The College has drawn from various spiritual traditions since its inception in 1950. The College was entrusted to the Jesuits for the first 50 years, so there is much about the College that is of Ignatian heritage. Aquinas also has the Dominican theologian and philosopher St Thomas Aquinas, as its patron. From 2006 until 2022, the College was directly associated with the Marists through a resident Brother’s Community.
In 2022 a lay Rector was appointed. The College is now conducted under the auspices of the Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide.