Place
ContributeThe banks of the Torrens River, (called Karrawirra parri by the Kaurna,) have a long history of occupation and use. For the Kaurna People the Torrens and its banks were important places for hunting and food gathering. Further east along the Torrens, at what is now Botanic Park, they also held large gatherings with neighbouring tribes.
European settlement disrupted this use immediately. It also placed extreme pressure on the fragile resource. Within months of their arrival, the impact of the settlers’ camps, carts and animals was apparent, in mounds of rubbish and trampled banks. The waters were soon polluted, affecting the health of Europeans and Kaurna alike.
The Government Quarry
The landscape and topography of this particular area has changed a great deal since 1836. In Colonel Light’s 1837 plan of Adelaide this location was part of the Government Domain – a large section that extended over both sides of what is now King William Road (not then in existence) and reached almost to the banks of the river. The original Government Hut was located further west, somewhere behind the present location of the Adelaide Railway Station. When Governor Gawler arrived in the province in 1838 he took one look at the Government Hut and decided to build something bigger and better. The location he chose was the site of the present Government House on North Terrace at the junction with King William Street. Building began in 1839.
The Government House builders were lucky. They found a good source of stone close to hand and established what became known as the Government Quarry immediately behind the present grounds of Government House. That is why the land falls away so steeply behind the Government House wall. Apparently convenience continued to triumph over aesthetics or sensibilities, because the Government Quarry continued to operate until the mid-1850s, no doubt sending its dust and noise over Government House and its gardens. When it ceased operation as a quarry it became an unofficial rubbish dump.
Landscaping and Beautification
By the 1890s there was increasing concern about the state of the Torrens and its surroundings, and various beautification schemes were set in train. The quarry was filled in, the area landscaped and the palm trees we see today were planted. On the flat ground at the base of the quarry a parade ground was created for the colonial regiment and in 1899 the drill sheds that had been located on North Terrace were relocated behind the Parade Ground. In 1901 the area around including the Parade Ground was transferred to the new Commonwealth Government.
Military History
The area continued to be a centre for military activity in South Australia, along with the barracks built at Keswick. It served as both a mustering point and enlistment centre during both world wars. The classically proportioned low white building that sits to the west of the Parade Ground on Kintore Avenue was built for the Army in 1936. Designed by government architect C E Davis, it is described as being a fine example of the inter-war ‘Stripped Classical’ style, reminiscent of similar buildings constructed in Canberra at the time. Known simply as the Torrens Training Depot, it has been home to various units over time, including the 10th, 27th and 43rd/48th Battalions, and the University Regiment. The Depot features a large Drill Hall and a very fine block jarrah polished floor, capable of supporting the weight of heavy vehicles, which were stored there during the Army’s occupation. During the Vietnam conflict and later new recruits remember sleeping in the Drill Hall before leaving for their basic training. The jarrah must have made a hard bed!
Popular Use and Dissent
In addition to its official use by the military, the Parade Ground had another unofficial life. Even when surrounded by a low fence, the people of Adelaide continued to use it as a thoroughfare, crossing the Parade Ground to go to the city or the University of Adelaide. Eventually the Adelaide City Council bowed to the inevitable and created a footpath up the hill to Kintore Avenue. The Parade Ground also has a history linked to dissent in the city. During the years of the anti-Vietnam War protests demonstrators often rallied on the Parade Ground and it was used for protest gatherings both before and after this. More recently it has been the backdrop for the very successful Writers' Week Festival, held on the lawns by the Parade Ground each year in late-February-early March.
In 2001 the Parade Ground and Training Depot were returned to the South Australian Government and an extensive restoration project was completed on the site. The Depot housed various service groups and was the administrative headquarters of the History Trust of South Australia until October 2022. The History Trust's relocation was to enable the creation of a "veteran's hub" in the Drill Hall, which will be comprised of the Department for Veteran Affairs, Returned Sercvices League (RSL) South Australia, Vietnam Veterans Association, Air Force Association, and Legacy Club of South Australia and Broken Hill.
Comments
CommentAdd new comment
Hi CPL Corney,
The Parade Ground is now managed by the Heritage branch of the Department of Environment and Water. Contact details can be found on this site - https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/topics/heritage/visiting-heritage-plac...
Hi,
I hope you can help me, and I apologize if this is an incorrect forum to ask this - but if you can refer me to the correct POC, it will much appreciated. I am singing in the Military Wives Choir at Adelaide Zoo this Friday 05 Feb 21 and when DCO put this Welcome event on in 2019 - Torrens Parade Ground was opened to us for free parking. Will the Parade Ground be opened up this Friday afternoon, as I remember there was a boom gate at the entrance? Many thanks, Kath
That is fantastic information Tony,
Thank goodness for memories like yours!
