Thorndon Park Reserve is a public park in the Adelaide suburb of Paradise, South Australia. It was originally the site of the Thorndon Park reservoir, which was completed in 1860.[1] The reserve became accessible to the public for recreational use in 1986.[citation needed] It was redesigned in the 2000s[citation needed] and as of 2015 improvement works are ongoing.[2][3]
The reserve has picnic areas, barbecues, play equipment for children, large grassy areas, wheelchair-friendly walking paths, an amphitheatre, waterways and a terraced series of ponds and wetlands which support diverse native flora and fauna.[4] In 2014, the prospect of establishing a community orchard within the Thorndon Park Reserve was considered.[5] Dogs are not permitted in the park.[6]
Thorndon Park Reservoir | |
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Coordinates | 34°52′28″S 138°41′18″E / 34.87444°S 138.68833°E |
Status | Drained and converted to a park |
Construction began | 1857 |
Opening date | 1860 |
Demolition date | 1986 |
Dam and spillways | |
Type of dam | earth |
Height | 42 feet (13 m)[1] |
Width (crest) | 5 feet (1.5 m) |
Width (base) | 10 feet (3.0 m) |
Reservoir | |
Total capacity | 142,000,000 imperial gallons (650 Ml) |
Surface area | 26.5 acres (10.7 ha)[1] |
Maximum water depth | 40 feet (12 m) |
The Thorndon Park reservoir was the first reservoir built to supply the township of Adelaide.[7] It was under construction between 1857[8] and 1859[1] and was completed in 1860. At full capacity, the reservoir held 142,000,000 imperial gallons (650 Ml) of water.[9][8]
In 1950 the tiny African freshwater jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbii was found in the reservoir.[10]