Rymill Park

Rymill Park lake
Rymill park paths, lake, rose gardens and picnic tables

Rymill Park, also known as Park 14 and Mullawirraburka in Kaurna, is a recreation park located in the East Park Lands of the South Australian capital of Adelaide. It is bordered by East and Dequetteville Terraces, and Rundle and Bartels Roads. It is in close proximity to the Adelaide Botanic Garden, Hutt Street, and Victoria Park.[1][2]

"Alice" statue in Rymill Park, Adelaide
"Alice" statue in Rymill Park, Adelaide

The park occupies 14.5 hectares (36 acres), and is named after Sir Arthur Rymill, Lord Mayor of Adelaide from 1950 to 1954 and council member for 23 years. The lake was constructed in 1959 and the rose gardens were created in the 1960s by excavating what was then the Bartels Road rubbish tip.[3] Rowboats are available for hire at the park's kiosk, exclusively for use on the park's lake.[4] Other features of the park include rose gardens, playgrounds,[5] avenues of well established trees, barbecue facilities and a statue of Alice by John Dowie, inspired by Lewis Carroll's stories for children.[1]

The park has been a site for many cultural and sporting events including Carnevale in Adelaide, the Adelaide International Horse Trials, Aerobic Challenge[6] and various events in the Adelaide Festival,[7][8] Adelaide Fringe and Feast festivals.

After being drained in November 2007, to make repairs addressing the leaking of 200,000 litres (53,000 US gal) per week, the lake was refilled in September 2008.[9]

O-Bahn extension

In 2015, a plan to realign Rundle Road as part of a plan to extend O-Bahn bus services to and from the city of Adelaide created controversy. The plan would result in the removal of numerous long established regulated and significant trees. Critics of the plan included Mark Parnell MLC, Nick Xenophon and former Australian Democrats leader, Ian Gilfillan. Public objections to the redevelopment prompted the creation of the Rymill Park Alliance[10] and the Save Adelaide's Rymill Park campaign[11] and Facebook page.[12]

However, construction went ahead and was completed in 2017 December. Rymill Park and nearby Rundle Park was closed and a tunnel was built underneath them.[13]

Flora and fauna

Many of the park's larger trees provide hollows and roosts which are utilised by various species for nesting and residence. Native birds species commonly seen in the park include crested pigeons, magpies, magpie-larks, eastern rosellas, rainbow lorikeets, Australian white ibis and various species of duck. Ducks are present year-round at the artificial lake which provides a permanent water source. Pacific black ducks and Australian wood ducks are the most commonly sighted species.[14]

Marsupials such as the brushtail possum rest in tree hollows by day and emerge at night to forage and feed.

References

  1. 1 2 http://www.adelaidecitycouncil.com/assets/documents/MAP-rymill-park-facilities.pdf
  2. ↑ "Picnic parks [cartographic material] : City of Adelaide park lands. – Version details". Retrieved 2016-03-25 – via Trove.
  3. ↑ Adelaide city council information sign in the park
  4. ↑ "Rymill Park Rowboats". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 2016-03-25.
  5. ↑ "Rymill Park". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 2016-03-25.
  6. ↑ "Call to join aerobic challenge". Times. Victor Harbor, SA. 21 Mar 1990. Retrieved 2016-03-25 – via Trove.
  7. ↑ "MANY VISUAL FEATURES AT ADELAIDE FESTIVAL". The Canberra Times. 5 Nov 1975. Retrieved 2016-03-25 – via Trove.
  8. ↑ "ADELAIDE FESTIVAL OF ARTS: Time for another dose of culture". The Canberra Times. 30 Sep 1969. Retrieved 2016-03-25 – via Trove.
  9. ↑ "City lake refilled after repair job". ABC News. 12 September 2008.
  10. ↑ "About 500 people protest against Adelaide parklands road 'realignment'". ABC News. Retrieved 2016-03-25.
  11. ↑ "save-rymill-park". save-rymill-park. Retrieved 2016-03-25.
  12. ↑ "Save Adelaide's Rymill Park – Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2016-03-25.
  13. ↑ https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/messenger/adelaide-commuters-praise-new-160-million-obahn-tunnel-from-hackney-road-to-grenfell-street/news-story/97ca3a1f9cb68fbfee52a1973f2a981c
  14. ↑ "Explore Your Area | Atlas of Living Australia". biocache.ala.org.au. Retrieved 2016-03-25.

Coordinates: 34°55′25″S 138°36′51″E / 34.9236°S 138.6141°E / -34.9236; 138.6141

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