Cowandilla, South Australia

Cowandilla is a western suburb in Adelaide, South Australia, in the City of West Torrens. It is located a few kilometres west of the CBD, close to Adelaide Airport. Sir Donald Bradman Drive crosses the middle of the suburb.^[2]

Cowandilla Adelaide, South Australia
Cowandilla
Coordinates	34°55′52″S 138°33′25″E / 34.931°S 138.557°E / -34.931; 138.557
Population	1,455 (SAL 2021)^[1]
Postcode(s)	5033
LGA(s)	City of West Torrens
State electorate(s)	West Torrens
Federal division(s)	Adelaide
Suburbs around Cowandilla: Brooklyn Park Torrensville Mile End Brooklyn Park Cowandilla Hilton West Richmond Richmond Richmond

Australian Bureau of Statistics data from May 2021 identified Adelaide's Western Suburbs as having the lowest unemployment rate in South Australia.^[3]

Street corner in Cowandilla today

Cowandilla is home to the renowned Western Youth Centre (established in 1956) which provides a well maintained Oval, Tennis Courts and large clubhouse to a number of sporting teams and societies. Sports such as cricket, soccer, tennis, judo, gymnastics, marching and table tennis are all played at the venue.^[4]

The Cactus and Succulent Society of South Australia (established in 1964) is based at the Western Youth Centre, where it holds all its meetings and gatherings. Sophie Thomson, a presenter on the national weekly television show Gardening Australia, is the society's patron.^[5]

The intersection of Marion Road and Sir Donald Bradman Drive (Western end of Cowandilla) has been awarded 45 million dollars by the Federal and State Governments for upgrades in 2022^[6][7]

History

Etymology

Its name is derived from the Kaurna name Kawandilla (Kawantilla),^[8] meaning "in the north". Kauwanta is the Kaurna word for north, and the suffix -illa means "in".^[9] However it does not reflect a place known by the Kaurna as Kawandilla (whose location is somewhat vague and possibly non-existent); when the village was established in the present location of the suburb in 1840, the developers gave it this name because they thought it meant something to do with "water" (the word kauwi)^[8] (hence also "Kauwantilla").^[10] The whole of Greater Adelaide lies on the traditional lands of the Kaurna people.

Demographics

2021 Australian census data identified that 52% of Cowandilla residents were female compared to South Australia with 50.7% female and Australia also 50.7%. Furthermore the census identified that 11.7% of Cowandilla residents had Greek ancestry compared to 2.7% in South Australia and 1.7% in Australia. The census also found that 5.6% of Cowandilla residents were born in India compared to 2.5% in South Australia and 2.6% in Australia.^[11]

Economy

From the 3rd Quarter in 2020 to the 3rd Quarter in 2021, South Australian median house price increased by 9.66% and the Adelaide Metropolitan area rose by 13.82%^[12]  while the Valuer- General identified that Cowandilla rose by a remarkable 38.77% comparatively, making it a sought after location to live.^[13]

Sport

Cricket

The centre is home to the well supported Western Youth Centre Cricket Club, which was established in 1961 and fields teams in both senior and junior grades.^[14][15] The Oval also has adjoining, well maintained cricket practice nets that are available for public use every day.

Cricket in Cowandilla is fitting as the small suburb has significant cricket heritage. It is where cricket under lights was birthed in 1930 by returned serviceman and tram dispatcher Alf Stone at his Turner Street Cowandilla home (only a few hundred metres from the Western Youth Centre Cricket Club) during the depression.^{[citation needed]} Up to 50 youths were attending his property every night to play under light globes.^[16][17] This led to an 11 team competition playing "Electric Light Cricket" in the area in the 1930s ^[18] Bruce Dooland was also born in Cowandilla in 1923. Dooland remained in the area, learning cricket in his Cowandilla backyard before playing for West Torrens, South Australia and Australia (and later Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club, where he was regarded the best bowler in England and the first to reach 100 wickets in the season).^[19] His skill was also recognised by his choice for Players against Gentlemen in 1953 and 1954 and in 1950-51 he visited India with the Commonwealth team. He made his highest score, 108 against an Indian XI, at New Delhi.^[20] Dooland was described as "the leg spinning magician",^[21] who took over 1000 first class wickets and taught Richie Benaud how to bowl the flipper.^[22] The flipper would subsequently underpin the success of Shane Warne.^[22] Dooland was a Wisden Cricketer of the year in 1955.

