Cowandilla, South Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids CowandillaAdelaide, South Australia |
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 Cowandilla
Location in South Australia
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| Postcode(s) | 5033 | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | City of West Torrens | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | West Torrens | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Adelaide | ||||||||||||||
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Cowandilla is a suburb located in Adelaide, South Australia. It's just a few kilometers west of the city center. You can find it very close to the Adelaide Airport. A major road, Sir Donald Bradman Drive, goes right through the middle of the suburb.
In May 2021, data showed that Adelaide's Western Suburbs, including Cowandilla, had the lowest unemployment rate in South Australia.
Cowandilla is home to the famous Western Youth Centre. This center opened in 1956. It has a well-kept oval, tennis courts, and a large clubhouse. Many sports teams and clubs use these facilities. You can play cricket, soccer, tennis, judo, gymnastics, marching, and table tennis here.
The Cactus and Succulent Society of South Australia also meets at the Western Youth Centre. This group started in 1964. Sophie Thomson, a presenter on the TV show Gardening Australia, is their patron.
The intersection of Marion Road and Sir Donald Bradman Drive is getting a big upgrade. The government is spending 45 million dollars on improvements in 2022.
Contents
History of Cowandilla
What's in a Name?
The name Cowandilla comes from the Kaurna language. The Kaurna people are the traditional owners of the land around Adelaide. The Kaurna word "Kawandilla" means "in the north." The developers who created the village in 1840 chose this name. They thought it meant something about "water."
Who Lives in Cowandilla?
Data from the 2021 Australian census tells us about the people living in Cowandilla. More than half of the residents are female. Many people in Cowandilla have Greek ancestry. Also, a good number of residents were born in India.
Economy and Housing
Cowandilla has become a very popular place to live. Between 2020 and 2021, house prices in Cowandilla went up a lot. This increase was much higher than the average for South Australia.
Sports in Cowandilla
Cricket Fun
The Western Youth Centre is home to the Western Youth Centre Cricket Club. This club started in 1961. It has teams for both adults and juniors. The oval also has practice nets for cricket that anyone can use.
Cowandilla has a special connection to cricket history. In 1930, a man named Alf Stone started "electric light cricket" here. He used light globes to play cricket at night in his backyard. Up to 50 young people would come to play. This led to a competition with 11 teams playing under lights in the 1930s.
A famous cricketer, Bruce Dooland, was born in Cowandilla in 1923. He learned to play cricket in his backyard. Dooland became a great bowler. He played for South Australia and Australia. He was known as the "leg spinning magician." Dooland taught Richie Benaud how to bowl the "flipper." This special bowling technique later helped Shane Warne become famous. Dooland was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1955.
Tennis and More
The Western Youth Centre Tennis Club uses the well-kept tennis courts. These are next to the oval.
Fishing Club
The Western Districts Angling Club is also based at the Western Youth Centre. This club started in 1938.
Soccer Action
The Adelaide Red Blue Eagles Football Club plays soccer at the Western Youth Centre. They are part of the South Australian Amateur Soccer League.
Places to See
Cowandilla has a primary school for young students. It is also home to the Orthodox Coptic Church in South Australia.
You can also find the Calvary Flora McDonald Retirement Community here. This is a modern facility for older residents. It welcomes people from many different backgrounds.
