Thorndon Park Reserve
Thorndon Park Reserve is a public park in the Adelaide suburb of Paradise, South Australia. It was originally the site of the Thorndon Park reservoir, which was completed in 1860.[1] The reserve became accessible to the public for recreational use in 1986. It was redesigned in the 2000s and as of 2015 improvement works are ongoing.[2][3]
The reserve has picnic areas, barbecues, play equipment for children, large grassy areas, wheelchair-friendly walking paths, an amphitheatre, waterways and a terraced series of ponds and wetlands which support diverse native flora and fauna.[4] In 2014, the prospect of establishing a community orchard within the Thorndon Park Reserve was considered.[5] Dogs are not permitted in the park.[6]
Thorndon Park reservoir
| Thorndon Park Reservoir | |
|---|---|
 Thorndon Park Reservoir, 1899 | |
| Coordinates | 34°52′28″S 138°41′18″E |
| Status | Drained and converted to a park |
| Construction began | 1857 |
| Opening date | 1860 |
| Demolition date | 1986 |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | earth |
| Height | 42 feet (13 m)[1] |
| Width (crest) | 5 feet (1.5 m) |
| Width (base) | 10 feet (3.0 m) |
| Reservoir | |
| Total capacity | 142,000,000 imperial gallons (650 Ml) |
| Surface area | 26.5 acres (10.7 ha)[1] |
| Maximum water depth | 40 feet (12 m) |
The Thorndon Park reservoir was the first reservoir built to supply the township of Adelaide.[7] It was under construction between 1857[8] and 1859[1] and was completed in 1860. At full capacity, the reservoir held 142,000,000 imperial gallons (650 Ml) of water.[9][8]
In 1950 the tiny African freshwater jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbii was found in the reservoir.[10]
References
- "THE RESERVOIR AT THORNDON PARK". South Australian Register. 18 April 1859. p. 2. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
- Council, Campbelltown City, Thorndon Park Master Plan, Campbelltown City Council, retrieved 7 February 2016
- Abbracciavento, Daniela (14 August 2014). "Public green light for multi-million dollar Thorndon Park plan". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
- "Campbelltown City Council -". www.campbelltown.sa.gov.au. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
- "Forget the swings, this local park has fresh fruit". NewsComAu. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
- "Thorndon Park Reserve | Open Space & Shade". Play and Go. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
- "ADELAIDE'S OLDEST RESERVOIR IN LOW STATE". The Register News-Pictorial. 26 June 1930. p. 12. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
- "NOMENCLATURE OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA. NAMES AND THEIR ORIGIN. XXIV.—AN ALPHABETICAL REVIEW. Adelaide's First Reservoir". The Register. 22 July 1908. p. 5. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
- "RESERVOIR FULL". News. 23 August 1939. p. 7. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
- "Tiny African jellyfish in S.A. reservoir". The Mail. 11 March 1950. p. 3. Retrieved 7 February 2016.