History
After European settlement the land was used for farming. William Pedler (1850-1916), emigrated to the colony from Cornwall in 1838. He was one of the first to farm the area and from his home made shoes and boots for the colony's Governor and for teamsters carting ore to Burra. Peddler received a land grant of 66 acres (27 ha) at Cobbler creek in early 1853, later passing the property onto his sons. His profession gave both the creek that passes through the northern part of the park, and the park their names. Pedler's farm occupied the flatter, western area of land near Bridge Road. Much of the park was a farm known as "Kelway Park"; a homestead of the same name remains in the park’s south-west. In the 19th century, Salisbury residents used this area for Sunday school picnics. Swings were temporarily built, water and food brought to the site and games and bands provided for entertainment.
Investigations have found no evidence of land use prior to European settlement, although the park forms part of the traditional lands of the Kaurna aboriginal people. It is likely that the Kaurna used the area during winter for food and shelter, moving to the coast to escape summer heat.
In a 1962 government report, the park’s area was identified for use as future open space. A golf course was proposed, as were other sporting facilities. The course was re-proposed in 1981 and again in the 1990 management plan. The park was purchased by the Government of South Australia in 1970, as part of a program preserving open space for recreation. The park's location was chosen to provide a development-free buffer between the existing suburbs of Salisbury and the proposed Golden Grove development. It was owned and managed by the State Planning Authority until 1982 when control passed to the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Cobbler Creek was declared a recreation park in 1989, at which point some of the land remained leased for agriculture. The Golden Grove Indenture Act (1984) committed the government to build certain access roads to the new suburb of Golden Grove. Based on the provisions of section 7A-1 in the act, in June 1987 cabinet approved the building of Grove Way. The road is a 4-lane divided connecting road, begun in September 1988 and completed in 1990.
Cobbler Creek Recreation Park is administered and maintained jointly by the City of Salisbury, and the Department for Environment and Heritage. A volunteer group, Friends of Cobbler Creek, was formed in 1990 and works with rangers to improve and maintain the park.
Read more about this topic: Cobbler Creek Recreation Park
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