{{Use Australian English|date=June 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}} {{Infobox river | name = Field | name_native = | name_native_lang = | name_other = | name_etymology = Lieutenant W. G. Field, [[Royal Navy|RN]]<ref name=marion/> <!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP --> | image = Field River - panoramio.jpg | image_size = | image_caption = Field River in summer 2012 near [[Happy Valley, South Australia|Happy Valley]] | map = | map_size = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Australia South Australia | pushpin_map_size = | pushpin_map_caption= Location of the [[mouth (river)|river mouth]] in [[South Australia]] <!---------------------- LOCATION --> | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = [[Australia]] | subdivision_type2 = State | subdivision_name2 = [[South Australia]] | subdivision_type3 = Region | subdivision_name3 = [[Adelaide]] | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | subdivision_type5 = | subdivision_name5 = <!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS --> | length = | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location= | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = | discharge1_max = <!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES --> | source1 = [[Mount Lofty Ranges]] | source1_location = | source1_coordinates= | source1_elevation = | mouth = [[Gulf St Vincent]] | mouth_location = south of [[Hallett Cove, South Australia|Hallett Cove]] | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|-35.083753|138.493692|format=dms|type:river_region:AU-SA|display=title,inline}} | mouth_elevation = | progression = | river_system = [[Onkaparinga River]] | basin_size = {{convert|55.3|km2|abbr=on}} | tributaries_left = | tributaries_right = | custom_label = [[Waterhole]] | custom_data = | extra = }} The '''Field River''' is an [[urban stream|urban watercourse]] located in the southern suburbs of [[Adelaide]] in the Australian state of [[South Australia]].
==Course and features== {{more citations needed|section|date=June 2014}} Part of the [[Onkaparinga River]] [[drainage basin|catchment]] that drains the western slopes of the [[Mount Lofty Ranges]],<ref>{{cite book |author1=Kawalec, R. |author2=Roberts, S. |url=https://www.waterconnect.sa.gov.au/Content/Publications/DEWNR/ki_dwlbc_report_2006_14.pdf |title=Review of South Australian State Agency Water Monitoring Activities in the Onkaparinga Catchment |work=DWLBC Report 2006/14 |publisher=Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation, [[Government of South Australia]] |location=Adelaide |date=2006 |access-date=27 March 2017 |isbn=1-921218-14-2 }}</ref> the Field River has a total area of {{convert|55.3|sqkm|abbr=off}} and drains the [[Happy Valley Reservoir]], part of [[South Road, Adelaide|Main South Road]] and the [[Southern Expressway (Australia)|Southern Expressway]]. Suburbs bordering the river include [[Hallett Cove, South Australia|Hallett Cove]], [[Reynella, South Australia|Reynella]], [[Sheidow Park, South Australia|Shiedow Park]], [[Trott Park, South Australia|Trott Park]], [[Happy Valley, South Australia|Happy Valley]] and [[Woodcroft, South Australia|Woodcroft]].
The stream flow of the Field River is highly seasonal and variable with an average annual runoff of {{convert|5,100|e6litre|abbr=off}}. The majority of the stream can dry out completely during summer, staying that way well into autumn. The final portion of the river is [[Spring (hydrosphere)|spring]] fed and flows into the [[Gulf St Vincent]] all year round.
The Field River flows through or is bordered by the [[City of Marion]] and [[City of Onkaparinga]]. The lower reaches of the river ran through private property owned by the Sheidow family until 1993 when the land was sold for housing development and became Cove Point in the suburb of [[Hallett Cove, South Australia|Hallett Cove]] The stretch of the river further inland on the south eastern side of Lonsdale Road is presently in private ownership. This parcel of land has been identified as being an important part of the proposed "Great Southern Urban Forest" of Adelaide.
{{as of|2021}} part of the Field River valley is being connected with [[Glenthorne National Park–Ityamaiitpinna Yarta]] as part of the new Glenthorne Precinct.<ref name=main>{{cite web | title=Glenthorne National Park-Ityamaiitpinna Yarta| website=Glenthorne National Park | date=12 July 2021 | url=https://www.glenthorne.sa.gov.au/ | access-date=19 December 2021}} [[File:CC-BY icon.svg|50px]] Text may have been copied from this source, which is available under a [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/ Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY 3.0 AU)] licence.</ref>
A number of primary schools, including Braeview, Reynella East and Hallett Cove South, have projects underway{{when|date=December 2021}} which involve revegetation and other environmental studies of the Field River.
== History == [[File:Southern expressway bridge over field river.jpg|thumb|[[Southern Expressway (Adelaide)|Southern Expressway]] bridge over the Field River in [[Reynella, South Australia|Reynella]] ]] In the 1840s the mouth of the Field River was used to land contraband goods for market in Adelaide. In 1850 a State Government Commission examining locations for secure anchorage suggested that the mouth of the river was a suitable site for a harbour.
