Hawthorndene, South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hawthorndene Adelaide, South Australia
Hawthorndene Location in South Australia
Established	1925
Postcode(s)	5051
LGA(s)	City of Mitcham
State electorate(s)	Waite
Federal Division(s)	Mayo
Suburbs around Hawthorndene: Blackwood Glenalta Belair Belair Blackwood Hawthorndene Upper Sturt Coromandel Valley Coromandel Valley Coromandel East Coromandel East
Footnotes	Adjoining suburbs

Hawthorndene is a suburb in the south-east of Adelaide, South Australia. It's nestled in the foothills of the Mount Lofty Ranges.

About 3,389 people lived here in 2021.

Hawthorndene has a popular place called Apex Park. It has two tennis courts and a big playground for families. You can also find barbecue areas and toilets there. Joan's Pantry is a cafe that opened in 1920. It looks over Hawthorndene Oval and has a special Community Garden. The Blackwood CFS (South Australian Country Fire Service) Station is also in Hawthorndene. It helps keep the area safe from fires.

History of Hawthorndene

Hawthorndene was first planned in 1925. This was done by A.E. and D.J. Hewett. The suburb's borders were fully set in 1988.

The name "Hawthorndene" comes from the many hawthorn bushes. These bushes grew along Minno Creek. Their seeds washed down from a hawthorn maze in Belair National Park. Also, C. Legh Winser had planted a hawthorn hedge. This hedge was around his orchard in what is now Glenalta. When most of the houses were built, the area was known as "Blackwood Estate."

Getting Around Hawthorndene

Blackwood railway station is on the western edge of Hawthorndene. It's a place where you can catch trains and buses.

Local buses connect Hawthorndene to the city. These buses include routes 195, 195F, 196 and 196F. They travel from Blackwood Interchange.

Blackwood Forest Recreation Park

In 1908, the government bought about 20.8 hectares of land. They wanted to use it as a special orchard for experiments. They planted many fruit and nut trees there. Later, in 1952, some Radiata Pines were planted too.

In 1968, the Woods and Forest Department took over the land. By 1972, all the fruit trees were removed. More pine trees were planted instead.

However, in 1985, there was a plan to cut down the trees. The community did not agree with this plan. A group called the "Save the Blackwood Forest Committee" worked hard to protect the land. Because of their efforts, the land was made a recreation park in November 2001. Now, it is a place for everyone to enjoy.