The name "Pedare" originally came from a vineyard on Ladywood Road, Modbury Heights, owned by Leonard Tolley. It was formed from the names of his sons, Peter, David, and Reginald. The joint campus was originally going to be on this location but it was decided otherwise; this site became The Heights School.^[3] That location is now The Heights School.

The founders decided to use the name "Pedare" to recognise the past pioneers. The names of the five communities, or houses, of the school also came from surrounding areas. Eldergreen, from Elder Green Farm, Brooklyn, from Brooklyn Villa Farm, Greenwith, from Greenwith Farm, Surrey, from Surrey Farm and Hillcott, from Hillcott Farm.^[3] The school is governed by a board comprising members from the Uniting and Anglican churches, as well as school staff.

In 1984, Delfin Management Services were developing land in Golden Grove, along with Urban Land Trust. They came up with the idea to make a joint school, and contacted the Pedare foundation planning committee to see if they wanted to join this scheme, saying two of the joint schools would be a Catholic College, and a Government High School. Pedare agreed. Pedare Christian College had its first official school day in 1986. There were 900 students, spread through Years 7 and 8. By 1990 Pedare had enrolments in all Secondary School levels, Years 8 to 12. In 1991 the school board decided to form a Primary school, and located it at nearby Bicentennial Drive.^[3]

In 2005, Years 6 and 7 were relocated to the Surrey Farm Campus, forming a middle school. The school conducts an International Baccalaureate program in these years. In 2019, as part of the school's 'One College, Once Campus' policy, the primary school was relocated to the Surrey Farm Campus, making the site an R-12 school.

Since 1991, the school has a house system, with each community named after farms which preceded the urban development of the Golden Grove, Wynn Vale and Greenwith areas.

•   Eldergreen. Elder Green was a family vineyard adjoining northern Dry Creek. It was situated on the current site of Park Lake Drive, Wynn Vale, next to the dam. Some buildings are still standing.
•   Greenwith. Greenwith was the name given to a dairy and wheat farm, as well as vineyards, in northern Golden Grove, around modern-day Persimmon Grove. The suburb took its name from the farm.
•   Hillcott. Hillcott Farm, established 1854, was a wheat and dairy farm, which later held sheep. It was situated around the current Hillcott Avenue, Golden Grove.
•   Brooklyn. Brooklyn Villa Farm was formerly a dairy, wheat and sheep farm located on the corner of The Golden Way and Golden Grove Road. The farm buildings are still standing.
•   Surrey. Surrey Farm was a collection of vineyards owned by the Wynn family on what is now Surrey Farm Drive. The farmhouse is currently a childcare centre next to Pedare.
•   Petworth. Established in 2024, the house is named after Petworth Farm, a dairy and meat farm established in the 1840s, located in present-day Greenwith. The suburb of Petworth existed until the 1990s development of the area. The farmhouse lies on Gransden Parade, Greenwith.

The following events are regular or semi-regular occasions at the college:

• Swimming Carnival
• Athletics Carnival
• Spring Carnival/Spring Challenge (known as 'Foundation Day' in 2015 to celebrate 30 years of the college)
• Cross Country
• Colour Run (one time)

• Stuart Cochrane (1991–1995) – Australian rules football for the North Melbourne Football Club and Port Adelaide.
• Trent Dumont – Australian rules football for the North Melbourne Football Club.
• Mark Ormrod (1996–2001) – Olympic medallist (2004 Olympics, 4 × 400 metres relay).

• List of schools in South Australia

• Pedare Christian College Website
• Association of Independent Schools of South Australia