Rosslyn Park is an eastern suburb of Adelaide in the City of Burnside.
History
Dr Penfold
Most of Rosslyn Park started life as paddocks belonging to Dr Christopher Rawson Penfold, of Penfolds Wine. Dr Penfold was an English emigrant who purchased of land in the area in 1844. Here he planted vines and established Penfolds as one of the leading winemakers in Australia. He and subsequent generations of his family resided at the Grange Cottage, to the east of Penfold Road.
Dr Penfold became the first chairman of the District Council of Burnside in 1856.
Sub-division
Upon Dr Penfold's death in 1870, his son-in-law, Thomas Hyland, assumed control of the business, and began to sell some of the land.
The area of Rosslyn Park to the west of Gordon Terrace, between Kensington Road and The Parade, was sold in 1877 to a syndicate made up of: James Gartrell, merchant, partner in G. Wood, Son & Co. Thomas Gordon, accountant William Taylor, draper Alexander McGeorge, draper David Tweedy, land agent The syndicate subdivided the land, and sold parcels of it the next year.
Wine production declined at the Rosslyn Park site in the 20th century as production shifted to other areas in South Australia. The last vintage of Penfolds Wine was crushed at Magill Estate in 1972. Prior to and following this, subdivision of the land surrounding Magill Estate continued.
The area bounded by Penfold Road, Park Avenue, Edgcumbe Terrace and The Parade was formerly the site of Joseph Gillard Jnr's (manager at the Grange vineyard) main vineyard. It was sold and subdivided by the Penfolds in around 1912.
The area around Angove Court and Edgcumbe Terrace contains the former family home of Dr Roger Angove, inaugural President of the Burnside Historical Society. This land was subdivided in 1960. The family stables remained until they were demolished by a landowner in 1970.
A larger subdivision occurred in the early 1980s, when owners Tooth & Co sold much of the area to the east of Penfold Road, resulting in the survival of only the core of the former winery, including production plants and Grange Cottage.
Contemporary events
In May 2002, Rosslyn Park experienced an incidence of freak weather when a tornado passed through it and Wattle Park late in the morning. The tornado cut a narrow, 2 km long path of destruction through the suburbs, tearing limbs off trees and tiles from roofs.
Geography
Rosslyn Park is situated approximately 6 km east of the Adelaide city centre. It is bounded by The Parade to the north, Coach Road to the east, Kensington Road to the south and Hyland Terrace to the west.
The suburb is divided by Penfold Road into two distinct areas. West of Penfold Road, the area is characterised by wide, tree-lined roads and architecture representing many styles popular during the twentieth century. East of Penfold Road, the area is much steeper in its approach to the Adelaide Hills, and contains some large, striking and very modern architecture. Some undeveloped vegetatation, and some of the vines, also remain in this part of the suburb.
Land use
Land use in Rosslyn Park is primarily residential. Penfolds is a notable exception, with its rows of grapevines along Penfold Road a relic of the area's earlier agricultural focus.
Significant places
By far the most notable landmark in Rosslyn Park is the Magill Estate branch of Penfolds Winery. This site offers cellar door sales, tours and the award-winning Penfolds Magill Estate Restaurant. The winery's chimney is visible throughout the area.
Also located at Magill Estate is the historic Grange Cottage. This was constructed by Dr Penfold and his wife, Mary, in 1845, and named after Mary's home town in England. Grange Hermitage wine was in turn named after the cottage.
Other notable locations in Rosslyn Park include: WH Holmes Reserve, situated on Park Avenue. Dr Christopher Rawson Penfold Reserve, a small park on the corner of The Parade and Penfold Road. The park contains a collection of winemaking artefacts donated by wineries in the area. The Consulate General of Greece, located on Mary Penfold Drive.