Adelaide Park Lands

Adelaide is a planned city, and the Adelaide Park Lands are an integral part of Colonel William Light's 1837 plan. In early 1837, William Light proposed to the Resident Commissioner James Hurtle Fisher that the figure-eight of open space, which Light later referred to as "Adelaide Park", be reserved as "Park grounds". Adelaide's characteristic geometrical grid pattern is not unique: apart from earlier precedents going back to ancient Greece, it follows part of a series of rules created by Spanish planners for their colonial cities, known as the "Law of the Indies". They included the grid pattern with a main thoroughfare, centred around a main square. There are many historical precedents for five squares, including Philadelphia in America, designed in 1682 by surveyor Thomas Holme. There are however no records showing that Light deliberately copied any cities or rules for planning. In 1838 the Colonization Commissioners for South Australia authorised South Australia's Resident Commissioner to purchase the Adelaide Park Lands, and these instructions were carried out in 1839. By 1839 the Park Lands were threatened by extensive timber cutting, rubbish dumping, brick-making, quarrying, squatting, and grazing. To check this, a body of special constables was instituted on 9 October 1839 by George Gawler and Superintendent Henry Inman. Inman appointed Nick Boys Bull (-1846), formerly a police sub-inspector, as Keeper of the Park Lands. Bull led an initial team of six park rangers, most being convalescent migrants thrown on government support. This dropped to two by 1840, then back to four by June 1841. Pay and rations were provided by the police department. Since 1852, the areas of the Park Lands placed in the custodianship of the municipal corporation have been managed and maintained by the Adelaide City Council. Public use of the Park Lands was controlled by a ranger who patrolled the parks, regulating sporting and recreational activities in the parks and supervising the depasturing of stock grazing there. A variety of now absent wildlife was still present in the Park Lands in the late 1800s, with the Greater Bilby reported as still being numerous in 1890. The former prevalence of the species - which went by the local name of pinky or pingku - is recognised as the likely origin of the place name Pinky Flat. The once abundant species was presumed completely extinct in the wild in South Australia by 1930. The Park Lands saw development during the 19th Century, for example the Adelaide Botanic Garden, hospital, South Australian Institute, Adelaide Oval, Victoria Park Racecourse. Extensive felling of trees, quarrying and dumping of rubbish continued, which combined to give the Park Lands an unsightly appearance. In the late 19th century John Ednie Brown, the government's Conservator of Forests, was commissioned by the City Council to prepare a blueprint for the beautification of the Park Lands. Brown presented his Report in 1880, but it was not acted upon until the turn of the 20th century when A.W. Pelzer became the City Gardener. Major progress was made in planting and landscaping the Park Lands during his tenure (1899–1932) and further improvements such as creation of new gardens and boating lakes were carried under the authority of William Veale, the Town Clerk (1947–1965). In July 2007 part of the Adelaide Park Lands and City of Adelaide layout (North and South Adelaide) were granted National Heritage Listing status. The first remarks on the assessor's report were: "The Adelaide Park Lands and City Layout is a significant example of early colonial planning which has retained key elements of its historical layout for over one hundred and seventy years. The 1837 Adelaide Plan attributed to Colonel William Light and the establishment of Adelaide marks a significant turning point in the settlement of Australia." ==Park Lands today==

In the 2010s, about 25% of the Park Lands are the location of government, public and cultural buildings. Of the remaining approximately , many parts have been sculpted into planned gardens and playing fields. Some of the remainder is remnant or regenerated Adelaide Plains grasslands or grassy woodlands, of which have been designated and developed by the city council as areas for native fauna and flora. Developments in the early 2000s focused on maintenance and upgrading of recreational facilities, and removal of remnant grasslands and open grassy woodlands, particularly through urbanisation and the Greening of Adelaide tree planting and replacement programs. that a major return of alienated Park Lands would be made at the western edge of the city. The area to be returned, 5.5 hectares of land at the west end of Park 25, occupied since 1879 by the Thebarton Water Depot, lies between East Terrace (now James Congdon Drive), Port Road and the railway lines. The plans were unveiled in 2011 prior to European settlement, was developed and landscaped with more than 23,000 trees and shrubs as an urban forest. It features indigenous species, including native pine. In 2017–2018, land at the east end of Park 25 has been used by the South Australian Cricket Association for the development of the Karen Rolton Oval and associated facilities including car parking. ==Parks==

