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<p>Mitcham Gardens has also been known as Mitcham Reserve. Prior to European settlement the area was inhabited by the Kaurna aboriginal people. A group of about 150 formerly camped at "Wirraparinga", now Mitcham reserve, (known for many years as "Brown Hill Creek reserve").
The first European to settle in the area was Pastor William Finlayson who arrived in 1837. By 1840, agriculture, market gardening and quarrying were important local industries. Concrete pits were used to store horse manure for the market gardens and to prevent pollution of the creek, while stone quarries provided sandstone and slate for buildings. 
Remnants of these pits and a colonial keystone arch bridge can be found in the park.
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In 1915, the area was declared a National Pleasure Resort, becoming the Brownhill Creek Recreation Park in 1972.</div>
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State Government Photographer</div>
The History Trust of South Australian,  South Australian Government <br> Photo <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://data.history.sa.gov.au/sagpc/media/preview/7294?maxsize=1000">[1]</a> <br> Object record <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://data.history.sa.gov.au/sagpc/getitem/7294">[2]</a>