A brief history

Upon settlement, Glenside was established as farming land and wheat grown here was awarded first prize at the Royal Show. From the 1840’s to the early 1900’s the area was known as Knoxville, and ultimately’ slaughter works were established on the land now occupied by the Glenunga International High School Ovals.

Cattle were driven from the railway yards on West Terrace in the City, along South Terrace and Glen Osmond Road to the cattle yards in Conyngham Street. It is said that as the butchers gathered at the Newmarket Hotel waiting for the trains and cattle to arrive, the local measure of beer known as the “butcher” originated. At it’s peak, the meat works supplied half of Adelaide’s fat lamb requirements and also created a strong export trade.

In the 1870’s and 80’s there was always a splendid array of horses grazing on the land as it was used for this purpose by the three major coaching companies, Rounsevell, Cobb & Co. and John Hill. At times there were as many as 1000 horses agisted in the area. One local street has an aboriginal name, “Allinga”, meaning sun, whilst most of the others were named by local residents, often in memory of their original homelands of England, Ireland and America.

A large section of the North-western corner of Glenside was a swampy wetland which has been partially recreated to encourage birdlife and natural flora as much of the original flora is now extinct. There are only two blue gums remaining in Glenside- one at the Burnside Village Shopping Centre and one at Glenside Hospital.

In the early 1900’s many start-up businesses originated in Glenside and members of the large and successful Hill family invented the famous Hill’s Hoist, together with the revolutionary “Bland Radios” business and the highly regarded Symons & Symons specialist glass merchants.

The Club celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of it’s charter in March 2005 and maintains a very strong presence in the local community. It is also a very active supporter of Australian and International Lions programs.

The Art Show is an annual event, usually held in May at the Burnside Ballroom. This event won the City of Burnside 'Community Event of the Year' at the Australia Day Awards in January 2000. Proceeds from this highly recognised Art Show have in recent years been donated to the Mary Potter Foundation, a most deserving community organisation. The Art Show in 2007 was judged the Best Event in the Premier’s Community Service organisations Awards.

The Bookmart, formerly on the corner of Portrush and Glebe Roads, Glen Osmond, is temporarily closed but will open again from Friday 15th August 2008 at its new location in the old Tusmore Scout Hall, 4 Kennaway St, Tusmore. It will be open from Friday through Monday each week for sales of good quality second hand books, magazines, video and music tapes and discs. We look forward to renewing our association with all our regular customers and many new ones. For famous Lions Christmas cakes - contact Dennis Mattschoss for details and orders- 8370 5710.