and North Adelaide are surrounded by the Park Lands, divided into 29 numbered parks. Town acres are shown in pink, open park land in green, and built-up areas of park land in grey. Although it is a single park, for management purposes the Adelaide City Council has used the last two digits of survey sections as labels to identify smaller areas within the Adelaide Park Lands. In some, but not all, cases, roadways crossing over the Park Lands coincide with the survey section boundaries that gave rise to council's numbering (from "Park 1" to "Park 29"). The numbering, which starts in the North Park Lands (at the Adelaide Golf Links), and increases clockwise around the perimeter, was applied in September 1882. Some of the parks are more commonly known by a commemorative name (e.g. Rymill Park), but others, such as Park 10, are still known mostly by their number. Dual naming Since the Adelaide City Council drew up a Reconciliation Vision Statement in 1997, they committed to a dual naming project, working with Kaurna Warra Pintyanthi, a Kaurna language project run by the University of Adelaide in collaboration with Kaurna advisors. The dual naming covers the city centre and North Adelaide, including the six public squares and Adelaide park lands. Erection of signs in each of the parks was completed on 30 June 2004, with some of the spellings being revised in the 2010s. Victoria Square, in the centre of Adelaide city, is now also known as Tarntanyangga. All 29 Parks around the city have been assigned a Kaurna name, and the River Torrens is now also named Karrawirra Parri. The renaming of 39 sites was finalised and endorsed by the council in 2012. The full list of square and park names, along with meanings and pronunciations, is available on the Council website. Park 1: Possum Park / Pirltawardli Kaurna park name and translation: Pirltawardli "possum home" The name of the site has in the past been spelt Pilta-wodli or Piltawodlingga (in KWP's New Spelling 2010, Pirltawardli and Pirltawardlingga). Of an irregular shape, Possum Park / Pirltawardli wraps around the western end of North Adelaide in a vaguely crescent or banana shape. The southern and western boundaries are provided by War Memorial Drive, with Park 27 (which includes Bonython Park on the other side. The eastern boundary, from south to north, is formed by Montefiore Rd, the western end of North Adelaide (i.e. Strangways Terrace, Mills Tce and Barton Tce West) and Jeffcott Rd. The northern boundary is formed by Park Tce. It Contains the Adelaide Golf Links. Kaurna and missionary history The history of Park 1 is bound up with that of Park 27 and Bonython Park, after a succession of Protectors of Aborigines first set up a "Native Location", of which elements moved between the north and south sides of the River Torrens. Bromley's Camp, the first of these, was established in April 1837 on the south side of the river by Captain Walter Bromley, the second interim Protector. and also known as the "Aboriginal Location". and is marked by a memorial plaque at the carpark by the weir, In August 1840, Klose took over the running of the school. The second interim Protector (1837–1839), William Wyatt was also involved in the running of the school Moorhouse, Protector from 1839 until 1857, lived at Pirltawardli and worked closely with the missionaries. There is only one remaining page of his diary, containing several Kaurna songlines not recorded elsewhere, but much information has been gleaned from his reports and official correspondence. Denise Norton was the first South Australian to represent Australia at the Olympic or Commonwealth Games – in the sport of swimming. Approximately square, the park is bounded by Fitzroy Tce (to the north), Prospect Rd (to the east), Barton Tce West (to the south) and Jeffcott Rd (to the west). The Park provides a range of formal and informal facilities for cricket, swimming, tennis and family picnics. The north-west corner of the Park contains the Adelaide Aquatic Centre, picnic facilities and the Bush Magic playground. The remainder of the Park includes sporting facilities, open space and vegetation (designed and semi-natural landscapes). • The Adelaide Swimming Centre was relocated to this Park in 1968/9 to replace the old City Baths on the current site of the Festival Centre. It was renovated, enclosed and renamed Adelaide Aquatic Centre in 1985. It was renovated again in 1998. • The Bush Magic Play Park was designed in 1988, and is important as a precedent for the contemporary generation of play spaces around the Park Lands and metropolitan Adelaide. It was the first play park in SA to incorporate wheelchair access. • Sporting facilities, which are currently held under an annual licence to Blackfriars Priory School, include change rooms, five playing fields and four tennis courts. The licence covers an area of approximately 35% of the Park. The school has first right of use of these areas on weekday afternoons after school, and on Saturday mornings. Park 3: Yam Daisy Park / Kantarilla Kantarilla 'kandara root place' A small triangle bounded by Prospect Rd (west), Fitzroy Tce (north) and Main North Rd (east). Contains open park. Park 4: Reservoir Park / Kangatilla Kangatilla 'kangatta berry place' 'ngampa root ground' 'horse plain' One of Lefevre Park's borders is Lefevre Terrace; Sir J G Shaw-Lefevre (1797–1879), a British barrister, Whig politician and civil servant, was one of South Australia's colonisation commissioners. 