Thorndon Park Reserve
Dam
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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]
| Thorndon Park Reserve | |
|---|---|
The park and reservoir in 2018 | |
  Location within Greater Adelaide | |
 Interactive map of Thorndon Park Reserve | |
| Type | Public park |
| Location | Paradise, South Australia |
| Nearest city | Adelaide |
| Coordinates | 34°52′28″S 138°41′18″E |
| Created | c. 1980s |
| Operator | Campbelltown City Council |
| Status | Open all year |
Thorndon Park Reservoir | |
 Thorndon Park Reservoir, 1899 | |
| Purpose | Water supply |
| Status | Decommissioned |
| Construction began | 1857 |
| Opening date | 1860 |
| Demolition date | 1986 |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Earth fill dam |
| Height | 13 m (42 ft) |
| Width (crest) | 1.5 m (5 ft) |
| Width (base) | 3.0 m (10 ft) |
| Reservoir | |
| Total capacity | 650 ML (530 acre⋅ft) |
| Surface area | 10.7 ha (26.5 acres)[1] |
| Maximum water depth | 12 m (40 ft) |
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
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 650 megalitres (142,000,000 imp gal) of water.[9][8] The reservoir continued to be used until 1977 when structural safety concerns with the reservoir wall resulted in it being closed.[10]
In 1950 the tiny African freshwater jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbii was found in the reservoir.[11]
