In 1879, John Anderson Hartley, Director of Education, established the Advanced School for Girls in Grote Street, Adelaide.

[1] Adelaide High School was officially opened on 24 September 1908 by the premier of South Australia, Thomas Price.

Due to the increasing enrolments, it was decided that a new building was required for Adelaide High School.

The current site of the school on West Terrace was originally set aside for an army barracks in 1849, but in 1859 an observatory was built instead, which then became the Bureau of Meteorology in 1939.

Mary Veta Macghey was identified as the founding headmistress of Adelaide Girls High School.

The nomination was on the basis of the building's Art Modern style and significance in Adelaide education.

[5] The original Grote Street school buildings were listed on the register as a Historic site in 1980.

Adelaide High School is South Australia's only Special Interest Language School,[10] and currently has sister schools around the world, including: Student facilities include a library, gymnasium, tennis, basketball and netball courts, cricket nets, four ovals (shared with the Adelaide City Council), Performing Arts Centre, science labs and lecture theatres.

The house names are: Adey (red), Macghey (blue), Morriss (green), and West (yellow).

[10] Both special entry programs participate in games and regattas throughout the year which lead up to the main events.

This regatta was jointly founded in 1922 by Adelaide High School and St Peter's College.