Brooklyn Park Places

Every effort has been made to provide complete and accurate information, please advise of any errors or omissions.

BROOKLYN PARK

(+ former suburbs of  Bismark / Brooklyn Park Extension / Bullington / Garfield / Glengowan Estate / Meldreth Park /Weeroopa / Welwyn)

During the late 1870s with the extension of main roads through West Torrens there was an extensive speculation at Brooklyn Park where 545 allotments were put up for sale by Garfield Land Proprietors. Street names in this subdivision such as Buik and Farrgat were those of the Directors of the abortive Tramway Company, which suggests that both enterprises, the subdivision and the company were floated as speculation.

Brooklyn Park is bounded by Henley Beach Road and crosses Burbridge Road [now Sir Donald Bradman Drive], and extends further south to Ralph Street. In the 1880s apart from some residential development along the main roads, the area was essentially paddocks and fields with some orchards. 

Brooklyn Park contained religious buildings such as the Methodist Church (later the Uniting Church). The Institute of St John the Baptist's Cottage was established for the care of delinquent men and boys (off Lipsett Terrace) and later became the Salesian College (in 1944) by which time the reformatory had become a Boy's Town, an orphanage for senior boys. 

Brooklyn Park was the site of twenty eight SA Housing Trust rental units completed in August 1939 and designed by H E Cowell. During the 1930s the sewerage system, which was being extended through West Torrens included Brooklyn Park. 

Brooklyn Park was also the location of the radio transmitter for Station 5CL completed in 1925. This radio tower was a landmark as it was sixty two metres high and remained in Divett Street until the establishment of the airport meant it was relocated. [From 1998 Heritage Review]

FORMER SUBURBS now Brooklyn Park 

BULLINGTON - Herbert Bullington subdivided a portion of Section 99 in 1911. The suburb consisted of 24 building blocks on both sides of Lysle Street.

WELWYN - From 1842 known as the suburb of Welwyn. A subdivision of section 99, Hundred of Adelaide by Charles B. Fisher in 1842; now included in Brooklyn Park. Its name derives from the Old English welig - 'willow'.

GARFIELD, BISMARK, WEEROOPA -Section 99, Hundred of Adelaide, announced as a subdivision in October 1882.Named for the recently assassinated US President James A Garfield. Renamed as Bismark in 1903, Weeroopa in January 1918, and part of Brooklyn Park in March 1945.

Sites of Significance

Schools / Kindergartens

• Lockleys Junior Primary School, 27-29 Elston Street - opened 1916 (early building Local Heritage listed), to accept students from Fulham School closed 1915 (from 2025 known as Brooklyn Park Primary School) / Headmasters house / 1904s sundial
• Marie Dunstan Kindergarten, 21 Lipsett Terrace

Churches

• Brooklyn Park Uniting Church (Local Heritage)  / Adelaide West Uniting Church
• Brooklyn Park Methodist Church, 5-7 May Terrace - 'The church at the third section' est 1913 designed by Rev T Geddes White (Trees for Life)
• St Richard of Chichester, 1 May Terrace (SE cnr Henley Beach Road and May Terrace) / designed by Eric Von Schramek, constructed 1963 on former 'red sandhill';  dedicated 7 June 1964
• St John Bosco Parish Centre, 19-23 Lipsett Terrace (Local Heritage)
• Salesian College, 31-47 Lipsett Terrace (Local Heritage)
• Church of Christ, Allen Avenue

Significant Trees

Bridges

Hotels / Inns

• Site of Bonnie Owl Inn, Henley Beach Road

Industry / Businesses

• Barker Brothers Horse Bazaar / Sale Yards, 24 Marion Road; John Barker (1847-1925); Alfred James Barker (1858-1923); A E Barker (1878-1925); William Francis Edward (Ted) Bedford (1861-1934); William McEwen (1866-1946)
• Brooklyn Nurseries SW corner Henley Beach and Marion Roads, Holbrook Apartments,  James Anderson Potter (1875-1927)
• Prettejohn Nurseries, Gertrude Terrace
• Smarts Nurseries, Gertrude Terrace
• Rosefield Dairy, Milledge family
• Airport Road Buildings /Construction
• Service Station, 299 Henley Beach Road

Shops

• Airport Road

Homes

• 293 Henley Beach Road
• 325 & 327 Henley Beach Road (Stanford family)
• 385 Henley Beach Road
• 44-50 Marshall Terrace (House) (Local Heritage)
• Yosemite, 371 Henley Beach Road

Community Buildings

• 5CL/5AN Radio Transmitter, 33 Airport Road
• Former West Torrens Council Chambers (Local Heritage listed) council proclaimed 1853, built 1888 on 'the old pound'/ Railway Signal Telegraph and Aviation Museum (set up by West Torrens Council / SA Ambulance Station 1951 (also used by Methodist Church)
• Meals on Wheels

Sport / Recreation / Reserves

• Lockleys Scout Hall / German Club, 41 Airport Road