'kunti root place' Park 8: The Olive Groves / Parngutilla Parngutilla 'barngutta root place' 'tidla root place' William Bundey (1826–1889) was the Mayor of Adelaide 1883–1886. 'bullrush root place' Bounded by War Memorial Drive, Bundey's Road, MacKinnon Road, MacKinnon Parade, Finnis and Frome Road. The Park is dominated by a number of sporting ovals and associated facilities licensed to the University of Adelaide, including a tennis pavilion, a grandstand, and changing rooms. The Park also contains: • The Adelaide Archery Club rooms, in the north eastern corner of the Park. • The University Loop, a well used gravel running track, which encircles part of the Park. • The Adelaide City Council Organic Recycling Depot/Nursery, (approx 1.6 hectares), comprising: an Office Building, 3 sheds, 6 glass houses, a shade house, and 6 propagating plant frames. • The Lower North Adelaide Soldiers' Memorial Garden, located in the north of the Park. • A number of sculptures, located in 1994 on the edge of the River Torrens. • A small playground Park 11: Mistletoe Park / Tainmuntilla Tainmuntilla 'mistletoe place' the old Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) site, the Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science (IMVS), the old Medical School of the University of Adelaide site, and several University of South Australia buildings. Park 12: Red Gum Park / Karrawirra Karrawirra 'river red gum forest' Contains many buildings, parks, memorials and statues – see Park 12 for a more complete list. Park 12 is bisected by the river. The northern part contains the Peace Park, the Cross of Sacrifice, Pennington Gardens East, Angas Gardens, several boat-houses and several University playing fields. The southern part contains Grundy Gardens, the University of South Australia (City East campus), the University of Adelaide (main campus), Prince Henry Gardens, the Art Gallery, the Museum, the State Library, the War Memorial, Government House, the Torrens Parade Ground, Pioneer Women's Memorial Gardens, Esther Lipman Gardens, Jolly's Boat House, the Boer War Memorial, the Jubilee 150 Walkway, numerous statues, and quite a lot of other odds and ends. Park 13: Rundle Park / Kadlitpina Kadlitpina (formerly spelt Kadlitpinna "Captain Jack" Kadlitpina was one of three burka, or elders, well-known to the colonists, the other two being Murlawirrapurka("King John") and Ityamai-itpina ("King Rodney") – see also Parks 14 and 15 below. His name was derived from kadli ("dingo"/"dog") + -itpinna (itpina) ("father of"). John Rundle (1791–1864) was a British Whig politician and businessman who was one of the original directors and financiers of the South Australia Company. Since 2000, in February/March of most years, the park has been the site of the Garden of Unearthly Delights during the Adelaide Fringe. Park 14: Rymill Park / Murlawirrapurka Murlawirrapurka (Mullawirrapurka/Mullawirraburka "King Jack" or "Onkaparinga Jack", was the Kaurna leader (or burka, elder and employed as a native constable. Park 15: King Rodney Park / Ityamai-itpina Ityamai-itpina (formerly spelt Ityamai-itpinna known to colonists as "King Rodney", along with Mullawirraburka ("King John") and Kadlitpina ("Captain Jack"). He was one of the first Kaurna people met by the colonists, and was the father of Iparrityi and husband to Tangkaira. His name was derived from the name of a person student at Pirltawardli (see above) and -itpinna ("father of"). There are no known photographs or drawings of Ityamai-itpina. Ityamai-itpina contains one of the three Glover Playgrounds, the "Glover East Playspace". It has an olive grove planted in 1872, blue gums trees along Wakefield Road and an avenue of pepper trees dating from the early 20th century, and Botanic Creek runs through it. There are sports fields used by Christian Brothers College and others, including a basketball court and a skate park. In the middle of the Adelaide Street Circuit, it borders the Tour Down Under cycling event each January, and the international equestrian three-day event uses the park each November. There is a walking trail around the park. In 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, the WOMADelaide music festival was held in King Rodney Park / Ityamai-itpina instead of its usual