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Over 60 new pieces of stobie pole art have been installed across the City of Burnside, with the artworks provided by local schools and groups through the assistance of a community grant.

Devised by resident Natania Huff, the aim of her community grant application was to beautify local streets, involve local youth in an engaging project and provide wider education around Kaurna culture on the path to reconciliation.

Each artwork depicts images of native plants from the Burnside area, as well as the Kaurna names for them and an acknowledgement of our place on Kaurna Country.

Natania said she reached out to a variety of schools and groups to assist her in creating the artworks and bringing the project to life.

“I was really thrilled with the positive feedback I got from five our of our local schools, ranging from kindergarten through to high schools, as well as three groups – two Girl Guide groups and a local Scout group,” Natania said.

“It’s definitely been very much supported by the younger people and those that are working with younger people in our area, and I think it’s going to get conversations starting about reconciliation, about nature, about language.”

The community grant provided to Natania covered the expenses of materials including the wooden panels, paint and paintbrushes, allowing the schools and groups involved to participate without incurring any costs.

Once the painted panels were completed they were collected by the Shed on Conyngham Street, where Shed participants applied several coats of clear varnish to protect the panels from external weather conditions. The varnished panels were then collected by the depot team who installed them across various streets in Beulah Park Kensington, Kensington Park and Leabrook.

The final step was for City of Burnside staff to travel to each artwork to photograph them, add a QR code and create an online interactive map matching their locations. By photographing these QR codes, you can find out more about the specific artwork, including who painted it and the significance of the plant depicted.

Marryatville Primary School teacher Lyn Kaeding said her students were excited to be involved in the project and contribute to a community project.

“We were really lucky to have a parent like Natania come to the school and offer us an opportunity to be more involved in the local community – to go beyond the school gates, to do something that helped link cross curricular work so students were able to have a better understanding of Kaurna culture,” Lyn said.

“All three Year 5 classes participated in putting together drafts in a design phase for the different species of plants. This meant that every student had an opportunity to share their ideas and their creativity and from that we chose one example for each of the plant species to go to the final stage of painting.”

To assist with translations from English to Kaurna language, Natania worked with Kaurna woman and Marryatville Primary School teacher Sherrell Dyer who is a member of Kaurna Warra Karrpanthi (KWK). KWK is the leading group in South Australia dedicated to Kaurna language revitalisation and maintenance and provides translations from English.

Sherrell said she was pleased to work with Natania on the project and bolster student learning around Kaurna culture.

“Natania’s opened up a whole page of wonderful learning and I’ve really enjoyed talking with her about the project because it brought back memories of me growing up and learning lots of my culture and sharing that with her,” Sherrell said.

For Natania, Kaurna representation has been paramount throughout the project.

“KWK have kindly been involved with giving permissions for both the names of plants as well as the wording of “We’re on Kaurna Country” in Kaurna language as well,” she said.

“It’s been really important to me to, at all times, put their voices into this project and to ensure that they consider it’s a respectful reflection of their culture and what’s important to them in the path to reconciliation as well.”

If you want to find the locations of these stunning new artworks, Council will upload an online interactive map to the City of Burnside website in the coming weeks. Keep an eye on our social media pages for further information.

The City of Burnside is proud to continue to support the community through the Quick Response Grants program, with two Kensington Park brothers recently receiving financial support to travel to an interstate volleyball competition where they claimed bronze medals for South Australia.

Sam and Luke Huddleston both competed in the Australian Youth Beach Volleyball Championships in the Under 15 and Under 17 categories respectively, with the aspiring athletes reaching the podium against strong competition in Queensland.

The brothers said they were proud to represent South Australia and enjoyed their athletic experience interstate.

“Our bronze medal match against Queensland was a tough game but we knew we could get through if we worked hard,” Luke said.

“I was really proud of the boys, I think we did really well,” Sam said.

The sibling duo are now aiming to improve their game and hope to achieve even more podium finishes for South Australia.

Eligible individuals can apply for a maximum of $150 for state events/competitions, $300 for interstate events/competitions and $500 for international events/competitions. Eligible community groups can apply for a maximum of $500. Applications are now open for 2023/24 funding. Find out more at bit.ly/QuickResponseGrantsBurnside

Sam (left) and Luke (right) with their bronze medals.

