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Quondong Avenue in Kensington Gardens takes its name from the quandong, a native Australian tree found across the central deserts and southern regions of Australia.

Its bright red fruit, often called a native peach, has long been used as a bush food and is often used as an ingredient in jams and desserts.

Quondong Avenue is one of several nearby streets named after Australian trees, including Brigalow Avenue, Coolibah Avenue and Myall Avenue. Each of the streets are located near Kensington Gardens Reserve/Kensington Wama, which was dedicated as a permanent recreation space in 1909, around the same time that the nearby streets were subdivided.

Photo: Aerial view of Kensington Gardens Reserve in 1945. Burnside Local History Collection.

Simple steps every cat owner can take on responsible pet ownership.

Cats are much-loved companions and an important part of many Burnside households. Whether you've owned cats for years or recently welcomed a new kitten into your family, responsible cat ownership helps ensure our pets live healthy, happy lives. The good news is that a few simple steps can make a big difference.

Home is the safest place

Allowing cats to roam freely can expose them to a range of risks, including traffic, disease, injury, poisoning and fights with other animals. Research shows that cats that are safely contained often live longer, healthier lives than those allowed to roam.

Containment can be achieved in many ways, including keeping cats indoors, providing access to a secure outdoor enclosure (often called a catio), or installing cat-proof fencing systems. These options allow cats to enjoy stimulating environments while remaining safe on their own property.

For new kitten owners, establishing containment from an early age can be especially beneficial. Kittens that grow up living indoors or within secure outdoor spaces often adapt quickly and comfortably to these environments.

Creating an Enriching Life for Your Cat

Contained cats can lead active, healthy and rewarding lives when provided with opportunities to play, explore and exercise.

Simple enrichment ideas include:

• Climbing towers and scratching posts.

• Interactive toys and puzzle feeders.

• Window perches and outdoor viewing areas.

• Regular playtime with family members.

• Secure outdoor enclosures or catios.

• Somewhere high for the cat to climb (e.g., an accessible and well-supported windowsill, ledge or shelf).

• A quite place, where a cat can recharge.

Providing enrichment supports both your cat's physical and mental wellbeing while helping to reduce boredom and stress.

Being a Good Neighbour

Roaming cats can sometimes cause issues for neighbouring properties, including digging in gardens, fighting with other cats, spraying and wandering onto private property. Neighbours can be disrupted by cats but unwilling to share their concerns with the cat owner.

Keeping your cat contained helps minimise these impacts and contributes to a more harmonious community. Responsible cat ownership benefits not only your pet, but also your neighbours and the wider community.

Good for Cats, Good for Wildlife

While cats are much loved and valued pets, they are also natural hunters. Even well-fed cats may hunt birds and other animals.

Burnside's parks, reserves and backyards provide important habitat for native wildlife, which is much loved by the community. By keeping cats safely contained, residents can play a meaningful role in protecting local biodiversity while still providing their pets with happy and fulfilling lives.

Containment is one of the simplest and most effective actions cat owners can take to help native wildlife thrive.

Consider Night-Time Containment

If full-time containment is not immediately possible, keeping cats indoors or securely contained between dusk and dawn is certainly beneficial.

Many native species are most active during these hours, making them particularly vulnerable to roaming pets. Night-time containment can significantly reduce impacts on wildlife while also helping keep cats safe from harm.

Responsible cat ownership involves more than containment

Responsible cat ownership in the City of Burnside includes ensuring your cat is microchipped, desexed (unless exempt), recorded on Dogs and Cats Online (DACO), and safely contained on your property.

These simple steps improve animal welfare, support the return of lost pets and help protect local wildlife.

Microchipping provides the best chance of being reunited with your cat if it becomes lost, while keeping your details up to date on Dogs and Cats Online helps ensure you can be contacted quickly if your pet is found.

Desexing helps prevent unwanted litters and can reduce roaming tendencies and some unwanted behaviours.

For information about recording your cat's details on DACO, visit the Dogs and Cats Online website or speak with your local veterinarian.

Simple Steps You Can Take Today

✔ Register your cat.

✔ Ensure your cat is microchipped and your details are up to date.

✔ Desex your cat unless exempt.

✔ Keep your cat safely contained, particularly at night.

✔ Provide enrichment through toys, climbing structures and play.

✔ Help protect your cat and native wildlife by preventing roaming.

✔ Be considerate of neighbours and surrounding properties.

Small Actions, Big Difference

Responsible cat ownership is good for cats, good for neighbours and good for the environment.

By registering, microchipping and desexing your cat, providing an enriching home environment and keeping them safely contained, you can help your pet live a longer, healthier life while supporting the protection of local wildlife.

Together, we can create a community where pets and wildlife thrive side by side.

For more information about responsible cat ownership, cat containment options and your obligations as a cat owner, visit the Dog and Cat Management Board website at dogandcatboard.com.au.

From social media and video calls to booking appointments and avoiding scams, technology has become part of everyday life. Yet for many residents, particularly older Australians, keeping pace with the digital world can be challenging.