location at Botanic Park, so that the venue could comply with the restrictions necessary to prevent any possible spread of COVID-19 (although there was no community transmission at the time in Adelaide). Park 16: Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi Pakapakanthi/Bakkabakkandi derived from the Kaurna word meaning "to trot" (a term applied to horses), This park used to contain the Victoria Park Racecourse, and the historic buildings are retained. There are sports fields in the centre, and the South Park Lands creek runs through the southern part, which has been revegetated with open woodland. In the late eighties and early nineties, part of the park was used for the Adelaide F1. It forms part of the Adelaide Street Circuit for the Adelaide 500 motor race, and it is used for the international equestrian three-day event in November. meaning "grass place", has an avenue of elm trees, planted in the 1860s to line a former carriageway. and was part of the ecological management plan for a key area of biodiversity in the park. Six months later, an informal inspection revealed about 12 species of native grass, and very few weeds in the area burnt. Bush for Life and various experts are continuing to monitor outcomes. Park 18: Peppermint Park / Wita Wirra Wita Wirra, meaning "peppermint grove/place" This park, south of South Terrace, contains Adelaide Himeji Garden and Osmond Gardens. Park 19: Pelzer Park / Pityarilla Pityarilla/Pityarilla 'marshmallow root place' August Pelzer was Adelaide's city gardener from 1899 to 1932. 'blue gum place' Contains a boule/petanque area, assorted playing fields, a mountain-bike / BMX-bike track, one of the three Glover Playgrounds, et al. Licences and leases include Pulteney Grammar School (6 ovals, cricket nets, 3 lawn tennis courts, 2 grass volleyball courts, and facilities), Adelaide Harriers Athletics Club (athletics oval / running track), Club d'Petanque d'Adelaide, TreeClimb (High Ropes Adventure Course) and others. 'walyu root ground' Contains Veale Gardens, assorted playing fields, et al. Park 21W: Golden Wattle Park / Mirnu Wirra Mirnu Wirra 'golden wattle grove' Contains Princess Elizabeth Playground, Lundie Gardens, assorted playing fields, et al. Park 22: Josie Agius Park / Wikaparntu Wirra Wikaparntu Wirra / Wikaparndo Wirra 'netball park' Josie Agius (1934–2016) was one of South Australia's first Aboriginal health workers, who supported girls' sport. She was honoured with the 2014 NAIDOC Award "for improving the lives and welfare of Aboriginal peoples in South Australia". She was a descendant of Kudnarto, and sister to Vince Copley. The park contains about 20 netball courts, a small amount of seating for spectators, and a building containing a small kiosk, netball administration rooms, and a toilet block. Park 23: G S Kingston Park / Wirrarninthi G S Kingston Park contains Kingston Gardens. Wirrarninthi / Warranendi 'to become transformed into a green and forested area'. Sir George Strickland Kingston was Deputy Surveyor-General under Colonel Light, one of the party that found the River Torrens, and first Speaker of the South Australian House of Assembly. Tampawardli/Tambawodli 'plain place' Val Bertram Harold Ellis served as City of Adelaide Director of Parks and Recreation from 1966 to 1983. "native pine place" Gladys Elphick was a Kaurna elder who, among other things, was founding president of the Council of Aboriginal Women of South Australia (1964–73). Park 26: Adelaide Oval / Tarntanya Wama Although Adelaide Oval dominates the north part of the park, there are many other parks, gardens and buildings on both sides of the River Torrens in Park 26. Tarntanya Wama / Tarndanya Womma 'Adelaide plain/oval' ('tarnda' = red kangaroo, 'kanya' = rock and 'womma' = plain/oval.) Like Park 12, it is bisected by the River Torrens. The northern part contains the Adelaide Oval, Creswell Gardens, Memorial Drive Park, Pinky Flat, Oval Number 2, Stella Bowen Park, Light's Vision and Pennington Gardens West. The southern part contains Parliament House, Old Parliament House, Adelaide railway station, Adelaide Casino, the Riverbank development, the Convention Centre, assorted boat houses, the Festival Centre and Elder Park Park 27: Bonython Park / Tulya Wardli Park 27 / Tulya Wardli (also spelt Tulya Wodli) contains a number of parks, only one of which is Bonython Park. The park contains the Torrens Weir, restaurant and Par 3 putting course, the Dame Roma Mitchell Gardens, the Old Adelaide Gaol, the Bonython Park, the John E Brown Park, the Mary Lee Park, the Helen Mayo Park, the Kate Cocks Park, and the Deceased Workers Memorial Forest. As of 2006, buildings and other structures included the Thebarton Police Barracks (which includes the Road Safety Centre); the new Royal Adelaide Hospital; SAHMRI (South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute); various hospital and University of Adelaide buildings on the former site of the City Sk8 Park; the remainder of the railway yard (the bulk of which