Wooton Lea was build in Glen Osmond was built by Francis Hardy Faulding circa 1861. Designed by local architect James MacGeorge (1835 - 1918), the large stone house included 17 rooms, with a kitchen and laundry and an extensive garden. MacGeorge is also known for his work designing the first park of the Savings Bank of South Australia on King William Street. The third owner of Wooton Lea, Arthur Crossing (1871 - 1952), sold the mansion in 1921 to Presbyterian Girls' College, now known as Seymour College.

Since 1938, the house has been known as Barr Smith House and continues to be used by and cared for by Seymour College. In 1989 it was confirmed as a State Heritage Place.

Photo: A group of people sitting in the garden at Wooton Lea circa 1880. Courtesy of State Library of South Australia, B 61332.

Mayor Anne Monceaux brings you the latest news from across the City of Burnside, including:

✅ New Reconciliation artwork installed at the City of Burnside
✅ Draft Annual Business Plan and Budget and Long Term Financial Plan now open for consultation (bit.ly/DABPB2023)
✅ National Volunteers Week begins on Monday 15 May
✅ Consultation approved for 40km/h speed limits in Magill and part of Kensington Gardens.

Find out more about what's going on in the City of Burnside at www.engage.burnside.sa.gov.au

If you're an alumni of St Peter's Girls' School you will recognise Chiverton House, which forms the administrative heart of the school. The house was constructed in 1880 by John Nankivell, a local merchant who soon leased the house to Harry Bickford of the chemist firm A.M. Bickford & Sons.

In 1896, Mrs Jessie Ferguson purchased the property and it was the Ferguson family home for the next forty years. In 1949, the Community of the Sisters of the Church, an Anglican Sisterhood which had established a private school for girls in North Adelaide in 1894, found the Ferguson's estate ideal for the needs of their expanding institution. In 1957, the Sisters moved the St Peter's Collegiate Girls' School to Chiverton House and the school remains at this location today.

Chiverton House is a large two-storey mansion with an encircling veranda, constructed of random bluestone with painted rendered quoins and window and door dressings. The house retains original shutters to the windows and doors of the front elements, but the veranda balustrading has been replaced and the house has been re-roofed. It is currently maintained in excellent condition and additions have been made to the building continuing the original construction materials of stone and rendered dressings. There is a small stable/coach house building at the rear which has been converted for use by St Peter's Girls' School.

In 2023 Chiverton House was given a Heritage Blue Plaque by the City of Burnside, which can be seen at the house today.

Photos (L to R): Chiverton House circa 1910, State Library of South Australia B75462/242. Chiverton House 2023, City of Burnside. Blue Heritage Plaque at Chiverton House 2023, City of Burnside.

Mayor Anne Monceaux brings you the latest news from across the City of Burnside, including:

✅ New Heritage Plaques installed across the City of Burnside
✅ Draft Annual Business Plan and Budget approved by Council and open for community consultation soon
✅ George Bolton Swimming Centre closes Sunday 30 April
✅ History Festival comes to Burnside from Monday 1 May

Find out more about what's going on in the City of Burnside at engage.burnside.sa.gov.au

At age 20, Private Carl L Schrader was killed in action on 20 November 1915 in Gallipoli. He died less than two months after his departure for the front.

Private Schrader lived with his parents on Kensington Road in Rose Park. He was educated at Rose Park School and upon graduating worked as a clerk for the Executor, Trustee and Agency Company. He was an active member at St Theodore's Church and frequently assisted the Sunday school.

Private Schrader has no known grave "Known unto God" and is honoured today at the Burnside District Fallen Soldiers' Memorial in Rose Park, on the corner of Prescott Terrace and Alexandra Avenue.

On Anzac Day, we remember Private Schrader, as well as all Australians and New Zealanders who have fallen in service of their nations in conflicts all across the world. Lest we forget.

"Remember – the blood of valiant sons was shed, that we might dwell ‘neath peaceful skies; keep green their memory; they are not dead; on their ideals our nationhood shall rise."

- Burnside District Fallen Soldiers Memorial, The Register, 28 July 1919

Private Carl L Schrader, 1915. Burnside Local History Collection.

