Blackwood, South Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids BlackwoodAdelaide, South Australia |
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Blackwood Soldiers' Memorial
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| Established | 1879 | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 5051 | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | City of Mitcham | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Waite | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Boothby | ||||||||||||||
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Blackwood is a suburb in the south-eastern part of Adelaide, South Australia. It's nestled in the foothills, which means it's close to the mountains. This area is part of the City of Mitcham, which is its local government.
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What's in a Name?
Blackwood probably got its name from trees. It might be from the Australian blackwood tree (called Acacia melanoxylon). This tree grows in the nearby Mount Lofty Ranges. Or, it could be from the Eucalyptus odorata tree, which grows in Blackwood and has dark bark.
Blackwood's Past
The first mention of "Blackwood" was in 1847. It was for a place called Blackwood Vale Farm. This farm is now in Glenalta.
One of the first places actually named Blackwood was the Blackwood Inn. It opened in 1869. Later, in 1880, its name changed to the Belair Hotel.
The Belair Post Office opened in 1859. It was renamed Blackwood Post Office in 1881. This happened when the original Belair office moved.
How Blackwood Grew
People started getting land in the Blackwood area in 1840. Churches were also built during the 1800s. But Blackwood really started to grow when the railway line opened.
The Adelaide–Wolseley railway line connected Adelaide to Aldgate. The Blackwood railway station opened in 1883. Around this time, land was divided up for houses. The railway line later went all the way to Melbourne.
Cool Places to Visit
Blackwood Soldiers' Memorial
The Blackwood Soldiers' Memorial was built in 1921. It stands in a very important spot in Blackwood. This is the "five-ways roundabout." It's a special landmark in the area.
Wittunga Botanic Garden
Wittunga Botanic Garden is located in Blackwood. It started as a private garden in 1901. It had English-style gardens. Today, it shows off plants from Australia and South Africa.
Schools in the Area
You'll find Blackwood High School and Blackwood Primary School nearby. They are actually located in Eden Hills. St Peters Lutheran School is also in Blackwood. It's on Cumming Street, across from the Blackwood Football Club oval.
Nature and Wildlife
The area has lots of different animals. You might see kangaroos, koalas, and echidnas. These animals sometimes wander into the nearby Craigburn Farm. There are also many waterfalls, creeks, and gullies around.
Shops and Restaurants
Since the late 1800s, Main Road in Blackwood has been a busy place. It has many different food shops and retail stores.
Churches
Blackwood has many different churches. These include the Uniting Church, Anglican Church, Church of Christ, Baptist Church, Roman Catholic Church, and Lutheran Church. There are also Pentecostal churches like the Hills Christian Family Centre.
Getting Around Blackwood
Blackwood railway station is a main transport spot. From here, you can catch buses to Adelaide and the outer Southern suburbs. You can also take trains to Adelaide and Belair.
Blackwood in the News
The Blackwood area used to have its own newspapers. The Coromandel was published from 1945 to 1970. Its next version was the Coromandel Times, which ran from 1970 to 1976.
Today, there's a local newspaper called The Blackwood Times. It started in 1994. This newspaper is delivered for free to over 13,000 homes and businesses. It covers areas like Belair, Blackwood, and Eden Hills. It shares local news, events, and information about the Mitcham Council.
Famous People from Blackwood
In 2001, the suburbs of Blackwood, Glenalta, and Craigburn Farm had a total population of 6,379 people.
Some well-known people have lived in or are from the Blackwood area:
- Norman Tindale: An expert in anthropology, archaeology, and insects. He lived in Blackwood from 1955 to 1969.
- Hilltop Hoods: A famous hip hop group.
- Beccy Cole: A country singer. Her song "Blackwood Hill" is about the suburb.
- Milton Trott: An award-winning composer and filmmaker.
- Allday: An independent hip hop artist.