Burnside Library's Digital Literacy Program 'BTech' is helping bridge that gap by giving community members the confidence and skills to use technology safely, independently and with greater peace of mind.

Through a range of free learning opportunities, the program provides practical support in a welcoming environment where participants can learn at their own pace. One of the more popular offerings is Tech Help – free one-on-one sessions where residents can bring along their smartphone, tablet or laptop and receive personalised assistance from Library staff. For those looking to build their digital confidence over time, the Library also delivers its Digital Skills Training for Over 50s program in partnership with the Australian Government's Be Connected initiative. These small-group sessions provide personalised support while introducing participants to free online learning resources they can continue to use long after the class has finished.

Beyond individual support, the program delivers workshops covering topics such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, scam awareness, password management, online shopping, accessibility features and home automation. Participants can also explore emerging technologies, including robotics and virtual reality, encouraging curiosity and lifelong learning.

Digital Literacy Officer at the City of Burnside, Josh said as services continue to move on to digital formats, more members of the community are being left behind.

‘Technology shouldn't be something that excludes people. Our goal is to create a welcoming space where people can ask questions, build confidence and discover that learning new digital skills is possible at any age.

‘We see people arrive unsure about how to access technology and leave with the confidence to solve problems on their own. That's incredibly rewarding because those skills often improve many aspects of daily life.

‘Digital literacy isn't just about using devices. It's about helping people stay connected and access essential services safely.’

Digital literacy is about more than understanding technology. It helps people stay connected with family and friends, access essential services, participate confidently in the community and better protect themselves from online scams and cyber threats. As technology continues to evolve, these skills are becoming increasingly important for maintaining independence and everyday wellbeing.

The program continues to grow to meet community needs. A new addition will soon be the Tovertafel, an interactive projection system designed to support physical, cognitive, social and sensory engagement for people living with dementia and other cognitive challenges, further strengthening the Library's commitment to inclusive and accessible technology experiences.

Repeat attendee at BTech and Tech Help, Irene said Josh and the Library team are an incredible free resource for the community.

‘I like to think I’m savvy with technology, but with how fast it’s moving, I need help keeping up.

‘I spent 3 weeks going back and forth with a company about software on my computer, I came into the Library and Josh helped me reinstall and set everything up during out session.

‘I find both the one-on-one sessions and the workshops really worthwhile.’

Whether learning a new skill, asking a simple question or exploring the latest technology, Burnside Library's Digital Literacy Program is ensuring more members of the community can embrace the digital world with confidence.

To see a list of upcoming BTech topics and times for one-on-one Tech Help, visit the City of Burnside Bookable page: https://burnside-events.bookable.net.au/#!/

Tech Help: one-on-one sessions to help you solve all your tech issues

BTech always has a interesting selections of tech workshopsProgram organiser Josh

Many people may assume that Pembroke Street in Kensington Park was named after Pembroke School, given their close proximity and shared name. However, the historical record tells a different story.

Pembroke Street appears on a subdivision plan dating from 1876, indicating that the name was in use well before the establishment of what is now Pembroke School. The school's origins can be traced to Girton School, founded in 1915, and Kings College, founded in 1924, meaning the street name predates the institution by almost four decades.

The naming of Pembroke Street is likely associated with a broader pattern of street names in the area drawn from places in the United Kingdom. Nearby examples include Bedford Street, Ellesmere Street, Uxbridge Street and Walsall Street, reflecting the influence of British place names on the development of Kensington Park during the nineteenth century.

Photograph: Aerial view of Kensington Park, arrow to indicate Pembroke Street, 1949.

Old Norton Summit Road, winding from the top of Magill to Norton Summit, takes its name from Robert Norton, one of South Australia’s first colonial settlers.

Arriving in January 1837 aboard the Coromandel, Norton built a simple log and clay house in the area that would later become known as Norton Summit.

Norton is credited as the first person to drive a team of bullocks up the steep section of Giles' Hill to Norton Summit. He was also among the first settlers to cultivate vegetables during the summer months, supplying Adelaide with fresh produce from the Hills.

Old Norton Summit Road became an important route linking Adelaide with these growing agricultural settlements. Today, the road offers a glimpse into the challenges faced by early travellers and settlers making their way into the Mount Lofty Ranges.

Photograph: Old Norton Summit Road, circa 1930. Burnside Local History Collection.

A fire inside an East Waste collection truck prompted a major emergency response in Watson Avenue, Toorak Gardens on Friday afternoon, after a container of chlorine was incorrectly disposed of in a household’s red waste bin.

The truck's load was discharged onto the roadway to allow the fire to be extinguished. East Waste, supported by the Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) and South Australia Police (SAPOL), coordinated the response and safely removed the waste. Council's Depot team also assisted with the clean-up, pressure washing and sweeping the affected section of road to ensure the area was left clean and safe. The Integrated Waste Services (IWS) facility delayed closing to receive and process the contaminated waste in a quarantined setting.

