Chapter 5
Mirnu Wirra (Park 21 West)
Wikaparntu Wirra (Park 22)
Wirrarninthi (Park 23)
Mirnu Wirra (Park 21 West), Wikaparntu Wirra (Park 22) and
Wirrarninthi (Park 23)
Introduction
1.0
Directions
1.1
1.2
1.3
2.0
Desired Future Character Statement
Challenges and Opportunities
Management Directions
Background
2.1
Heritage
2.1.1
2.1.2
2.1.3
2.1.4
Kaurna Heritage
Kaurna Naming
European Significance
Heritage Listing
2.2
Landscape
2.3
Recreation
Lease and Licence Areas Map
2.4
Natural Systems
APPENDIX A
2
Introduction:
The Community Land Management Plan
This document is Chapter 5 of the Community Land Management Plan for the Park Lands (the CLMP). It
should be read together with Chapter 1, which is the CLMP Framework. Chapter 1 explains the
requirements for the CLMP, the legislative and planning context, the CLMP Statutory Principles, and the
CLMP Framework.
Mirnu Wirra (Park 21 West), Wikaparntu Wirra (Park 22) and Wirrarninthi (Park 23) are grouped together
in this Chapter because of similarities in landscape character and use. The key to each Chapter is the
Management Directions which represent the application of existing strategies and policies in each Park
area.
1.0 Directions for Mirnu Wirra (Park 21 West),
Wikaparntu Wirra (Park 22) & Wirrarninthi (Park
23)
1.1

1.2





Desired Future Character Statement
Embrace the contrast of exotic and biodiversity areas while meeting the recreation needs of the
community.
Challenges and Opportunities
Managing the Parks’ competing uses and activities, including various licence-holders, while preserving
its cultural landscape character.
Contributing to the open space recreational needs of the growing residential communities of the City
of Adelaide and Unley (particularly along South Terrace, West Terrace and Greenhill Road).
Improving the Parks’ appeal through improved safety and increased shade with perimeter and path
plantings.
Meeting demand for improved pedestrian and cyclist access for recreation and commuter purposes.
Use of the Parks for parking for the Royal Adelaide Show during September each year in recognition
of the importance of the event to the people of South Australia.
3
4
1.3
Management Directions
DESIRED FUTURE CHARACTER
‘Embrace the contrast of exotic and biodiversity areas while meeting the recreation needs of the community’
1.3.13 Lighting should support the safe movement of pedestrians throughout the
Park.(R9)
1.3.1 Enable appropriate activities and events in the Park. (RS2 & 6)
1.3.2 Conserve, enhance and interpret the identified cultural
heritage landscape and its contributory features including significant
vegetation features, exotic specimen trees, avenues and gardens,
including
11 (HS3, 4 & 5):
1.3.14 Ensure that CPTED principles are taken into consideration, whereby
sightlines are supported through vegetation management. (R9)
1.3.15 Support completion of the Wirrarninthi Interpretative Trail by installing
interpretive signage and promoting though schools and other educational
institutions. (NS7)
7
1. pine trees south of the playground in Mirnu Wirra (Park 21W)
2. the sugar gum avenue which dissects1Mirnu Wirra (Park 21W)
3. remnant wattle and white cypress pines grove plantings in Mirnu
Wirra (Park 21W)
4. Lundie Garden in Mirnu Wirra (Park 21W)
6. perimeter woodland planting in Wikaparntu Wirra (Park 22)
1.3.16 Review community benefit of West Terrace playground as part of an
analysis of playground requirements across the Park Lands, and consolidate play
opportunities in this precinct. (R 9)
Conserve
1.3.17 Manage car parking availability in Wylde Road to ensure use for parkusers. (MP6.2)
1.3.3 Retain, conserve and pursue Local Heritage Listing of:
6. Princess Elizabeth Playground, including sign, original trees and
shelter shed, and
7. Kingston Gardens and bandstand.
1.3.4 Manage the Wattle Grove War Memorial in Lundie Gardens in
recognition of its status as a State Heritage Place.
