Project: Re-imagining the CWA Garden

Site

Hall precinct

Installed

2005

TIMELINE

Unknown

1st November, 23: Work has commenced on ‘beautifying’ the garden, and making it a more inviting place for locals and visitors.

July ‘23: Groups (SACWA, RSL, MPPAI) and Members of the community have been liaising with The Barossa Council regarding the upgrade of the CWA Garden, and it is hoped this next stage will be complete by early December.

In the early 2000’s The Barossa Council commenced work on the CWA garden. All the roses were removed, bitumen paths were installed, and mass plantings of Australian natives were introduced.

It didn’t take long for the community to realise this was not what they wanted. The grass type of foliage (Lomandra) was hard to control and quickly overtook the area, creating a visual barrier so that it was hard to see into the garden. Although locals were well aware of what lay beyond, casual visitors who may have accessed the picnic areas were not. As it stands, over half of the space is unusable for the public.

In 2019 the Progress Association was approached by the Soldiers’ Memorial Hall group to ask The Barossa Council to redress this situation and redesign this small, but very important public space so that it was more user friendly and provided an area that better reflected it’s original purpose, which was to honour those killed in the Second World War.

 

So far:

1.

The play equipment was replaced in 2018.

2.

The walking ‘Rex Amber’ bridge was replaced with something much larger and more cumbersome. Although according to the council, it was to Australian standards. The original walking surface proved unworkable, with small animals and children at risk from the large grating. After negotiation, the council agreed to replace it with one more suitable, although there was only one choice. It did serve the purpose, and dog walkers and people with small children are now able to use it without too many dramas.

3.

 

4.

The garden area continues to be a problem with large areas of harsh foliage preventing people from seeing into the garden and making it difficult when outdoor events such as the Australia Day celebrations and Anzac Day are held there.

The large gum trees that abut the bitumen car park continue to be of concern, and one dropped a limb on the newly completed fencing, necessitating a large section being replaced.