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The State Heritage listed Wattle Grove in Wattle Park was built circa 1850 for WRS Cooke, a flour miller. Later occupiers include the former South Australian Premier George Waterhouse (Premier from 1861 to 1863), the Padman family and George Scarfe, the senior director of Harris Scarfe and Company. The original brick and stone house was enlarged at the turn of the 20^th century, with the addition of the elaborate scalloped tile pointed turret. In 1956, the property was acquired by the Minister of Education and served as the Wattle Park Teachers Centre. In 1989 it was sold to Southern Cross Care and the property was converted into retirement living.

Photograph: Wattle Grove, circa 1930. Burnside Local History Collection.

On Peace Day, 19 July 1919, several hundred residents of the District of Burnside gathered at the junction of Prescott Terrace and Alexandra Avenue in Rose Park to plant, dedicate and consecrate the Avenues of Honour.

In 2020, the City of Burnside became aware that not all the fallen World War I soldiers of the Burnside District are recognised on the Memorial. Historical evidence suggests that some residents planted trees for their fallen loved ones, but they did not register the name.

A research group was formed in June 2021, and included Michelle Toft (Historical and Cultural Officer City of Burnside), Colonel Peter Scott DSO Rtd, Ian Fitzgerald and Ian Sando and were tasked with uncovering the names of unrecognised World War I fallen soldiers of the Burnside District.

Twenty two fallen soldiers, many of whom were born in the Burnside District, have so far been identified. See the full list at www.burnside.sa.gov.au/Latest-News/History-Corner/Burnside-District-Fallen-Soldiers-Memorial

This list of names is not absolute, and we are encouraging the community to come forward with names or further research to help us identify all fallen World War I soldiers of the Burnside District so they can be recognised. If you would like to contribute to the research they can contact the Historical and Cultural Officer at burnside@burnside.sa.gov.au

On Thursday 4 August the dedication and consecration of the further fallen soldiers at the Burnside District Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial was held at the junction of Victoria Terrace and Alexandra Avenue, Rose Park. The City of Burnside unveiled new interpretive plaques and allocated 22 unassigned trees, adding these names to the Memorial on Alexandra Avenue and reuniting the fallen with their mates.

Pictured L - R: Adrian Pederick MP, Jack Batty MP, Member for Bragg, Mayor Monceaux, Chaplain David Prior, Geoff Brock MP and CEO Chris Cowley.

Howitt’s multi-purpose business was located at 560 Magill Road in Magill. It included a general store, corn store, weighbridge, chaff mill, bakery and stables. Part of the stables can still be seen today at the rear of the property.

Pictured is the store in 1906, you can see the old Magill School (now Pepper Street Arts Centre) behind the cart. Photo from Burnside Local History Collection.

To celebrate the South Australian Living Artists Festival this year, the City of Burnside is hosting an Artist in Residence at the Civic Centre throughout August.

Athanasia's stunning works of art will also be on display in the Cloisters exhibition space, which is inspired by impressionism, abstract art and still life.

As a mother of two young children, Athanasia said she strives to create artwork "that is like a window into a garden of profound beauty and brightness." This is done primarily through oil paints based on a stretched canvas or linen/canvas paper.

"I love to create highly textured artwork that exhibit depth and a three-dimensional look, often inspired by people's gardens when I take my dog for a walk and I study the garden and use that memory to create," Athanasia said.

"During my residency, I will be exhibiting and creating these gardens and flowers, which I hope you will all enjoy seeing.

"I also look forward to meeting new people and fellow artists."

You can watch Athanasia at work every Tuesday and Wednesday during August in the Cloisters exhibition space.

Constructed in 1880-81, this two-storey mansion of random bluestone with rendered quoins was built for merchant John Nankivell who leased it to Harry Bickford of the chemist firm A.M. Bickford & Sons.

In 1896, it was purchased by Jessie Ferguson, and remained the Ferguson family home for more than 40 years. The Community of the Sisters of the Church that operated the North Adelaide St Peter’s Collegiate Girls’ School purchased the property in 1949 and relocated the School to this site in 1957. Chiverton now forms the administrative heart of St Peter's Girls' School.

Chiverton House and Gardens 1949. Burnside Local History Collection.

Sisters Amber and Penny Trappel made two suggestions for Tusmore Park, a defibrillator and a rock shelf. “My sister and I would like to have a heart defibrillator at Tusmore Park Wading Pool to help save lives,” their application read. Mum Sharon says their grandmother often accompanies them to the park and she has a pacemaker. “Our grandma has a bad heart and we want to keep her and the community safe,” said Amber and Penny.

Rock Swap is a fun nature based activity where rocks are decorated and placed in locations for others to find, keep or swap. The girls suggested a wooden shelf to keep the painted rocks in for children and adults to swap.

Sharon says it is like a giant game of hide and seek. “It’s fun for kids and adults, gets people outside and promotes kindness.” Check out SA Rocks on facebook.

Amber (in pink) and Penny (in grey)

The Environs Club is a group of residents in the new Glenside development. Formed by David Everett, the group aims to improve the immediate environment and attract wildlife to the area.

“There are some really large gum trees but very little understorey growth,” says David. “We applied for the YNB funding to purchase plants and shrubs.”

Council’s Technical Officer, Conservation and Land Management, Dr Mark Ellis, visited the site with David. “He was great,” says David. “Mark is so knowledgeable and he knew just the right plants and shrubs to suit the area.”

Mark put together a pack of 19 different species of wildflowers, grasses and shrubs from Council’s biodiversity nursery. David and his neighbours planted all 215 of them.

David Everett (L) with Dr Mark Ellis

The winners of the 2022/23 round of Your Neighbourhood Budget have been announced. Five community projects will be installed by Council as a result of public voting.

Your Neighbourhood Budget is a participatory budgeting program in which residents nominate ideas for the community to then have an opportunity to vote on.

As voted on by local residents, the five projects which will be delivered are:

• Landscaping, park south of the Botanica apartment complex in the Glenside development, Eastwood ($1,000).
• Heart defibrillator, Tusmore Park wading pool, Tusmore ($3,000).
• Rock Swap Shelf, Tusmore Park, Tusmore ($200).
• Shelter, Kensington Wama/Kensington Gardens Reserve, Kensington Gardens ($20,000).
• Landscaping, corner Old Norton Summit Road and Rebecca Avenue, Auldana ($20,000).

Keep an eye out this week for more stories on some of the winners.

While voting in Council elections is not mandatory it is an opportunity for you to have your say on who makes decisions for your community.

Ann is a long time resident of Burnside and says it is absolutely important to vote. “Over the years Burnside Council has been controversial and has been in the news. The new members have changed all that and things have settled down,” she says.

Voting is also a means of showing appreciation for council. “Council is very active in the community,” she says. “The upgrades to the Civic Centre indicates Council cares. We as a community enjoy lots of activities, events and services. There are lots of sporting and interest clubs and many events in the library.”

Ann says we should never take for granted the democratic right to vote. “Just look around the world and see people who can’t vote,” she says. “We are very lucky.”

Mayor of Burnside Anne Monceaux brings you this week's Burnside Highlights, including:

✅ Dulwich Community Centre redesign approved following community consultation
✅ Almost 100 new Australian citizens welcomed this week
✅ Japanese Cultural Day on Sunday 7 August
✅ Talkies and Tea begins at The Regal Theatre
✅ And more!

To find out more information and receive the latest updates about what's going on in Burnside, sign up to engage.burnside at www.engage.burnside.sa.gov.au