1.3.18 Manage the Princess Elizabeth Playground, adjoining Petanque and BBQ
facilities as a regional activity hub for informal recreation by providing facilities to
support the use of this area and interpret the heritage value of the playground
consistent with 1.3.3. (R9)
1.3.5 Manage bitumen area in Wirranendi (Park 23) for alternative
sport and event uses. (R 6)
1.3.19 Manage with biodiversity conservation as the primary objective. Remnant
Vegetation Sites shown as:
1.3.6 Maintain and enhance views and vistas to the skyline and the
Adelaide Hills through appropriate plantings and spatial
arrangements to reinforce the open and expansive character of the
Open Woodland/Sports Zone. (L.S.9) Views illustrated as:
4
5
5
5
5
5
5
1.3.7 Manage car parking availability for the large-scale netball
courts in Wikaparntu Wirra (Park 22) by restricting it to the
identified location shown as:
1.3.8 Manage car parking for the Royal Adelaide Show according to
the Deed of Agreement with the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural
Society of SA. Refer to map in Appendix A.
5
5
5
5
5
1.3.11 Plan for the needs of residents of both Unley and Adelaide
City Councils and pursue convenient and safe access across adjoining
main roads (Greenhill Rd).
Priority Park Lands Paths for upgrade shown as:
3
2 13
2
5
5
5
5
5
1.3.10 Support the upgrade of regional sports areas containing
multi use facilities. (R17)
Park Lands Trail shown as:
5
5
5
5
5
22
1.3.9 Allow use of Edwards Park toilets for events (R6).
1.3.12 Manage Park Lands Trail and other paths for the use of
residents and visitors and where appropriate completing the Trail
(including supporting facilities), upgrading existing and constructing
new paths and linking with the City and suburban walking and cycle
networks. (R10, 11 & 22)
1.3.20 Using Remnant Vegetation sites as core areas, seek opportunities to
achieve additional biodiversity outcomes in the broader area. (NS3 & 4) Key
Biodiversity areas shown as:
6
5
5
5
5
5
Mirnu Wirra (Park 21 West), Wikaparntu Wirra
(Park 22) and Wirrarninthi (Park 23)
References to Adelaide Park Lands Management Strategy:
R
H
L
NS
-
Recreation
Heritage
Landscape
Natural Systems
PLP - Park Lands Priority
S - Strategy
MP - Management Principles and Strategies
2 - Number refers to relevant strategy or principle
Example: HS &4 refers to Heritage Strategies 3 & 4
5
1.3.21 Continue to protect and manage the Biodiversity Revegetation Sites.
Biodiversity Revegetation sites shown as:
1.3.22 Continue to encourage and support the establishment and management of
Volunteer Biodiversity Sites. Volunteer Biodiversity Sites shown as:
1.3.23 Permit leases and licences as shown on the Lease and Licence Areas Map
in 2.3 and in accordance with Chapter One.
1.3.24 Strengthen the outer and City edges of the Park through large tree species
plantings and enhance the Parks’ open woodland character consistent with the
Open Woodland/Sports Zone, and manage landscape consistent with the planting
directions in 2.2 below. (L13)
1.3.26 Maintain Mirnu Wirra (Park 21W) for dog off-lead use.
1.3.27 Retain existing spatial layout and pathway alignments which are part of
the cultural heritage values of the Parks. (H8)
1.3.28 Ensure drainage lines are managed to accommodate stormwater
management and temporary detention of overflow.
2.0
Background
Mirnu Wirra (Park 21 West), Wikaparntu Wirra (Park 22) and Wirrarninthi (Park 23) comprises
part of the South and West Park Lands. The Adelaide Park Lands Landscape Master Plan
identifies four landscape zones in the Park Lands – these parks are within the Open
Woodland/Sports zone characterised by large open grassed spaces semi-enclosed by
predominantly native groves of trees, the open spaces generally used for sporting activities.
