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. It was redesigned in the 2000s and as of 2015 improvement works are ongoing.[2]
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.[3] In 2014, the prospect of establishing a community orchard within the Thorndon Park Reserve was considered.[4] Dogs are not permitted in the park.[5]
| Thorndon Park Reservoir | |
| Image Alt: | Thorndon Park Reservoir, 1899 |
| Coordinates: | -34.8744°N 138.6883°W |
| Status: | Drained and converted to a park |
| Construction Began: | 1857 |
| Opening: | 1860 |
| Demolished: | 1986 |
| Dam Type: | earth |
| Res Capacity Total: | 142000000impgal |
The Thorndon Park reservoir was the first reservoir built to supply the township of Adelaide.[6] It was under construction between 1857[7] and 1859 and was completed in 1860. At full capacity, the reservoir held 142000000impgal of water.[8]
In 1950 the tiny African freshwater jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbii was found in the reservoir.[9]