The Lenswood Memorial Park was established in 1946 when local residents raised funds to purchase land to create a community park. It was officially opened in 1949 and facilities like tennis courts and an oval were developed. Over subsequent decades more amenities were added through fundraising and grants, including a hall, playground, and pavilion. By the 1990s a new toilet block had been built and the hall upgraded, celebrating the park's role in bringing the community together for over 50 years.

1. Lenswood Memorial Park Inc
~ History
Established Nov 1946 Incorporated Feb 1947

2. Volume 712. Folio 29 & Volume
1907 Folio 26
1924 – Property of Ben Lawrance, looking east from Hill 1932 – Property of Ben Lawrance, looking east from Hill
1940 – Property of Ben Lawrance, looking west towards Hill 1940’s –Lawrance family standing on bridge across the creek
Benjamin Lawrance purchased the land from George Monks in 1920. In 1944 it was sold
to Mrs M Hales. Lawrance held a £1200 mortgage on the land.

3. Citizen’s meeting : 6 Nov 1946
27 November
1946
Ask community to donate £2,500 – whole
purchase price
11 December
1946
£600 raised by donation
Decided to ask public for loans
19 December
1946
Full amount required raised – 2% interest to be
paid on loans
5 February
1947
First AGM
Constitution planned
First committee
 President – H.K. Caldicott
 Secretary - S.N. Norton
 C.G. Mason, S.E. Green, E.L. Giles
Subscriptions 1/-
7 May 1947 Some loans repaid (after selling of apple crop on
land)
4 June 1947 Sale of farming items purchased with land.
30 July 1947 Central Cricket Ground offered income from
pines on that land (Forest Range near Ford)
towards Lenswood Memorial Park.
Decided to plant pines on land (4 acres) across
creek and to retain and rent the house at this
time.
Social Committee formed – Miss. M. Vickers,
Mrs H.K. Caldicott, Mrs L. Burke, Mrs E.L. Giles,
Don Kumnick, George Schultz, A.L. Vickers,
Don Green, Ron Probert, Les Green, Brian
Vickers, Bryant Giles.

4. 1946 - 1947

5. 6 August
1947
Advice sought from Town Planner re layout of facilities. A plan was
developed
10 November
1947
Land exchange with H. Schultz. Some land across, some of it
across the creek, was exchanged for land on the road side.
Initial plan final and placed on board at Cold Store for public
discussion.
4 February
1948
Subscriptions increased to 5/-
5 May 1948 J.V. Green asked to scoop and grade the land. Council asked for
grader to finish surface.
14 July 1948 2000 pines given by Mr Fred Brockhoff (note that some of these
died and were replaced by donations from other residents over the
coming year).
1947 - 1948 - Development of facilities
Arbor day - 23 July 1948 planting day
Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954),
Thursday 5 August 1948, page 11

6. Development of facilities
1949 Plan : 4 tennis courts at southern end of ground, with club house; oval with pavilion on
western side; bowling green in north west corner, croquet green in north west corner;
children's play ground to east near ‘Government Road; basket ball court with rustic shelter.

7. Official opening : 1949
9 April 1949 Official opening – Premier Tom Playford.
Gala ball at Mission Hall.
4 May 1949 Football Club apply to use oval for 1949 season.
Barricade planned to protect orchard of F.W. Green.
12 August
1949
Trees planted around boundaries.
9 November
1949
Plan for laying two tennis courts.
Bowling Green deferred.
3 May 1950 Basketball court surfaced but Tennis courts still not started.
19 July 1950 Unorganised sport by local residents permitted on Sunday
mornings.
2 March 1951 Gala days had been held almost annually
4 April 1951 Children's’ playground equipment purchased although not
erected for over a year.
18 July 1951 Decided to sell house on Park land, by tender.
The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 -
1954), Thursday 7 April 1949, page 6
The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954),
Friday 2 March 1951, page 13
The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), Wednesday 26
September 1951, page 5

8. 1952 - 1959
30 July 1952 Oval per year £10
Tennis Courts per year £10
Basket Ball Courts per year £5
4 November
1953
Planning for building at the Park – finally
finished late 1956.
28 January
1957
Gala night fair - featured weight throwing,
tractor backing, barbeque, cake stall,
jumble stall, entry 2/- (children free).
11 October
1958
Karen Kumnick was asked to act as
Junior Queen for the Xmas Carnival and
Sue Conlon asked to act as attendant.
5 November
1958
Guy Fawkes night successful and this
event continued for a number of years.
In 1961 a ‘lovely legs’ competition and a
display by the Adelaide Archer Club was
included in the event. Regular
competitions included childrens’
competitions, tractor backing and a 100
yard race. Stalls raised much needed
funds and there was the obligatory
chocolate wheel. A house of horrors was
often a feature. The Rural Youth Club
assisted with the events.
26 February
1959
Park building to be painted green and
white.
Lenswood Basketball - Joy
Schapel, Jill Schultz, Pam Rowley,
Velma Bridges, Barbara Joyce, Kay
Fullston :: Dorothy Bonython,
Judith Bridges
Lenswood Basketball - Janine
Croft, Ann Pfieler, Kay Fullston
(capt), Helen Stott, Pam Bennett ::
Kath Joyce, Gay Schultz, Brenda
Stott
Swamp Road,
including oval looking
north. 1963.

