Field River
Encyclopedia
The Field River is located some 20 kilometres south of Adelaide
in South Australia
. The catchment area of the Field River includes the Happy Valley Reservoir
, part of Main South Road
and the Southern Expressway
and covers a total area of 55.3 km2. Suburbs bordering the river include Hallett Cove, Reynella
, Shiedow Park
, Trott Park
, Happy Valley
and Woodcroft
in South Australia
.
on his journey to South Australia
in 1836 aboard the brig
Rapid and discovered the river in 1837 while surveying the area.
After initially being named the Field River the name was changed to Hallett Creek due to the Onkaparinga River
also being known as Fields River. It was subsequently renamed Field River during the 20th century, however, in 1990 consideration was given to changing the name to Serpentine Creek.
In the 1840s the mouth of the Field River was used to land contraband goods for market in Adelaide
. In 1850 a State Government Commission examining locations for secure anchorage suggested that the mouth of the river was a suitable site for a harbour.
The discovery of copper in the 1840s at the Worthing Mine (on the south eastern side of Lonsdale Road) promoted interest in using the Field River as a means of transporting the copper ore from the mine to the sea. By 1856 mining had ceased due to the lack of further investment money. The majority of the Field River runs along steeply inclined undeveloped land which was quarried during the early 20th century http://www.onkaparingacity.com/libraries/localstudies/view_details.asp?RefID=80 http://www.onkaparingacity.com/libraries/localstudies/view_details.asp?RefID=65 http://www.onkaparingacity.com/libraries/localstudies/view_details.asp?RefID=926 http://www.onkaparingacity.com/libraries/localstudies/view_details.asp?RefID=63 http://www.onkaparingacity.com/libraries/localstudies/view_details.asp?RefID=64.
The importance of the coastline to the indigenous inhabitants (Kaurna people) is clearly demonstrated with large quantities of cultural material collected from areas adjacent to the outflow of the Field River.
In 1992 the fossil remains of the world's largest marsupial - the Diprotodon
- were discovered on the bank of the river by Trevor Westlake ( a founding committee member of the Friends of the Lower Field River). The fossil, which is at least 70,000 years old, is now in the care of the South Australian Museum
.
The stream flow of the Field River is highly seasonal and variable with an average annual runoff of 5,100 ML. The majority of the stream can dry out completely during summer, staying that way well into autumn. The final portion of the river is spring
fed and flows into the Gulf St Vincent
all year round.
The Field River flows through or is bordered by the City of Marion
and City of Onkaparinga
. The lower reaches of the river ran through private property owned by the Sheidow family until 1993 when the land was sold for housing development and became Cove Point in the suburb of Hallett Cove. The stretch of the river further inland on the south eastern side of Lonsdale Road is presently in private ownership. This parcel of land has been identified as being an important part of the proposed Great Southern Urban Forest of Adelaide.
A number of primary schools including Braeview, Reynella East and Hallett Cove South have projects underway which involve revegetation and other environmental studies of the Field River.
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. The catchment area of the Field River includes the Happy Valley Reservoir
Happy Valley Reservoir
Constructed when the total population of Adelaide numbered 315,200 the Happy Valley Reservoir now supplies over a half a million people, from Adelaide's southern extent to the city-centre.-Construction:...
, part of Main South Road
South Road, Adelaide
South Road is a major north–south conduit in Adelaide, South Australia. Also known as Main South Road, it is Adelaide's most important arterial road.- Route :...
and the Southern Expressway
Southern Expressway
The Southern Expressway is the world's longest reversible one way freeway. Originally proposed as 'Noarlunga Freeway', it was built as a corridor to relieve heavy traffic from the major arterial, Main South Road, in Adelaide's south. The expressway was built in two stages — the first...
and covers a total area of 55.3 km2. Suburbs bordering the river include Hallett Cove, Reynella
Reynella, South Australia
Reynella is a metropolitan suburb of Adelaide, South Australia.It is located 20km south of the Central Business District of Adelaide in the north of the City of Onkaparinga...
, Shiedow Park
Sheidow Park, South Australia
Sheidow Park is a suburb in the south of Adelaide, South Australia. The suburb is approximately from the city-centre and is situated on coastal hills above the Adelaide Plains.-History:...
, Trott Park
Trott Park, South Australia
Trott Park is a suburb in the south of Adelaide, South Australia. It has a population of 2,969 people .It is surrounded in most part by open space: the O'Halloran Hill Recreation Park, and Roseworthy Park, a former CSIRO landhold. It is also bordered by Sheidow Park, Hallett Cove and O'Halloran Hill...