These parks feature recreation facilities such as the Princess Elizabeth Playground and Petanque
piste, as well as licensed sports ovals in Mirnu Wirra (Park 21 West), netball courts in Wikaparntu
Wirra (Park 22), and licensed sports areas and West Terrace Playground in Wirrarninthi (Park 23).
The West Terrace Cemetery is a major facility and important State Heritage Place in the centre of
Wirrarninthi (Park 23). This is managed by the Adelaide Cemeteries Authority, a State
Government subsidiary, so the Park Lands CLMP does not apply to this area.
The Parks feature isolated examples of remnant vegetation as well as a number of significant and
attractive cultural landscape features including avenues and Kingston Gardens.
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2.1
Heritage
2.1.1
Kaurna significance:
There are no specific references to Kaurna sites or activities, pre-contact or post-contact for this Park1.
However, there are general references that point to the regular use of the South Park Lands as a camping
venue.
Some Kaurna people associate areas in Mirnu Wirra (Park 21 West) with spiritual danger and believe this
Park has historical links to suspected colonial violence in the dispossession of their ancestors.
Many Aboriginal people are buried in West Terrace Cemetery and the playground in Wirrarninthi (Park 23)
was frequented by Aboriginal children living in the West End of Adelaide during the 1930s to 1950s.
2.1.2
Kaurna Naming:
As part of the Adelaide City Council’s commitment to reconciliation with Aboriginal communities,
places within the City have been given Kaurna names.
These Parks are known as:
“Mirnu Wira (Park 21 West)” which loosely translates as ‘golden wattle grove’
“Wikaparntu Wirra (Park 22)” which loosely translates as a newly-created word ‘netball park’
“Wirrarninthi (Park 23)” which loosely translates as “to become wirra (grove or forest)”
2.1.3
European significance:
Mirnu Wirra (Park 21 West) retains part of its original shape and form as devised by Colonel William Light,
and has evidence of substantial tree consistent with plans of John Ednie Brown2, including perimeter
plantations. Because the Park was dissected into two portions with the construction of Lewis Cohen Drive in
1906, the overall configuration of the Park as planned by Brown is substantially changed (illustrated below).
The more open structure, with defined perimeter plantings, was part of a more intense planting design
under Pelzer3.
Walyu Yarta (Park 21) also contains features of cultural heritage value, such as the groves of pine trees
south of the playground, the sugar gum avenue which dissects the Park and remnant wattle and white
cypress pines grove plantings on the site of the original ‘Wattle Grove” memorial plantation established in
1
Tarndanyungga Kaurna Yerta – A 1998 Report on the Indigenous Cultural Significance of the Adelaide Park Lands.
Ednie Brown, Council’s Supervisor of the Plantations, engaged to prepare a Report on a System of Planting the Adelaide Park Lands
(1880)
3 August Pelzer, City Gardener 1899-1934
2 John
7
1915 by the Wattle Day League, as well as the significant landscape features, Lundie Garden and the
Princess Elizabeth Playground developed by Pelzer in 1927.
Lundie Garden, developed in 1917 by Pelzer and originally called “South Terrace Garden”, includes plantings
of the Blue Atlantic cedars planted to frame the relocated Wattle Grove Memorial in 1960, an early stone
pine from the 1880s-1890s and Canary Island Palm.
The Princess Elizabeth playground includes plantings of four desert ash trees planted as part of the original
playground development by Pelzer in 1927. The Playground is significant as part of the second stage of
playground developments by Adelaide City Council, funded with money left over from the visit of the Duke
and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth), hence its name Princess Elizabeth.
Wikaparntu Wirra (Park 22) retains part of its overall shape and form as devised by Light and has evidence
of substantial tree planting that accords with spatial and species intent of Brown’s Report including
perimeter plantations. Wikaparntu Wirra (Park 22) also contains features of cultural heritage value such as
the perimeter planting of woodland as well as a few individual specimen trees but much of the Park is
consumed by netball courts, car parking area and the horticulture facility.