9. 1961 - 1963
9 June
1961
Memorial Archway completed and front fence planned.
21 July
1961
Two ‘dressing room’ and a shower room additions planned for Park
Hall.
4 April
1962
Hall floor discussions had continued for a number of years. The
floor had ‘bumps as the dampness caused a problem with any
flooring plans. Grading of land outside the hall was planned to
encourage better drainage. An underground drain was also
planned across the front. Extra vents were also added at each
end.
Table Tennis begins to use the hall.
1962 -
1963
In July 1962 Bill Joyce suggested an Apple Festival to raise funds
- a committee formed to investigate similar events around
Australia. Planning continued over the coming year. Friday 22 –
Sunday 24 March planned.
Other apple regions joined the committee for planning and
spreading the workload.
Queen competition and a Ball were proposed. The Queens
represented their region and part of the judging was based on the
amount of money they raised.
A new bridge provided access for picnics across the creek.
Table tennis move to the Park.

10. 1965 - 1975
28 July 1965 Planning commences to add a veranda at the front of the hall.
17 May 1966 Gymnasium Club started to use the hall.
13 October
1966
20th anniversary celebrations planned
29 September
1975
2000 feet of drainage laid under the oval and the surface reseeded. The wet land near the creek on SWAMP
road continues to plague the Park.
Wall in front of the Hall also erected.
Lenswood Ranges Football Colts - Runners-up - 1969
Ian Leslie, Gordon Mason, John Muller
Kym Green, Barry Hewlett, Peter East, Ian East, Gary
Peterson
Chris Conlon, Peter Probert, David Osborne, Colin
Plummer, David Coulter, Peter Mason
Robert Schultz, Graeme Green, Graham Edwards (Cap),
Bill Joyce (Coach), David Schultz (V Cap), Peter Redden,
Neil Cramond

11. 1981 - 1990
28 August 1981 The creek running along the back of the Hall has, on occasion, flooded with various impacts on the
building. In 1981 it was noted that the piano was re-tuned after the flood.
Keeping the piano in tune in that wet environment was a constant battle for many years.
7 August 1985 Lenswood Fitness Club joined the Park.
Football and Netball no longer used the facilities, but remained affiliated.
7 August 1987 Robe Mason Pavilion erected in memory of the long service Robe gave to the Park.
New fences erected and the Hall was painted.
Tennis Club planned the concreting of the courts.
A social club was again formed.
10 September 1989 Some of the Netball Club were noted to have moved to Forest Range courts.
Lenswood Ranges Football A cricket
Mt Barker & Eastern Hills Premiers - 1979-80
Brenton Conlon, Graeme Green, Gordon Mason, Daryl
Pollard, Mark Joyce, John McInnes (Insert)
Colin Plummer, Kym Norton (V Cap), John Plummer
(Cap), Dean Brock, Trevor Plummer

12. 1992 - 1995
21 July
1992
New constitution.
Forest Range Junior Soccer affiliated.
Hall was reroofed and floor cemented.
The tennis shed was reroofed and the
netball court resurfaced.
Two karoke nights raised money for the
Tennis Club and an auction and festival
were held.
27 July
1993
Floor surface laid.
After two year’s planning new playground
equipment
installed (grant from Council, funds from
Ladies
Committee and donation from Lions Club).
Fund raising was a Talent night, Deb ball
19 October
1994
No festival – fund raising was Talent night,
Old Style Dance
31 July
1995
Garden at front of hall replanted.
Talent night and Family Dance.
30 August
1996
New gutters, fascia, roof tek-screwed,
external painting, new cement laid in front
of hall oval lights repaired and new toilet
block completed.
A party for any reason - ‘Toilet block’
opening
Welcome by Bill Joyce
Ribbon cutting by Emily Rowley
Old playground

13. 1991
28 August 1991 The Ladies Committee ceased operation.
After years of battling wood floors damaged by damp a grant to cement the floor was obtained. The
Fitness Club moved elsewhere.
Major fundraisers for the past year were an auction, Deb ball and festival.

14. 1996 - 1999
November
1996
Nov 1996 function to celebrate 50 years was held – displays of memorabilia attracted many former residents
back for a chat and afternoon tea.
23 July 1997 Fundraising included line dancing and a Quiz night.
Lobethal Football Club affiliated.
24 August
1998
Sealed floor, improved the kitchen and curtained the hall.
Tourist Association Apple and Wine Fair
Karaoke night, quiz night, Football reunion was major function.
11 October
1999
Raising funds for new roof.

15. Lenswood Memorial Park Inc
History
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