Brownhill Creek

Several weeks ago on Postcards, we looked at the history of Mitcham endash one of the first villages in the new colony started in 1840. What was once the village green is now a public reserve with Brownhill Creek running through it. This is only the beginning of a terrific recreation park that stretches up into the foothills.

Brownhill Creek begins in a valley which is part of the H.K. Fry Reserve operated by the National Trust at Crafers.

From here it weaves down through the Adelaide Hills toward Mitcham endash nipping under Old Belair Road. It continues as a creek through Hawthorn, Hyde Park and Goodwood, before disappearing endash eventually running into the Patawalonga. Before it reaches Old Belair road there is a 52 hectare park which offers wonderful easy walks and a window on history.

The area was originally a popular place for the Kaurna (GARNA) who camped beneath the river red gums endash one known as "the monarch of the Glen" is estimated to be 300 years old and was used as a makeshift home for the first European settlers in the area. They used the fertile valley initially as a sheep station, and later as a market garden. Horse manure was used as a fertiliser and because it was often dumped, the Mitcham authorities built pits to stop it polluting the creek.

The settlers also built the Brownhill Creek Chapel in 1874 near the Tilleys Hill Rd ford. It served as a school for 50 years, but now only foundations are left. The one and a half kilometre walk is full of colour and birds endash a brochure has been produced by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and is available from the Enviroment Bookshop, Grenfell St Adelaide

There is also a tidy caravan park at the western end of the park which has sites and cabins available.

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