Hawthorndene, SA 5051

Hawthorndene is a quiet wooded valley on the edge of hills face countryside, right next to Belair National Park. Affectionately known as "the Dene" it is full of trees and parks including a pine forest reserve with remnants of an experimental orchard, and even has grand old gums in the middle of Sturt Avenue (which shares the name of a local indie folk band). I was just chatting to K____ from down the road who has been here since 1963. Residents are a friendly bunch and tend to stay for decades and not just because sometimes it is hard to navigate a way out. For the young ones there is a kindergarten, primary school, bike tracks, and multiple playgrounds including the delightful Apex Park. The Dene boasts a cafe, an historic Oval, tennis courts, a fruit and vegetable wholesaler open to the public, and a renowned recording studio. There is also a plethora of laneways to explore on neighbourhood walks. It is close to all the conveniences of Blackwood and the Belair train line to the city, and is home of the loved but unreliable typewritten newspaper the Hawthorndene Daily.

We moved here 3 years ago and glad we did! Hawthorndene indeed is a hidden gem! Just a short drive to CBD or Beach, Direct Bus to CBD or park n ride a rail! Proximity to quality schools, day care, play area, parks, trails and a National Park! Lots of trees, birds and Koalas!
All essential services in easy reach as well!

Located within an exceptionally nice natural environment that makes you feel great to drive and walk around. Stand anywhere in Hawthorndene and look up at the surrounding landscape & flora and you will go Wow! Good but not great housing on large blocks and usually with very good natural gardens. Benefits from a strong local community and its proximity to Belair National Park.

On the other hand its a bit too Ango-Celtic Australian, somewhat boring and devoid of cultural diversity. It's a bit like a big town in rural SA in the 1980s. While areas like the inner east and western suburbs of Adelaide have benefited from waves of European and Asian migrants that have brought colour, vitality and particularly flavor to multicultural Australia - unfortunately they all seem to have dodged the Blackwood/Hawthorndene area. As a likely consequence the area is devoid of high quality food stores, in particular its poor eateries, supermarkets, butchers, bakers etc (Corromandel Valley Bakery excepted). Coming to the area from the inner eastern suburbs, the area disappoints tremendously in this regard.

Other than that, my only other complaint would be the lousy access roads. I don't think that the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure nor the Mitcham Council have invested much into road infrastructure in this area over the years. As a consequence its a slow and stressful drive to the city on truly awful narrow roads without overtaking opportunity. Bike lanes for safer cycling or quality footpaths - you'd have to be joking!

Recently purchased a house in Hawthorndene and we absolutely love it here! So quiet and peaceful with so much bird life and koalas roaming in the tall gums.Lovely to walk around the suburb with plenty of families doing the same with a friendly 'Hi'. Every house has its special charm and most gardens are lovely mostly in their natural state. Blocks are massive 1200+ . Streets are quiet with no thru traffic. We all feel very safe here and its a very community orientated area. So many parks and creeks for the kids to explore too. All this 12km from the city and very very well priced. Get in quick before prices go up and the secret gem is well known!!

We lived here very happily for 10 years, and could have made much better use of the idyllic area. We lived on the main stretch of Hawthorndene Drive, which receives a moderate amount of traffic at peak hour, but the majority of the streets are very quiet and you can always see the dappled light coming through the large trees. Joan's Pantry and the Fruit and Veg co-op really the only stores in the suburb itself, but it's super close to Blackwood for all shopping/medical/banking/etc. needs, and 20 mins drive to the city or the beach. Central but not too close! Kind of a hilly, quieter version of Unley. many amazing schools in very close proximity, both high schools and primary. The public transport links are also fantastic, with Blackwood and Glenalta Train stations at the edges of the suburb, and a bus route to the city. This was probably my favourite part of living here! There are also many parks/reserves, such as the Hawthorndene Oval, BMX park, and Apex Playground, as well as a picturesque trail following the Minnow Creek. Additionally, it's about a 5 minute walk to Belair National Park! the blocks are large and at quite a reasonable price compared to similar land sizes in Stirling or even Blackwood. Sincerely, Reluctantly leaving!!

The Dene is Adelaides best kept secret. It is really a large valley consisting of large (ave 1200m2) low density allotments, that quietens down at night, emitting little light or noise except perhaps for wildlife sounds. It is 15km to the city or beautiful Brighton beach, but a world away from the hustle and bustle of the plains. The many trees are green and the air is clean. Property is tightly held here as people rarely leave. If you like a highly ordered environment then the Dene is not for you. Council rarely sweep the streets or mow the verges here and a great percentage of the streets do not have any footpath (let alone paving like say in Unley) to walk on. However there is only local traffic anyway. A few ferals around living cheaply in the remaining 1950s bungalows that sprang up as weekenders for visits to the National Park, but they are few now and being redeveloped continuously. Well serviced with a wonderful local primary school and adjacent shopping, dining, medical, educational and fitness facilities. Should be relatively impervious to the SA governments disgraceful "Densification of existing suburbs" population growth housing plan for 2012 and beyond. If you move here you need to have a realistic expectation about the reasonable requirement for yard maintenance (Weeding, leaf litter etc) particulalry in the lead up to the summer fire season. Overall the Dene facilitates an enviable lifestyle that can be enjoyed as Dinks, then as a family and then as retirees.

I think its the most under rated suburb going. Close to Flinders Uni,Belair National Park, great pubs and cafes and parks and playgrounds all over. 15 mins to beach and city. The only thing different about the Dene and the big money suburbs is it has less pollution and more recreation

A beautiful leafy and green place.

It is filled with trees and a lovely "feeling". We are a stones throw away from buses and trains, and a 15 minute drive to the city.
The Hawthorndene Oval is a fantastic spot to meet fellow residents and their dogs, or to simply have a stroll and take in the surroundings.
I feel really safe in this suburb and in my experience neighbours look out for one another.
It is only a little suburb, but I would recommend living here to any one.