O'Halloran Hill, South Australia
Encyclopedia
O'Halloran Hill is a suburb in the south of Adelaide
, South Australia
, situated on the hills south of the O'Halloran Hill Escarpment, which rises from the Adelaide Plains
and located 18 km from the city centre via the Main South Road
. The suburb is split between the Cities of Marion
and Onkaparinga
, and it neighbours Happy Valley
, Hallett Cove
, Trott Park
and Darlington
.
Located on the foothills of the Mount Lofty Ranges
bordering the Adelaide plains
, the suburb was named after Major Thomas O'Halloran
, the first Police Commissioner of South Australia. O'Halloran was the second son of Major-General Sir Joseph O'Halloran. Majors Road, which runs through the suburb was also named in his honour.
In pre-European times this area, along with most of the Adelaide plains, was inhabited by the Kaurna tribe. During the suburbs early years there was conflict with the local Kaurna due to their tradition of burning off scrub
in the foothills to encourage game, as the fires tended to cause considerable damage to local farmland. In an official report, Major Thomas O'Halloran claimed the Kaurna also used this as a weapon against the colonists by lighting fires to deliberately destroy fences, survey pegs and to scatter livestock. Due to this regular burning, the foothills' original Stringybark
forests had been largely replaced with grassland by the time the first Europeans arrived. Since the late 1960s, restrictions on subdivision and development have allowed regeneration of native trees and bush to a "natural" condition that would never have actually existed.
North of Majors Road and extending into the adjacent suburbs of Trott Park
and Seaview Downs
is the 293 hectares (724 acre) O'Halloran Hill Recreation Park which contains walking trails through remnant bush and farm ruins. East of Main South Road is a large area of privately owned land used for horse agistment
. West of South Road is 200 hectares (494.2 acre) of farm land and commercial vineyards (Glenthorne Estate) now owned by the University of Adelaide
. O'Halloran Hill housing is a wedge shaped division which, apart from its southern boundary with Reynella East
is isolated from other suburban housing by the Glenthorne Estate and the Happy Valley Reservoir
that has resulted in a relatively low crime rate in comparison to surrounding suburbs.
The Glenthorne Estate was originally a farm and horse stud owned by Major Thomas O'Halloran, who lived on a property nearby named Lizard Lodge. Thomas O'Halloran was buried in a cemetery situated on the western side of South Road, and his tomb can still be found there. At the beginning of World War I
the property was purchased by the Australian Army to be used as a horse stud and army remount depot. In 1947 the Federal government took over the property and established the Glenthorne CSIRO
Research Station which was closed in 1998 with the property subsequently sold to the State government. In 2001 the State government handed the property to the University of Adelaide
for use as a vineyard and wine research facility in partnership with BRL Hardy, the worlds largest wine company.
O'Halloran Hill was also the former site of the Greater Union Drive-in known as the 'Star-line' which was the only drive-in theatre to overlook the lights of Adelaide.
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, situated on the hills south of the O'Halloran Hill Escarpment, which rises from the Adelaide Plains
Adelaide Plains
The Adelaide Plains is the area in South Australia between the Mount Lofty Ranges on the east and Gulf St Vincent on the west. The plains are generally fertile with annual rainfall of about per year....
and located 18 km from the city centre via the Main South Road
South Road, Adelaide
South Road is a major north–south conduit in Adelaide, South Australia. Also known as Main South Road, it is Adelaide's most important arterial road.- Route :...
. The suburb is split between the Cities of Marion
City of Marion
The City of Marion is a local government area in the southern suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia. The council offices are in the suburb of Sturt.-Suburbs:The suburbs in the City of Marion are:-External links:**...
and Onkaparinga
City of Onkaparinga
The City of Onkaparinga is a local government area located on the southern fringe of Adelaide, South Australia. It is named after the Onkaparinga River, whose name comes from Ngangkiparinga, a Kaurna word meaning "The Women's River"...
, and it neighbours Happy Valley
Happy Valley, South Australia
Happy Valley is a metropolitan suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It is located 20 km south of the Central Business District of Adelaide.Within the suburb is the Happy Valley Reservoir accompanied by South Australia's largest water treatment plant, responsible for supplying water to much of the...
, Hallett Cove
Hallett Cove, South Australia
Hallett Cove is a coastal suburb in the south of Adelaide, South Australia, with a population of more than 12,000 people. Adjoining suburbs are Marino to the north, Trott Park and Sheidow Park to the east and Lonsdale to the south. It is within the City of Marion Local Government Area...
, Trott Park
Trott Park, South Australia
Trott Park is a suburb in the south of Adelaide, South Australia. It has a population of 2,969 people .It is surrounded in most part by open space: the O'Halloran Hill Recreation Park, and Roseworthy Park, a former CSIRO landhold. It is also bordered by Sheidow Park, Hallett Cove and O'Halloran Hill...
and Darlington
Darlington, South Australia
Darlington is a suburb of Adelaide, South Australia part of which is in the City of Onkaparinga and the City of Marion.-References:...
