed a little bit of work’’ but was not subject to any heritage listing and all rubbish and other items currently on the site, including several car bodies, would be removed by the vendor prior to the sale.

The buildings could be reverted to classrooms, if required, although the school’s playground equipment had been removed by the current owner, she said.

Ms Brooks described the property as a “unique buy’’.

“Everyone’s had a little bit of a different view of what they want to do with it but there has been a lot of interest,’’ she said.

Catholic Education South Australia denied any interest in purchasing the property.

Latest Census data, from 2021, shows Loveday, which is known for having Australia’s largest internment camp during World War I, has a population of 655.

– by Lauren Ahwan