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This year the Burnside Country Fire Service celebrates 90 years of service.

The earliest iteration of the Burnside CFS formed in 1934 when community members founded the Burnside Hill Firefighting Fund. The fund was generated through donations from landowners and contributed to the purchase of tools and equipment. The Burnside District Council subsidised the Fund “pound for pound up to £100 – the estimated cost of equipment, gear and other expenses” (The News, Saturday 8 December 1934). From this, the Burnside Foothills Firefighting Association began operation in 1936.

In the early 1950s Emergency Fire Service Brigades were established by the government, and were equipped with a greater range of firefighting tools and vehicles. The Burnside Brigade grew, and acquired a trailer mounted tank and pump.

In 1968 the present Fire Station at Glen Street in Burnside was opened. The Burnside EFS was a two-appliance brigade and had the latest technology with a Phone Alarm System installed to enable members to receive fire calls at home. This was likely a welcome change to neighbours of the fire station, as in the early days a siren with a 4 km sound radius was used to alert members!

In 1976 the name changed from Emergency Fire Service to the Country Fire Service, which we recognise today.

Since these early days, the Burnside CFS has continued to grow in capability. The service has assisted in the response to countless bushfires and other emergencies both locally, regionally and interstate. We thank the Burnside CFS for 90 years of service to our community.

Photo: Members of the Burnside Foothills Firefighting Association spraying water during a demonstration near Glen Osmond. Source: The Mail, 9 December 1939.

In 1838, what is now the suburb of Erindale was owned by the South Australian Company, who leased the land to brewer Henry Dean and tailor Joseph Edmunds. At this time, the area was colloquially known as "Dean's Section."

In the 1850s, the De Mole family built a house called "The Waldrons." In 1889, James Cowan MP purchased the property and renamed it Erindale to honour his Irish roots. The name is likely derived from the Irish words for Ireland ("Erin") and valley ("dale").

When the land was subdivided in 1910, the name Erindale became established in the suburb. Pictured is a view of Erindale house in approximately 1880, situated on what is now Glynburn Road.

Photography courtesy of the State Library of South Australia, B12739.

In this episode of Burnside Highlights we visit Wood Park to remember the history of Burnside’s olive oil industry, take a look at our ongoing Youth Survey and more.

Community Grants – Gold Foundation – Inclusive Hospitality Program

The City of Burnside Community Grants Program offers funding support of up to $5,000 for community groups that provide services and programs to residents that would otherwise go unfulfilled.

A not-for-profit organisation providing support for young people on the Autism Spectrum, the Gold Foundation was successful in their application for funding towards their Inclusive Hospitality Program.

A comprehensive 12-week program, the course will teach autistic young people the ins and outs of working in the hospitality industry from highly experienced mentors. Modules for the program cover topics including hands-on coffee making experience, customer service, health and safety, food handling, stocktake and experience working in the Gold Foundation's 'Shine Like Gold!' Mobile Café and the KOM Café.

Community Manager for Gold Foundation Connor Pangallo said the participants gain more from the program than just hospitality abilities.

‘Participants in Gold Foundation’s Inclusive Hospitality Program develop essential skills, knowledge, and confidence to successfully transition from school life into adulthood, enabling a fulfilling and independent livelihood,’ Connor said.

Burnside Community Grants applications for 2025/26 open mid-January 2025.

Gold Foundation's Shine Like Gold Mobile Café will provide hands on experience for autistic youth as part of the Inclusive Hospitality Program.

The first subdivision of Eastwood took place in 1839, creating an oblong of 40 allotments which faced Devonshire Terrace, now known as Greenhill Road. As its name suggests, the area of Eastwood contained a large stand of gum trees which were fed by five creeks that joined together alongside the east parklands. Although close to the city, the area remained sparsely populated until the 1870s when a number of low-cost houses were built for attendants and groundsmen at the newly built asylum (later known as Glenside Hospital), and other nearby businesses and industries.

One prominent landmark of Eastwood was a large residence at the corner of what is now Greenhill and Fullarton Roads. The villa was built in the 1850s by merchant John Scott Young and was a single storey stone house. Around 1870 merchant J. W Hocart, from Guernsey, Channel Islands, purchased the property and added a second storey. Mr Hocart named the house “Hauteville”. Hauteville remained in the Hocart family for three generations. The building was later demolished, making way for the former ETSA building (now Air Apartments).

Photo: Mr and Mrs Hocart in carriage, with children Emily, Ellen and Walter Hocart on the lawn at Hauteville, circa late 1880s. Burnside Local History Collection.

In this episode of Burnside Highlights we pay a visit to the Burnside CFS, which recently celebrated its 90th birthday! We chatted with volunteer Craig to talk about the celebrations, why the CFS continues to be an important part of the community and how you can best support the great work they do.

