Stonyfell, South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Stonyfell South Australia
Stonyfell, ca. 1915
Postcode(s)	5066
LGA(s)	City of Burnside
State electorate(s)	Bragg
Federal Division(s)	Sturt
Suburbs around Stonyfell: Erindale Wattle Park Stonyfell Greenhill Burnside Hazelwood Park

Stonyfell is a lovely suburb located in the eastern foothills of Adelaide, Australia. It's part of the City of Burnside area. This suburb is known for its beautiful parks with walking trails and two creeks that flow through it. You'll also find St Peter's Collegiate Girls' School here. Stonyfell has a long history, with a quarry (where stone is dug up) and a winery (where wine is made) that have been around since the early days of South Australia's settlement.

A Look at Stonyfell's Past

Before European settlers arrived, the land where Stonyfell now stands was home to the Kaurna people.

The Quarry and Winery Story

Stonyfell quarry, around 1923

The very first quarry in the area opened in 1837. It was started by James Edlin. This quarry supplied important building stone and slate for local construction. By 1850, it was known as Beacon Hill Quarry.

In 1858, Henry Septimus Clark bought land near the quarry. He wanted to start a vineyard. His fiancée, Annie Montgomery Martin, named the land "Stonyfell." This name came from a word for high, uncultivated ground.

Clark began planting grapevines, mostly a type called Black Portugal. He also built a two-storey wine cellar. It was made from stone dug up right there. By 1862, about 25 acres (10 ha) of land were covered in vines.

Later, the property, including the vineyards and winery, was taken over by Henry Dunstan in the late 1880s. He was a quarry operator. In 1892, he split the quarry and wine businesses into two separate companies.

Stonyfell Winery, around 1920

The Stonyfell winery continued to grow. It even started making wine for other vineyards. Over the years, different companies owned the winery. In 1978, the winemaking part of the business at Stonyfell stopped.

However, the old winery building found new life. In 1981, the Stonyfell Restaurant opened there. The building was also used as a function centre for events like weddings. The Stonyfell Function Centre closed in 2014.

In 2001, Amphora Wine Group bought the property. They reopened it to the public in 2007.

Clifton Manor Estate

The beautiful Clifton Manor estate was created by George Sismey, a flour miller. He built a grand Gothic Revival-style mansion in 1852.

Later, Nathaniel Knox leased and then bought the home. He made the gardens even bigger and planted many European trees. The estate was later divided into smaller pieces of land for housing.

The Olive Business

The Stonyfell Olive Company started in 1873. Joseph Crompton, William Mair, and Sidney Clark founded it. By the 1900s, they had about 100 acres (40 ha) planted with around 10,000 olive trees.

This company became the largest producer of olive oil in South Australia by 1932. They even partnered with Bickford's Australia to bottle their oil. As Adelaide grew, the land was sold for new homes.

Chiverton Manor

Another grand house, Chiverton, was built in 1880. It was built in the Italianate style for a merchant named John Nankivell. Soon after, he leased the house to Harry Bickford, who made drinks and syrups.

In 1894, a group of Anglican Sisters bought the house. They started a school there. In 1957, their school, St Peter's Girls' School, moved to this Stonyfell building. The house, stables, and coach house were all built from stone from the nearby quarry. They are now heritage-listed buildings, meaning they are protected for their historical importance. The main house is now used as the school's administration building.

Stonyfell Today

Stonyfell Creek starts on the eastern side of Stonyfell. It flows through several suburbs before joining Second Creek.

St Peter's Girls' School was founded in 1894. It moved to its current location on Hallett Road in Stonyfell in 1957.

Stonyfell Wines now uses grapes from vineyards in Langhorne Creek.

There is still a quarry working in Stonyfell. It has been operated by Boral since the 1980s. This quarry digs up sandstone and quartzite. The Stonyfell Quarry Reserve is located on Penfold Road.

Parks and Green Spaces

Stonyfell is home to some lovely parks and reserves.

Ferguson Conservation Park

The Ferguson Conservation Park is next to St Peter's School. It became a protected conservation park in 1977. This means it's a special area for nature. It was listed on the former Register of the National Estate in 1980.

Michael Perry Botanic Reserve

The Michael Perry Botanic Reserve is a long strip of land along Second Creek. It was once part of the Clifton Manor estate. This reserve was created in the 1970s. It is named after Michael Perry, who was a local council member and Mayor of Burnside for many years.

In 2012, a plan was made to help the reserve return to its natural plant life. Since then, work has been done to restore the area. The council and volunteers have planted over 500 native seedlings. A new walking track was also built in 2017. In 2019, another plan was made to help restore the historic garden areas within the reserve.