was relocated to Dry Creek); assorted broad gauge and standard gauge railway lines and bridges, six tennis courts, some boat houses and rowing clubs' clubhouses. it was planned that should the Women's and Children's Hospital be moved from North Adelaide, and relocated to Park 27. There were also plans for a second SAHMRI building and a private hospital. In September 2022, the state government announced that the Thebarton Police Barracks, comprising 10 buildings which are state heritage-listed, would be demolished to allow construction of a new Women's and Children's Hospital, planned for opening around 2030–31. The site covers . The South Australian Heritage Council, the Australian Institute of Architects, and many others have voiced their concerns about the loss of the historic building. Park 28: Palmer Gardens / Pangki Pangki Pangki Pangki Pangki Pangki was a Kaurna person who was a tracker and guide. Colonel George Palmer (1799-1883) was a South Australian Colonisation Commissioner. 'Native lilac place' Lord Brougham (1778-1868) was Lord High Chancellor of the United Kingdom and founder of the London University. Brougham Gardens are surrounded by Brougham Place, North Adelaide. ==Planned parks==

Other parks are the location for institutions requiring large expanses of turf or other greenery. Planned parks such as these include: • Adelaide Botanic Gardens (Park 11) • Adelaide Botanic Park (Park 11) • Adelaide High School's sports grounds (Park 24) • Adelaide Himeji Garden (Park 18) • Adelaide Golf Links (Park 1) • Victoria Park Racecourse (Park 16) • Adelaide Street Circuit (Surrounding Parks 14 & 15, and inside Park 16) • Adelaide Oval (Park 26) • Elder Park (Park 26) • Veale Gardens (Park 21) ==Buildings/institutions within the Park Lands==

• Adelaide Aquatic Centre (Park 2) • Adelaide Botanic Garden* (Park 11) • Adelaide Botanic High School (Park 11) • Adelaide Convention Centre* (Park 26) • Adelaide Festival Centre (Park 26) • Adelaide Gaol (Park 27) • Adelaide High School (Park 24) • Adelaide Oval (Park 26) • Adelaide Park Lands Terminal (Park 23) • Adelaide railway station* (Park 26) • Adelaide University Boat Club (Park 12) • Adelaide Zoo (Park 11) • Art Gallery of South Australia* (Park 12) • Botanic Park (Park 11) • Government House* (Park 12) • Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science (Park 11) • Memorial Drive (Park 26) • Mile End railway station (Park 24) • National War Memorial* (Park 12) • National Wine Centre (Park 11) • North Adelaide railway station (Park 27) • Parliament House* (Park 26) • Royal Adelaide Hospital* (Old site:Park 11, New site:Park 27) • South Australian Museum* (Park 12) • State Library of South Australia* (Park 12) • Thebarton Police Barracks (Park 27) • Torrens Parade Ground (Park 12) • University of Adelaide City (main) campus* (Park 12) • University of South Australia City East campus* (Park 12) • Victoria Park Racecourse buildings (Park 16) • West Terrace Cemetery (Park 23) • North Terrace forms the southern boundary of these establishments. Now-demolished buildings/structures which were built on the Park Lands include: • Jubilee Exhibition Building* 1887–1962 (Park 12) • Jubilee Exhibition Railway 1887–1927 (Park 12) ==Park Land preservation movement==

Since the Park Lands were set apart by William Light as part of his original 1837 Plan of the City of Adelaide, and intended by the city founders to be reserved as public walks in perpetuity, any development can be seen to go against the founding ambitions for Adelaide and be a source of controversy in the community. In response to incessant pressure and erosion, there have been many defenders of the Adelaide Park Lands. In 1987 a public meeting was held, which resulted in the formation of the Adelaide Parklands Preservation Association Inc, (APPA), which later corrected its name to Adelaide Park Lands Preservation Association Inc. and in 2021 removed "Preservation" from its name, which is now Adelaide Park Lands Association Inc (APA). Examples of such pressure and erosion are listed on APA's "Current Issues" page. An example of one such source of controversy is the Victoria Park racecourse and associated areas south-east of the city centre which have been used for motor racing events for short periods of each year. In 2008 these parts of the Park Lands were targeted for development, incurring opposition from members of the community. The proposed plans included construction of a permanent corporate facility to provide hospitality and spectator facilities to select groups at events such as the Adelaide 500 motor racing event. On 30 August 2007 veteran Adelaide heritage consultant and conservation architect Ron Danvers said it was "a myth" that Adelaide's founding fathers created the parklands exclusively for open space, and that it was "self-evident" that Colonel William Light's 1837 plan of Adelaide envisaged development of facilities beyond the CBD. After counter-arguments were expressed, the proposal was dropped. ==See also==