Birdwood

History

Birdwood was originally named Blumberg by Prussian settlers originating from the area around Zullichau. The original name's origins are uncertain, but it is likely that it derives from Groß Blumberg, a village on the Oder River in the settlers' area of origin. The German town name was anglicised to "Birdwood" during World War I, along with many others in the region in 1918. The new name honoured Sir William Birdwood, the Australian Imperial Force general who led the ANZACs at Gallipoli. Around the same time, the government closed the German-language school. The first Europeans to explore the district were Dr. George Imlay and John Hill in January 1838. In 1839-40 the South Australian Company claimed several Special Surveys in the district which were later subdivided to allow for closer settlement. Migrants who had temporarily settled at Lobethal began looking for land of their own in 1848. Pastor Fritzsche recommended this spot beside the Torrens, where he camped on the way to Bethany. Birdwood grew with homes on land leased from George Fife Angas and a church some distance away. The town prospered by the 1850s, and the area was producing enough grain to justify the construction of the Blumberg Flour Mill (now the site of the motor museum). In 1865, during the local gold rush, the Blumberg Inn was built.

Geography

Birdwood sits on a crossroads between the Adelaide-Mannum Road, the road leading north towards Williamstown and the Barossa Valley, and the road leading south towards Lobethal, Hahndorf and the South Eastern Freeway.

Most-observed species

• Australian Magpie

  Gymnorhina tibicen (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  1,293
• Crimson Rosella

  Platycercus elegans (Gmelin, 1788) · Aves
  1,268
• Superb Fairywren

  Malurus cyaneus (Ellis, 1782) · Aves
  1,064
• Galah

  Eolophus roseicapilla (Vieillot, 1817) · Aves
  986
• New Holland Honeyeater

  Phylidonyris novaehollandiae (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  935
• Striated Pardalote

  Pardalotus striatus (Gmelin, 1789) · Aves
  866
• Gray Fantail

  Rhipidura albiscapa Gould, 1840 · Aves
  843
• Gray Shrikethrush

  Colluricincla harmonica (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  842

Most recent

• M 3 — 2022-03-29
  3 km ESE of Macclesfield, Australia
• M 4 — 2022-03-05
  3 km SW of Mount Barker, Australia
• M 3.2 — 2018-08-08
  11 km WNW of Mannum, Australia
• M 3.9 — 2017-02-01
  9 km NW of Murray Bridge, Australia
• M 3.3 — 2011-10-18
  3 km ESE of Hawthorndene, Australia
• M 3.8 — 2010-04-16
  2 km N of Macclesfield, Australia