Thorndon Park Reserve

Thorndon Park Reserve is a public park in the Adelaide suburb of Paradise, South Australia. It was originally the site of the Thorndon Park reservoir, which was completed in 1860.^[1] The reserve became accessible to the public for recreational use in 1986.^{[citation needed]} It was redesigned in the 2000s^{[citation needed]} and as of 2015 improvement works are ongoing.^[2][3]

The reserve has picnic areas, barbecues, play equipment for children, large grassy areas, wheelchair-friendly walking paths, an amphitheatre, waterways and a terraced series of ponds and wetlands which support diverse native flora and fauna.^[4] In 2014, the prospect of establishing a community orchard within the Thorndon Park Reserve was considered.^[5] Dogs are not permitted in the park.^[6]

Thorndon Park reservoir

Thorndon Park Reservoir
Thorndon Park Reservoir, 1899
Coordinates	34°52′28″S 138°41′18″E
Status	Drained and converted to a park
Construction began	1857
Opening date	1860
Demolition date	1986
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	earth
Height	42 feet (13 m)[1]
Width (crest)	5 feet (1.5 m)
Width (base)	10 feet (3.0 m)
Reservoir
Total capacity	142,000,000 imperial gallons (650 Ml)
Surface area	26.5 acres (10.7 ha)[1]
Maximum water depth	40 feet (12 m)

The Thorndon Park reservoir was the first reservoir built to supply the township of Adelaide.^[7] It was under construction between 1857^[8] and 1859^[1] and was completed in 1860. At full capacity, the reservoir held 142,000,000 imperial gallons (650 Ml) of water.^[9][8]

In 1950 the tiny African freshwater jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbii was found in the reservoir.^[10]

Panorama of Thorndon Park Reservoir

See also

• List of Adelaide parks and gardens
• List of reservoirs and dams in Australia