Neither the driver nor East Waste vehicle were harmed during the incident.

The incident is an important reminder that hazardous household chemicals should never be placed in general waste, recycling or green organics bins.

Products such as pool chemicals, batteries, paint, solvents, fuels, pesticides and other hazardous substances can react with other materials during collection, creating a serious fire risk for waste collection crews and the wider community.

This type of incident is easily preventable by disposing of household chemicals through dedicated hazardous waste drop-off facilities.

Green Industries SA provides free household chemical disposal locations across metropolitan and regional South Australia, making it easy to dispose of hazardous products safely and responsibly.

Find your nearest hazardous waste drop-off location at: https://www.greenindustries.sa.gov.au/hazwaste

A giant 6.7 metre eucalyptus log weighing approximately eight tonnes has been installed as the centrepiece of the new redevelopment for the adventure playground at Kensington Wama / Kensington Gardens Reserve.

The impressive log was recently craned into position, alongside a collection of smaller logs that will form a nature-based play area. Together, these natural elements will encourage children to climb, balance, explore and engage in imaginative outdoor play, creating a play experience unlike any other in Burnside.

Rather than being discarded after falling of natural causes, the tree has been repurposed, allowing children to interact with and appreciate this impressive specimen in a new way. Donated by the City of Adelaide, the fallen giant has been given a new life, allowing future generations to interact with and appreciate a magnificent tree in an entirely different way.

The new playground currently under construction has been shaped through an extensive co-design process involving local residents, the neighbouring preschool, Council staff, Kaurna cultural advisors and arborists. Working closely with Council's arborists has also ensured the playground can be delivered while protecting the mature eucalyptus trees that continue to define the character of the reserve.

Inspired by local birdlife, the new adventure playground will feature a custom bird-hide play structure, flying fox, climbing equipment, monkey bars, swings, a trampoline and a range of inclusive play opportunities for children of all ages and abilities.

An artist engaged as part of the project is also exploring ways to incorporate creative elements into the natural play area, helping transform the giant log and surrounding landscape into a distinctive destination that celebrates both nature and play.

When the suburb of Dulwich was first laid out, it contained several unnamed night-cart lanes. In the 1990s, Burnside Council decided to formally name these lanes to improve identification and wayfinding. One of these is Nursery Lane, named in 1995 in recognition of the Dulwich Plant Nursery that once operated nearby.

Located on the corner of Cleland Avenue and Mellington Street, the Dulwich Plant Nursery was better known to locals as ‘Grant’s Nursery’. John Grant purchased the property and established the nursery in 1857. The business was later continued by his son, Stephen Garforth Grant, who managed it until 1924. Stephen Grant was also an active member of the community, serving as a Burnside District Councillor from 1904 to 1929.

The nursery specialised in vegetable and flower seedlings and is believed to have been the first nursery in the district. Both the nursery and the family home have since been demolished.

Photograph: Stephen Grant and family at their home, 1908. The nursery is believed to have been located behind the house. Burnside Local History Collection.

Mary Penfold Drive in Rosslyn Park honours the legacy of Mary Penfold (née Holt), a pioneering winemaker and co-founder of Penfolds Winery.

After arriving from England, Mary and her husband, Dr Christopher Rawson Penfold, purchased land in Magill (then spelled Makgill) in 1844. They initially built a timber shack, which was replaced a year later with a stone cottage named The Grange, after Mary’s family home in England.The couple brought grapevine cuttings with them, establishing what would become one of Australia’s most significant vineyards. Mary played a central role, supervising vineyard work and making wine with the assistance of her companion and employee, Ellen Timbrell. Their early wines were used as medicinal tonics for Dr Penfold’s patients.

Mary went on to lead the winery, which grew into one of the largest wine producers in Australia. She also managed the business accounts until retiring at the age of 68.

Mary Penfold died in 1892 and is buried at St George’s Cemetery in Magill.

Photo: Penfold’s vineyards at Magill, c. 1894. State Library of South Australia [PRG 631/2/328].

Leonore Avenue in Kensington Gardens was named after Leonore Krantz, the daughter of Hirsch and Rosa Krantz – the second owners of Albyn House.

Originally from Odessa, Hirsch Krantz purchased Albyn House in 1900. A highly successful businessman, he built considerable wealth through real estate and investments.

The Krantz family were known for their musical talents and hospitality, often hosting elegant gatherings at their home. One memorable occasion even welcomed the famed soprano, Dame Nellie Melba.

Leonore went on to marry the acclaimed Russian-born pianist Jascha Spivakovsky in Czechoslovakia 1926, and later settled in Melbourne.

The below scene depicts the nearby Glynburn Road (then known as Burnside Road) at the time the Krantz family lived at Kensington Gardens. The photograph is taken looking south, with Kensington Gardens on the left and Kensington Park to the right.

Photo: Horse drawn carts and pedestrian travelling along Burnside Road in Kensington Garden, c. 1910. State Library of South Australia [PRG280/1/13/475].