.
History
- See Also: Hurtle Vale
Located on the foothills of the Mount Lofty Ranges
Mount Lofty Ranges
The Mount Lofty Ranges are the range of mountains just to the east of Adelaide in South Australia.-Location and description:The Mount Lofty Ranges stretch from the southernmost point of the Fleurieu Peninsula at Cape Jervis northwards for over before petering out north of Peterborough...
bordering the Adelaide plains
Adelaide Plains
The Adelaide Plains is the area in South Australia between the Mount Lofty Ranges on the east and Gulf St Vincent on the west. The plains are generally fertile with annual rainfall of about per year....
, the suburb was named after Major Thomas O'Halloran
Thomas Shuldham O'Halloran
Thomas Shuldham O'Halloran was the first Police Commissioner and first Police Magistrate of South Australia.O'Halloran was born in India, the second of eight sons of Major-General Sir Joseph O'Halloran, and a grandson of Irish surgeon Sylvester O%27Halloran.He entered the Royal Military College,...
, the first Police Commissioner of South Australia. O'Halloran was the second son of Major-General Sir Joseph O'Halloran. Majors Road, which runs through the suburb was also named in his honour.
In pre-European times this area, along with most of the Adelaide plains, was inhabited by the Kaurna tribe. During the suburbs early years there was conflict with the local Kaurna due to their tradition of burning off scrub
Fire-stick farming
Fire-stick farming is a term coined by Australian archaeologist Rhys Jones in 1969 to describe the practice of Indigenous Australians where fire was used regularly to burn vegetation to facilitate hunting and to change the composition of plant and animal species in an area.Fire-stick farming had...
in the foothills to encourage game, as the fires tended to cause considerable damage to local farmland. In an official report, Major Thomas O'Halloran claimed the Kaurna also used this as a weapon against the colonists by lighting fires to deliberately destroy fences, survey pegs and to scatter livestock. Due to this regular burning, the foothills' original Stringybark
Stringybark
A stringybark can be any of the many Eucalyptus species which have thick, fibrous bark. Like all eucalypts, stringybarks belong to the Myrtaceae family. In exceptionally fertile locations some stringybark species A stringybark can be any of the many Eucalyptus species which have thick, fibrous...
forests had been largely replaced with grassland by the time the first Europeans arrived. Since the late 1960s, restrictions on subdivision and development have allowed regeneration of native trees and bush to a "natural" condition that would never have actually existed.
North of Majors Road and extending into the adjacent suburbs of Trott Park
Trott Park, South Australia
Trott Park is a suburb in the south of Adelaide, South Australia. It has a population of 2,969 people .It is surrounded in most part by open space: the O'Halloran Hill Recreation Park, and Roseworthy Park, a former CSIRO landhold. It is also bordered by Sheidow Park, Hallett Cove and O'Halloran Hill...
and Seaview Downs
Seaview Downs, South Australia
-See also:*List of Adelaide suburbs...
is the 293 hectares (724 acre) O'Halloran Hill Recreation Park which contains walking trails through remnant bush and farm ruins. East of Main South Road is a large area of privately owned land used for horse agistment
Agistment
Agistment originally referred specifically to the proceeds of pasturage in the king's forests. To agist is, in English law, to take cattle to graze, in exchange for payment.-Agistment:...
. West of South Road is 200 hectares (494.2 acre) of farm land and commercial vineyards (Glenthorne Estate) now owned by the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
. O'Halloran Hill housing is a wedge shaped division which, apart from its southern boundary with Reynella East
Reynella East, South Australia
Reynella East is a metropolitan suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It lies within the City of Onkaparinga and has postcode 5161.-History:...
is isolated from other suburban housing by the Glenthorne Estate and the Happy Valley Reservoir
Happy Valley Reservoir
Constructed when the total population of Adelaide numbered 315,200 the Happy Valley Reservoir now supplies over a half a million people, from Adelaide's southern extent to the city-centre.-Construction:...
that has resulted in a relatively low crime rate in comparison to surrounding suburbs.
The Glenthorne Estate was originally a farm and horse stud owned by Major Thomas O'Halloran, who lived on a property nearby named Lizard Lodge. Thomas O'Halloran was buried in a cemetery situated on the western side of South Road, and his tomb can still be found there. At the beginning of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
the property was purchased by the Australian Army to be used as a horse stud and army remount depot. In 1947 the Federal government took over the property and established the Glenthorne CSIRO
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is the national government body for scientific research in Australia...
Research Station which was closed in 1998 with the property subsequently sold to the State government. In 2001 the State government handed the property to the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
for use as a vineyard and wine research facility in partnership with BRL Hardy, the worlds largest wine company.
O'Halloran Hill was also the former site of the Greater Union Drive-in known as the 'Star-line' which was the only drive-in theatre to overlook the lights of Adelaide.