 

A Club Cricket Match in Cowandilla

Tennis

The Western Youth Centre Tennis Club also uses the well maintained tennis courts alongside the Oval.^[23]

Angling

The Western Districts Angling Club (established in 1938) resides at the Western Youth Centre.^[24]

Soccer

The Adelaide Red Blue Eagles Football Club,^[25] play in the South Australian Amateur Soccer League and call the Western Youth Centre home.^[26]

 

A Soccer game being played at the Western Youth Centre in 2021

Areas of interest

Cowandilla is also home of the Cowandilla Primary School^[27] and the Orthodox Coptic Church in South Australia.^[28]

Cowandilla is home to the Calvary Flora McDonald Retirement Community. A modern facility that caters for residents from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds. Two new wings were opened in June 2017.^[29]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Cowandilla (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
2. . Property Location Browser. Government of South Australia. 11 March 2009. SA0016551. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
3. "Adelaide's West Leads Employment Surge". In Daily. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
4. "The Western Youth Centre". 20 June 2013. from the original on 20 September 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
5. "The Cactus and Succulent Society of South Australia". Cactus and Succulent Society of South Australia. from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
6. "Marion Road and Sir Donald Bradman Drive upgrade" (PDF). Australian Commonwealth Government. (PDF) from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
7. "Marion Road, Sir Donald Bradman Drive intersection upgrade". 7 News Adelaide. Retrieved 20 June 2021 – via Instagram.
8. Schultz, Chester (30 April 2018). "Place Name Summary: (PNS) 1/02: Kawandilla" (PDF). Adelaide Research & Scholarship. The Southern Kaurna Place Names Project. University of Adelaide. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
9. ""Kaurna Warra Ngayirda Wingkurilla (On the Airwaves)": Kaurna Language Radio Shows". Kaurna Warra Pintyanthi. The University of Adelaide. 28 November 2005. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
10. Amery, Rob (2016). "Chapter 8. Kaurna in Society". Warraparna Kaurna!: Reclaiming an Australian language. University of Adelaide Press. p. 204. JSTOR 10.20851/j.ctt1sq5wgq.18.
11. "Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census Data Cowandilla". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 9 July 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
12. Brown, Jessica (13 November 2021). "A Snapshot of out State". The Advertiser. p. 11.
13. Brown, Jessica (13 November 2021). "What your home is worth: a suburb by suburb review". The Advertiser – realestate. p. Page 5.
14. "WYC Cricket Club". 23 May 2021. from the original on 16 August 2014.
15. "WYC Cricket Club Facebook". Facebook. 23 May 2021. from the original on 23 May 2021.
16. "Electric Light Cricket". ABC. 23 May 2021.
17. "7,000 Play it Now". The Mail. 9 April 1949 – via Trove.
18. "Electric Light Cricket; Returned Soldiers Invent New Game". The Advertiser. 2 November 1934. p. 13. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
19. "Bruce Dooland First with Hundred Wickets". Trove - Lithgow Mercury. 8 July 1954. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
20. "Bruce Dooland - Cricketer of the Year 1955". espn - cricket info. 16 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
21. Brien, Denis (2004). Remembering Hookesy. NSW: Swan Sport. p. 24.
22. Piesse, Ken (1995). Warne Sultan of Spin. Melbourne: Printworks. p. 46.
23. "WYC Tennis Club". 23 May 2021. from the original on 20 September 2014.
24. "The Western Districts Angling Club". 23 May 2021. from the original on 26 January 2014.
25. "Adelaide Red Blue Eagles FC". Facebook. 1 February 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
26. "Club directory Adelaide Red Blue Eagles Football Club". South Australian Amateur Soccer League. 1 February 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
27. "Cowandilla Primary School". from the original on 1 May 2001. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
28. "Coptic Orthodox Church SA". 22 May 2021. from the original on 4 May 2006.
29. "Calvary Care". Calvary. from the original on 15 April 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2021.