Wirrarninthi (Park 23) retains its general shape and form as planned by Light, and has evidence of
substantial tree planting consistent with the Brown’s Report including perimeter plantations. The Park is
dominated by the highly significant West Terrace Cemetery, a State Heritage Place which contains remnant
exotic and indigenous vegetation as well as built features. A number of specimen trees are scattered
8
throughout the Park, but the designed Kingston Gardens with its bandstand and remnant exotic tree
plantings, is the most significant cultural heritage feature in the Park. The West Terrace Playground was
designed by Pelzer in 1915.
Significant landscape features include Aleppo pine specimens near West Terrace Cemetery, sugar gums and a
range of exotic specimen trees. There is a detention basin in the northern part of the Park which partly
incorporates the Wirrarninthi interpretative trail. This is complemented by the artwork on Sir Donald
Bradman Drive, the “Lie of the Land” created by Alecks Danko and Jude Walton. Views to the east open up to
the Adelaide Hills in the distance.
2.1.4
Heritage Listing:
Mirnu Wirra (Park 21 West), Wikaparntu Wirra (Park 22) and Wirrarninthi (Park 23) are part of the “Adelaide
Park Lands and City Layout” which are on the National Heritage List. See Part 1, in the CLMP Planning
Framework, at 1.3.1 for further information.
The Wattle Grove War Memorial in Lindie Gardens has a provisional listing in the South Australian Heritage
Register. It is recommended that Local Heritage Listing of the following places in pursued:


Princess Elizabeth Playground in Mirnu Wirra (Park 21 West) including sign, original trees and shelter
shed.
Kingston Gardens and bandstand in Wirrarninthi (Park 23).
In addition, although the West Terrace Cemetery is within Wirrarninthi (Park 23) it is outside the scope of this
Community Land Management Plan which applies only to those parts of the Park Lands managed by Council.
The Cemetery is a State Heritage Place as is the Catholic Smyth Memorial Chapel within the Cemetery.
Areas within these Parks are to be managed with consideration of their cultural heritage value to the Park
Lands as a whole:



2.2
Wattle Grove in Mirnu Wirra (Park 21 West)
Lundie Gardens in Mirnu Wirra (Park 21 West)
Kingston Gardens in Wirrarninthi (Park 23).
Landscape
The Adelaide Park Lands Landscape Master Plan identifies four landscape zones in the Park Lands - Mirnu
Wirra (Park 21 West), Wikaparntu Wirra (Park 22) and Wirrarninthi (Park 23) are within the Open
Woodland/Sports zone characterised by large open grassed spaces semi-enclosed by predominantly native
groves of trees, the open spaces generally used for sporting activities.
Important supporting material to the development of the CLMP is the Adelaide Park Lands and Squares
Cultural Landscape Assessment Study October 2007 by Dr David Jones which provides detailed information
9
about the cultural landscape features of Kurrangga (Park 20).
Key planting directions from the Adelaide Park Lands Landscape Master Plan: Open Woodland/Sports Zone
are:








Restore and reinforce an open woodland character generally across the Zone.
Dominant tree species should be native/indigenous, informally planted, and interspersed with open
grassland.
Increase tree planting where spatial structure of open spaces needs enhancement.
Limit understorey planting to areas that screen out unwanted elements such as vehicular traffic, and
areas where natural landscapes for increased biodiversity are proposed, balanced with the general
‘open’ character of this zone, providing long views where appropriate.
Plant exotic grasslands for sports fields and active recreation, and native grasslands in other areas to
reinforce the natural character.
Retain exotic species around designated facilities and gardens and in culturally significant avenues.
Conserve and enhance areas of high biodiversity particularly key remnant vegetation sites.
Allow for food-bearing plants in suitable locations.
