The View from McElligott's Quarry

Last week I blipped the view across Brownhill Creek to this famous Mitcham landmark. This afternoon we went up there so I could blip the view from the Quarry parking area looking towards the city. It was late afternoon so the centre does look a tiny bit hazy, seen clearer in LARGE.

Forty years ago, this landmark quarry used to be a refuse tip. That was closed down, and the area reclaimed and made into a very nice picnic area much loved by the locals and also and tourists to the city.

Originally, the area now known as McElligott's Quarry, has had other names during its existence. It was known as one of the Brownhill Creek Quarries in its early years because of its close proximity to the Brownhill Creek Recreation Park. For a period after 1957, it was known as the Fullarton Dump. In the 1980s, its name was changed to McElligott's Quarry Reserve.

The McElligotts were a family living in Mitcham in the late 1800s and into the 1900s. The family at that time included John McElligott Sr, his wife Elizabeth, and their sons John Jr, Michael and Mortimer.

The four men were part of a contracting business and operated the quarry from 1899 to around 1934, when quarrying operations ceased. Their operation peaked around World War One.

The main feature of this image is that the city centre, but where are the houses of Adelaide? The CBD seems to be in the middle of a forest. Well, that's pretty much what it is. Adelaide is famous for being one of the largest urban forests in the world.

All the suburban streets are tree lined, which is why you can't see any houses. No high rise buildings are allowed in any of the suburbs making this a wonderful city to call home.

If you are interested, you can see my last blip of the city centre, taken from our table at Windy Point Restaurant on 16th November.