The discovery of copper in the 1840s at the [[Worthing Mine]] (on the south eastern side of Lonsdale Road) promoted interest in using the Field River as a means of transporting the copper ore from the mine to the sea. By 1856 mining had ceased due to the lack of further investment money. The majority of the Field River runs along steeply inclined undeveloped land which was quarried during the early 20th century.<ref>{{cite web|title=Reynella Quarries, Reynella, S. Aust., 1928.|url=http://www.onkaparingacity.com/libraries/localstudies/view_details.asp?RefID=80|publisher=City of Onkaparinga|accessdate=1 June 2014|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303192632/http://www.onkaparingacity.com/libraries/localstudies/view_details.asp?RefID=80|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Title - Brighton Cement Quarries at Reynella, S. Aust., 1937.|url=http://www.onkaparingacity.com/libraries/localstudies/view_details.asp?RefID=65|publisher=City of Onkaparinga|accessdate=1 June 2014|archive-date=2 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140602194648/http://www.onkaparingacity.com/libraries/localstudies/view_details.asp?RefID=65|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Title - Crusher at the Reynella Quarry, Reynella, S. Aust., circa 1926.|url=http://www.onkaparingacity.com/libraries/localstudies/view_details.asp?RefID=926|publisher=City of Onkaparinga|accessdate=1 June 2014|archive-date=2 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140602194756/http://www.onkaparingacity.com/libraries/localstudies/view_details.asp?RefID=926|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Title - Brighton Cement Quarries at Reynella, S. Aust., 1937.|url=http://www.onkaparingacity.com/libraries/localstudies/view_details.asp?RefID=63|publisher=ity of Onkaparinga|accessdate=1 June 2014|archive-date=2 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140602195621/http://www.onkaparingacity.com/libraries/localstudies/view_details.asp?RefID=63|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Title - Brighton Cement Quarries at Reynella, S. Aust., 1937.|url=http://www.onkaparingacity.com/libraries/localstudies/view_details.asp?RefID=64|publisher=City of Onkaparinga|accessdate=1 June 2014|archive-date=2 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140602200333/http://www.onkaparingacity.com/libraries/localstudies/view_details.asp?RefID=64|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2009/10/25/2714792.htm |title=Worthing Copper Mine |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |location=Australia |date=15 October 2009 |access-date=27 March 2017 |author=Walsh, Ashley }}</ref>
The importance of the coastline to the [[Kaurna people]], the indigenous inhabitants of the region, is clearly demonstrated with large quantities of cultural material collected from areas adjacent to the outflow of the Field River.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Walshe, Keryn |author2=Smith, Pam |url=http://www.flinders.edu.au/ehl/fms/archaeology_files/research/HFZCHP/PDF/VoS%20Ch%2011%20Glenthorne.pdf |title=Glenthorne Estate by the Field River |publisher=[[Flinders University]] |date= |access-date=27 March 2017 |archive-date=28 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328020220/http://www.flinders.edu.au/ehl/fms/archaeology_files/research/HFZCHP/PDF/VoS%20Ch%2011%20Glenthorne.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 1992 the fossil remains of the world's largest marsupial, the [[Diprotodon]], were discovered on the bank of the river by Trevor Westlake.<ref name=marion/> The fossil, which is at least 70,000 years old, is now in the care of the [[South Australian Museum]].
==Etymology== The river was named after Lieutenant W. G. Field, [[Royal Navy|RN]], who served under [[William Light|Colonel Light]] on his journey to South Australia in 1836 aboard the [[brig]] ''[[Rapid (brig)|Rapid]]''. Light visited the river in 1837 while surveying the area.<ref name=marion>{{cite web |url=https://www.marion.sa.gov.au/field-river |title=Field River |publisher=[[City of Marion]] |date= |access-date=27 March 2017 |archive-date=20 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320174413/https://www.marion.sa.gov.au/field-river |url-status=dead }}</ref>
After initially being named the ''Field River'' the name was changed to Hallett Creek due to the [[Onkaparinga River]] also being known as ''Fields River''. It was subsequently renamed ''Field River'' during the 20th century, however, in 1990 consideration was given to changing the name to ''Serpentine Creek''.<ref name=marion/>
==See also== {{stack|}} *{{Section link|List of rivers of Australia|South Australia}}
== References == {{reflist|30em}}
==Further reading== *{{Citation | author1=Noarlunga (S.A.). Corporation | author2=Eco Management Services | author3=Onkaparinga Catchment Water Management Board (S.A.) | title=Field River & Waterfall Creek riparian zone biodiversity action plan | publisher=Eco Management Services | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/11553563 | accessdate=27 March 2017 }}
== External links == {{commonscat|Field River}} * [http://onkaparingacity.com/onka/discover/trails_recreation/recreational_trails/field_river_linear_trail.jsp City of Onkaparinga, Field River Linear Trail] * [http://www.fieldriver.org Friends of the Lower Field River]
{{Rivers of South Australia|state=autocollapse}}
[[Category:Rivers of Adelaide|Field River]]