Hello Leeanne.
I served at Torrens Training Depot from 1982 until the Army departed c2001, and then served at Keswick Barracks until 2013. I currently work as a volunteer for the RSL, in the Drill Hall, in my role as the Chief Marshal for the Adelaide ANZAC Day March.
Australia II was on public display at Torrens Parade Ground during March 1984. It was there while we were preparing the leave for our annual field exercise, and on the morning of our departure, one of our blokes acquired one of the Australian National Flags which were part of the display.
Australia II and its trailer were positioned on, and parallel with, the southern edge of the parade ground, to the south-west of the south-western corner of the Drill Hall.
The souvenired flag was, for many years, carried inside the battalion band's bass drum, on ceremonial parades. A mate of mine still has the flag.
Hope this helps.
Kind regards, Tony
Thanks Gordon! That narrows it down at least.
If you e-mail adelaidia at history.sa.gov.au (removing spaces and replacine at with @) you can send us the photos there. If it is outside and dark that sounds likely to be the Parade Grounds rather than the Festival Centre.
Not really, it is at night time, mainly just a crowd of people around the boat. It must have been summertime looking at their clothing.I'm not quite sure how to attach them to this post.
Is there much background in the photos Leeanne? Perhaps if you share them we might be able to find someone who recognises the location.
OK thanks Catherine. I will try the National Archives.
Hi Leeanne, The Torrens Parade Ground and Training Depot are currently managed by the Heritage branch of the Department of Environment and Water. They have only recently taken on management, however, and in the 1980s the site was managed by the Commonwealth Government, so if there is any documentation of the display it will either be in the Defence Department records, or at the National Archives of Australia. The site was handed over to the South Australian Government in 2001.
Hi, I was wondering if you might be able to solve a riddle for me. I have been going through some old photo's my husband took of Austrlalia 11 when it was on display. He thought that it was on display at the Adelaide Festival Centre, however the Adelaide Festival Centre have no record of it being there. My husband doesn't remember what year it was. I asked the Royal Australian Yacht squadron hoping someone with a long memory might remember the display and a rough date. Someone did recall seeing it but thought it was at the Torrens Parade Grounds. It had to be after 1983 and according to Wikipedia it was lent to the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney for display in 1991 and in 2000, it was removed from there and transferred to the Australian Maritime Museum in Fremantle, so it might have made a stop here around that time. So I'm realy hoping you will be able to solve this for me and give me a rough date. Thanks in advance.
Hi Sharon, can you tell me a bit more about your grandfather's plaque? There are a number of Honour Rolls in the Torrens Training Depot, these are all in the care of the RSL, if you want access to one of them it is best to contact the RSL archivist http://rslsa.org.au/
Your grandfather is listed on the Australian War Memorial site https://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/R2059421/ and on the Virtual War Memorial https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/explore/people/197869
Would like to know if we are able to access where my great grandfathers plaque is so that my mum can have a look when she comes down from Broken Hill in a couple of weeks. His name is William (Bill) Clarence Way Ahang. And could you direct me to where it is located please.
Thanks,
Sharon
Hi again Nicolette, after extensive searching the RSL archivist has not been able to find the board you refer to. See Filupe's comments re. other possibilities. The Army Museum would be a good place to start http://explorehistory.com.au/organisation/australian-army-museum-of-sout...
Thanks for that information Filupe, it's most useful.
Was that in conjunction with the Simpson Trophy? The Simpson Trophy is an annual shooting competition held between military units based in SA and whose history dates back to the 19th Century. I am aware that there is a Honour Board for previous winning teams of the Simpson Trophy (with individual members named) but not sure whether it extends right back to the 60's. This board is at the William Kibby VC club located at Keswick Barracks. There are other Honour boards held at Keswick Barracks around the place, including the Army Museum of SA. If the board specifically pertains to AUR then chances are they would still have it where they are now, which is Hampstead Barracks at Greenacres. I don't know whether they would have it on display or whether it would be in storage. I'll keep in mind to have a look next time I'm there.
Hi Nicolette,
I don't believe it's on public display here at present, but I've spoken to the RSL archivist and she's going to look up where it currently is for me. I'll let you know when I hear more.
My husband Nicholas Rinaldi served in Adelaide University Regiment in the mid sixties, he always mentions the Marksmen Honor Board on which he is named.
Is that board still in the Parade Ground Building or has it been moved to another site. We would be really appreciative if it could be located so we could perhaps visit and take some pictures.
Look forward to a reply.
Nicolette & Nicholas.