, Happy Valley
Happy Valley, South Australia
Happy Valley is a metropolitan suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It is located 20 km south of the Central Business District of Adelaide.Within the suburb is the Happy Valley Reservoir accompanied by South Australia's largest water treatment plant, responsible for supplying water to much of the...
and Woodcroft
Woodcroft, South Australia
Woodcroft is a metropolitan suburb of Adelaide, South Australia, located 20 km south of the Central Business District of Adelaide. It is bordered to the north by Reynell Road, to the south by Bains Road, to the west by Panalatinga Road and by the Hills Face Zone to the east.- History :Originally...
in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
.
Overview
The river was named after Royal Navy Lieutenant W.G. Field who served under Colonel LightWilliam Light
Colonel William Light was a British military officer and the first Surveyor-General of the Colony of South Australia...
on his journey to South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
in 1836 aboard the brig
Brig
A brig is a sailing vessel with two square-rigged masts. During the Age of Sail, brigs were seen as fast and manoeuvrable and were used as both naval warships and merchant vessels. They were especially popular in the 18th and early 19th centuries...
Rapid and discovered the river in 1837 while surveying the area.
After initially being named the Field River the name was changed to Hallett Creek due to the Onkaparinga River
Onkaparinga River
The Onkaparinga River runs from its source between Mount Torrens and Charleston in the Mount Lofty Ranges, and flows south westerly to an estuary at Port Noarlunga. The catchment is over 500 km² in area, and is in part located in the Onkaparinga River National Park.The Onkaparinga River is the...
also being known as Fields River. It was subsequently renamed Field River during the 20th century, however, in 1990 consideration was given to changing the name to Serpentine Creek.
In the 1840s the mouth of the Field River was used to land contraband goods for market in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
. In 1850 a State Government Commission examining locations for secure anchorage suggested that the mouth of the river was a suitable site for a harbour.
The discovery of copper in the 1840s at the Worthing Mine (on the south eastern side of Lonsdale Road) promoted interest in using the Field River as a means of transporting the copper ore from the mine to the sea. By 1856 mining had ceased due to the lack of further investment money. The majority of the Field River runs along steeply inclined undeveloped land which was quarried during the early 20th century http://www.onkaparingacity.com/libraries/localstudies/view_details.asp?RefID=80 http://www.onkaparingacity.com/libraries/localstudies/view_details.asp?RefID=65 http://www.onkaparingacity.com/libraries/localstudies/view_details.asp?RefID=926 http://www.onkaparingacity.com/libraries/localstudies/view_details.asp?RefID=63 http://www.onkaparingacity.com/libraries/localstudies/view_details.asp?RefID=64.
The importance of the coastline to the indigenous inhabitants (Kaurna people) is clearly demonstrated with large quantities of cultural material collected from areas adjacent to the outflow of the Field River.
In 1992 the fossil remains of the world's largest marsupial - the Diprotodon
Diprotodon
Diprotodon, meaning "two forward teeth", sometimes known as the Giant Wombat or the Rhinoceros Wombat, was the largest known marsupial that ever lived...
- were discovered on the bank of the river by Trevor Westlake ( a founding committee member of the Friends of the Lower Field River). The fossil, which is at least 70,000 years old, is now in the care of the South Australian Museum
South Australian Museum
The South Australian Museum is a museum in Adelaide, South Australia, founded in 1856. It occupies a complex of buildings on North Terrace in the cultural precinct of the Adelaide Parklands.-History:...
.
The stream flow of the Field River is highly seasonal and variable with an average annual runoff of 5,100 ML. The majority of the stream can dry out completely during summer, staying that way well into autumn. The final portion of the river is spring
Spring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
fed and flows into the Gulf St Vincent
Gulf Saint Vincent
Gulf St Vincent is a large inlet of water on the southern coast of Australia, in the state of South Australia. It is bordered by Yorke Peninsula to its west coast and Fleurieu Peninsula on its east coast. Kangaroo Island sits across the opening to the Southern Ocean on the southwest.Adelaide, the...
all year round.
The Field River flows through or is bordered by the City of Marion
City of Marion
The City of Marion is a local government area in the southern suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia. The council offices are in the suburb of Sturt.-Suburbs:The suburbs in the City of Marion are:-External links:**...
and City of Onkaparinga
City of Onkaparinga
The City of Onkaparinga is a local government area located on the southern fringe of Adelaide, South Australia. It is named after the Onkaparinga River, whose name comes from Ngangkiparinga, a Kaurna word meaning "The Women's River"...
. The lower reaches of the river ran through private property owned by the Sheidow family until 1993 when the land was sold for housing development and became Cove Point in the suburb of Hallett Cove. The stretch of the river further inland on the south eastern side of Lonsdale Road is presently in private ownership. This parcel of land has been identified as being an important part of the proposed Great Southern Urban Forest of Adelaide.
A number of primary schools including Braeview, Reynella East and Hallett Cove South have projects underway which involve revegetation and other environmental studies of the Field River.
External links
- Drive Through Marions Historic Hills - Marion City Council