St James' Primary School, Kotara South had its origins in Garden Suburb where it began on 31st January, 1961. 

Two Sisters of Mercy ran the school, in a building, which was originally the operating theatre from the Greta Migrant camp. During that year, the rest of the hospital was transported to Garden Suburb to form more classrooms and a temporary church. 

In December 1962, New Lambton Parish was divided and Kotara South Parish was formed. 

In 1963 the parish received its present name of St Philip’s and the school, St James’, with a miner's bath house in Kotara South being converted into St Philip's Church. 

In 1974, twenty-four acres of land was purchased in Vista Parade by the parish and the new church was built opposite the proposed school site. In 1978, the Infants moved from Garden Suburb to the first completed school building on Vista Pde. It wasn't until 1981 that the whole school, Kinder to Year 6, opened in its present setting.  

This was a landmark moment for those people of the parish who had never lost faith in the concept of Catholic Education. It was the school’s 50th Anniversary in 2011.  

St James’ Primary School continues to be an integral part of the Parish of All Saints Blackbutt South and as such continues to foster the faith development of each child whilst complementing the community in which we live.