In the latest episode of Burnside Highlights Mayor Anne Monceaux visits the George Bolton Swimming Centre to provide an update on the pool heater replacement works. Find out more about some of our ongoing programs and events, including the launch of the new Burnside Dementia Action Group, and more.

A century ago, Henry Eoin Sydney Melbourne (1893-1976) began his role as Council Engineer at Burnside District Council in 1924, serving until 1958. He is credited with initiating the concept of a golf course and country club at Mount Osmond.

In 1934, Melbourne was appointed District Clerk, equivalent to today’s CEO, a position he held until his retirement.

During the Great Depression, Melbourne foresaw the future need for additional open space. Recognising that the Council could not afford the purchase, he personally acquired the land to ensure the community’s future needs would be met.

Melbourne’s work has had a lasting impact on the growth and planning of the Burnside District.

Pictured: HES Melbourne in his service with the 11th Field Company Engineers during World War 1, circa 1916. Courtesy SLSA B77286.

In a feel-good program that is bridging generational divides, this initiative in Kensington Gardens is helping bond young and old members of the community.

As an intergenerational program, this initiative seeks to build strong, cross-generational bonds by bringing together residents of Estia Health Kensington Gardens and students from Kensington Gardens Preschool Centre. With the support from facilitators SA Montessori, the program creates opportunities for meaningful interactions and relationship-building in a structured and supportive environment.

With their close proximity on either side of Kensington Road, the pairing is a natural fit. Two groups of students take turns visiting the aged care facility throughout the year, spending time with residents and forming connections.

Kensington Gardens Preschool Centre Director, Melissa Quartuccio said the guidance provided by SA Montessori had been invaluable and that the children had been thriving with a new sense of community.

‘It can be difficult to build the initial connections. The City of Burnside has been essential in getting this off the ground. We couldn’t have done this without them,’ Melissa said.

‘The kids really love being able to interact with older people. We have a lot of children who are new arrivals, so they don’t have their grandparents around - they love the interaction and the one-on-one time.’

Facilitators SA Montessori were engaged through the City of Burnside, who funded their inclusion in the program through a partnership agreement. Consultant with SA Montessori Jessica Langford said other communities had implemented this type of engagement with great success and the organisation hoped these types of programs would become the norm moving forward.

‘The benefits of intergenerational engagement are becoming a lot more widespread,’ Jessica said. ‘There are benefits that perfectly align for both groups and those that are separate. The beauty of this is that it benefits both. Both groups get the positivity around the connection, friendship, communication, and positive interaction.’

‘In long-term intergenerational programs, we see a correlated reduction in the decline of cognitive abilities, including those with dementia or Alzheimer’s. When engaged in programs like this, the rate of decline is much slower than in those who are not.

‘It can be challenging in a residential aged care environment to get everyone engaged. There’s something about having the children there with their energy and enthusiasm that encourages you to get involved. The kids don’t let you sit back and watch.’

Known lovingly within the program as ‘grand friends,’ the residents have been enjoying the opportunity to engage with the students and break up their usual routines.

Leisure and Lifestyle Coordinator at Estia Health Kensington Gardens, Sonisha said the program was igniting passion for the residents, which had been on display during the sessions.

‘This program has been something they are really looking forward to and gives opportunities to residents who do not usually come to other activities. Some of the less social residents can be overwhelmed by activities, but not with the children. They really look forward to days like this,’ Sonisha said.

One resident who has certainly had their passion ignited is grandmother of six and former high school home economics teacher, Pat, who said the program had already had an impact on residents, herself included, and especially on some of the older members.

‘It puts a smile on their face,’ Pat said.

Wheelchair-bound, Pat said many of the children had never interacted with someone in a wheelchair before. They eagerly approached her with questions, which she used as conversation starters and educational moments.

‘Most of the kids here seem to be really involved in what they’re doing. If you look around, there isn’t a sad face, and there is no one who doesn’t want to be here.

‘I’m looking at going across the road to the Preschool and doing volunteering, just to get me out of here and stimulate me a bit more.’

Many suburbs in the City of Burnside were once home to vineyards, such as parts of Glen Osmond (Woodley Wines) and Stonyfell (Stonyfell Winery). Auldana, established as a suburb in 1980, is another example. Named in honour of the Auld family, Auldana is situated on the former site of the Auldana vineyard and winery, founded in 1847 by Patrick Auld (1811-1886).

Auld planted mostly Shiraz vines and by 1862 it was one of the largest vineyards in South Australia. In a further nod to the area’s history, many of Auldana’s streets are named after grape varieties, such as Shiraz Place, Hermitage Road and Verdelho Court.

Photograph: Auldana Winery circa 1872. Courtesy of State Library of South Australia, B10612.