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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

Did you know that one of the first aeroplanes built in South Australia was constructed in Dulwich?

Dulwich resident Carl W Wittber (1879-1970) had a keen interest in aviation and worked as an engineer for various pilots, including Frederick H Jones. At a hangar on his property, Carl worked on his own bi-plane, experimenting with different engines. The plane pictured here in the Dulwich hangar in 1914 had an Anzani 3-cylinder 25 horsepower engine and was first flown at Smithfield.

Photograph courtesy of SLSA B 21368.

This week we commemorate Peace Day, which was first held on 19 July 1919 as the official celebration of the end of World War 1.

On 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. Each tree represents a fallen soldier and is a living memorial to the fallen.

In 2021, a City of Burnside research group was tasked with investigating whether any fallen World War 1 soldiers of the District are yet to be acknowledged in the memorial. This search uncovered 22 names.

In a ceremony to be held at 11 am Thursday 4 August the 22 names will be added to the memorial, reunited with their mates, through interpretive plaques and the allocation of unassigned trees on Alexandra Avenue. Members of the public are warmly invited to attend. For further details visit https://tinyurl.com/2p9djzeu

Photograph: Alexandra Avenue, Rose Park circa 1930. Burnside Local History Collection.

Council elections will be held this October, which is your opportunity to have your say on who will represent you at the City of Burnside. While voting is not compulsory, the City of Burnside encourages you to exercise your democratic right to ensure you have a say on who your local representatives are.

If you are not enrolled to vote, you can enrol today at www.burnside.sa.gov.au/About-Council/Councillors-Administration/Elections/Enrolling-to-Vote

If you have any questions, please contact our Customer Experience team on 8366 4200.

This well-known building is located on the corner of Portrush Road and the South Eastern Freeway, Glen Osmond. Built in 1845, it was formerly a grocery and bakery managed by the Smith family from 1852 to 1968. The Glen Osmond Post Office also operated from this store in the early years.

In recent decades this building was the Colonial Restaurant Complex and was later occupied by the Gurdwara Sikh Society. It was confirmed as a State Heritage Place in 1989.

W C Smith Grocery circa 1900. Burnside Local History Collection.