Mayor Anne Monceaux brings you the latest news from across the City of Burnside, including:

✅ Anzac Day dawn services available at various Burnside locations (rslsa.org.au/anzac-day)
✅ Community Centres Autumn Program available now (bit.ly/BurnsideAutumnProgram)
✅ Upcoming Burnside Ballroom events with Metropolitan Male Choir of SA and Burnside Symphony Orchestra (bit.ly/BurnsideBallroomSeries)
✅ Applications for Pepper Street Arts Centre’s SALA exhibition close Wednesday 19 April (bit.ly/SALABurnside)
✅ School Holiday Program kicks off on Saturday 15 April (bit.ly/BurnsideSchoolHolidayProgram)

Find out more about what's going on in the City of Burnside at engage.burnside.sa.gov.au

In July 1903, 36 share brokers took part in a 14 mile (22.5 kilometre) race held across the suburbs of Adelaide. The race started at the intersection of King William Street and South Terrace to Glenelg via Burnside, Glen Osmond and Cross Roads. Approximately 2,500 people turned up to watch the race. The winner of the race was Mr H Cox with a time of 2 hours, 28 minutes and 21 seconds. This equates to an average walking speed of 9.1 km/h, or just over a kilometre every seven minutes. This is much faster than the ordinary walking pace of 5 - 6 km/h!

This photograph now hangs along with several other historic photographs on the wall near the ramp heading towards Customer Service in the Burnside Civic Centre.

Photograph: Glen Osmond Road walking race, circa 1903. Donated to the Burnside Library Local History Collection by Mayor Anne Monceaux.

Burnside Toy Library has won two prestigious awards out of more than 380 toy libraries across Australia.

There are calls for more toy libraries to be established across South Australia, as demand soars from families seeking to save money and be more environmentally sustainable.

An Adelaide toy library that helps parents save money while bringing joy to their children has won national acclaim, with calls for more toy libraries to be established by councils across South Australia.

Burnside Toy Library has been recognised by peak body Toy Libraries Australia for its contribution to the local community, helping families connect and learn through play.

Burnside’s Heather Wright also won Toy Librarian of the Year for her outstanding contribution, including revitalising the toy collection and working with volunteers to make the toy library a valuable and much-loved part of the local area.

Heather has also been integral to promoting toy libraries across South Australia and said she hoped other councils would look to establish or grow their own toy libraries. Toy libraries across Australia have seen demand for their services soar since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Having the support of our local council has been key to our success,” said Heather. “After becoming part of the council’s services, Burnside Toy Library went from being open 10 hours a week to almost 60 hours a week, and we’ve been able to invest in larger toys.

“Every library should have a toy library, even if it’s just a small collection. I would love to see more councils supporting toy libraries across South Australia.”

Established 30 years ago, Burnside Toy Library is now one of the biggest toy libraries in Australia in terms of membership with about 1500 members.

It has won the Toy Library Excellence award, in recognition of its recent project to support the community by buying skateboards, extra scooters and balance bikes to ensure that every local child could enjoy the council’s ‘pop up’ skateboard park and outdoor play.

Louise Bell, Development Officer at Toy Libraries Australia, said Burnside Toy Library was a leading example of the role toy libraries can play in promoting children’s development and community connections.

“We’re proud to be recognising Heather and the Burnside Toy Library for their dedication to making play accessible for all children and to sharing the benefits of toy libraries across the state,” she said.

“Toy libraries are an affordable and sustainable way for parents and carers to support a child’s development, while also creating important community meeting places. It’s no surprise that toy libraries across the country are booming as more families turn to borrowing toys to save money, reduce waste and reconnect with their communities after COVID-19.”

Memberships at Australia’s 380-plus toy libraries have surged over the past two years, with over 130,000 families nationally using a toy library every year. Some, like Burnside, are run by local councils while others are run by volunteers.

Toy libraries across Australia own toys worth $28 million, many of which are high-value sensory and active toys that would otherwise be too expensive or impractical for families to own themselves. That equates to $640 worth of toys for every family belonging to a toy library, with most memberships costing less than $2 a week. On average, a child gets bored of a toy within 36 days, which is why over half (51 per cent) the toys bought in Australia end up in landfill within a year.

Heather said she was proud to have played a role in supporting Adelaide families through Burnside Toy Library and hoped to see toy libraries grow in the future.

“I applied for the coordinator role, not really knowing what a toy library was. That was 15 years ago now and I haven’t looked back since,” she said.

“The best part of being a toy librarian is choosing new toys and developing relationships with local families to share the benefits and joy of play. It’s an honour to be receiving this award and it’s one I share with the whole Burnside Toy Library community.”

About Toy Libraries Australia

Toy Libraries Australia is the peak body for over 260 toy libraries and are a non-profit incorporated association, supporting and promoting the benefits of toy libraries to communities, children’s development and family wellbeing.

Find out more https://www.toylibraries.org.au/