2.3
Recreation
Mirnu Wirra (Park 21 West), Wikaparntu Wirra (Park 22) and Wirrarninthi (Park 23) contribute to the
recreation facilities of Zone 1, the Open Woodland/Sports Zone indicated by the Adelaide Park Lands
Landscape Master Plan (insert web address here when finalised). The most significant of these is the
netball complex in Wikaparntu Wirra (Park 22). Other leased and licensed facilities (shown on the Lease
and Licence Areas Map below) include the ovals in Mirnu Wirra (Park 21 West) and Wirrarninthi (Park 23).
Existing facilities are available for use by other users outside of licensees’ hours of use.
These parks are not important event parks. However, Mirnu Wirra (Park 21 West) and Wikaparntu Wirra
(Park 22) contribute to the operations of the Royal Adelaide Show by providing car parking for visitors. In
addition, the extensive former netball courts in the southern part of Wirrarninthi (Park 23), known as
Edwards Park, are used for car parking during the Show.
The Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of SA has a deed of agreement with Adelaide City Council
recognising the value of the Royal Adelaide Show, with the long-term goal of phasing out use of the Park
Lands for broad acre parking on the Park Lands for the RAS. The Deed recognises the eventual shared
aspirational goal of removing car parking from the Park Lands through cooperative efforts between Council,
the Royal Agricultural Society, the State Government and adjacent Councils through:
•
achieving sustainable means of transport for the public to and from the Show, primarily through the
provision of efficient public transport, supported by on-site Showground parking.
The Deed:


provides mutual certainty about where, when and how many vehicles will be permitted to park in the
Park Lands;
meets public expectations regarding an appropriate and reasonable balance between the:
−
traditional provision of parking on the Park Lands during the Show charged at an appropriate fee;
10
−
−
need to ensure the remaining natural assets of the Park Lands are conserved; and
need to preserve the aesthetics and recreational use of the Park Lands."
Lease and Licence Areas Map
3
1
2
Legend
1.
2.
3.
Sports ovals
Netball courts
Sports oval
11
2.4
Natural Systems
Mirnu Wirra (Park 21 West), Wikaparntu Wirra (Park 22) and Wirrarninthi (Park 23) contain examples of
rare remnant vegetation. These can be found throughout Mirnu Wirra (Park 21 West), in parts around
Wikaparntu Wirra (Park 22) and in isolated examples in Wirrarninthi (Park 23) (see map). These primarily
take the form of native grasses and other understorey plantings.
The Biodiversity and Water Quality Action Plan 2011-2016 has been adopted by Council and represents the
additional research conducted in the development of ‘key biodiversity areas’ within Mirnu Wirra (Park 21
West), Wikaparntu Wirra (Park 22) and Wirrarninthi (Park 23).
12
Relevant Links:
Adelaide Park Lands Management Strategy
http://www.adelaidecitycouncil.com/assets/acc/Environment/planspolicies/docs/parklands_management_strategy.pdf
Cultural Landscape Study
http://www.adelaidecitycouncil.com/environment/park-lands/heritage1/cultural-landscape-study/
Landscape Master Plan
http://www.adelaidecitycouncil.com/assets/acc/Council/policies/docs/111107%20Parklands%20MP%20Repor
t_.pdf
Kaurna naming
http://www.adelaidecitycouncil.com/community/reconciliation/kaurna/place-naming
Cultural Landscape Study - general
http://www.adelaidecitycouncil.com/environment/park-lands/heritage1/cultural-landscape-study/
Cultural Landscape Study – Reports and Assessments on Tuttangga (Park 17), Wita Wirra (Park 18) and
Pityarrilla (Park 19)
http://www.adelaidecitycouncil.com/environment/park-lands/heritage1/cultural-landscape-study/
Adelaide City Council Biodiversity and Water Quality Action Plan
http://www.adelaidecitycouncil.com/assets/acc/Council/policies/docs/Biodiversity-and-Water-Quality%20Action-Plan.PDF
13
APPENDIX A – Royal Adelaide Show Parking Deed
14