The social and physical history and heritage of Bowden and its surrounding areas is playing an integral part in the planning and design of the Bowden development.

Extensive interviews with local residents and former employees of the old Brompton gasworks, Gerard Industries and other local stakeholders were conducted to capture the area’s social history.

Many people who worked in the area also lived and raised families there. The community made an enormous contribution to the fabric of the State. In the 1840s, Bowden took off as a centre for key industries such as brick making and leather production.

In 1936, Clipsal began as a small business and led a new generation of electrical component and other industries in the precinct, taking over from the earlier industries.

Adelaide firm DASH Architects have conducted a cultural mapping survey in collaboration with local groups.

Key contributors to the cultural mapping project were The Bowden Residents’ Actions Group, the Community Reference Group, members of the Inner North West Adelaide Inc, Hindmarsh Historical Society, Hindmarsh Greening and
the Adelaide and Inner Suburbs branch of the National Trust, as well as representatives from LMC and The City of Charles Sturt.

LMC Chief Executive Wayne Gibbings said, “We are determined to continue our consultation with the local community on how best to reflect the area’s past into the future of what will be an innovative ‘walkable community’ for Adelaide.”

Existing physical features, reflective of Bowden’s industrial past will fit seamlessly into new uses.

The heritage listed former Park View Hotel on Park Terrace at Bowden will be renovated to include an Information and Sales Centre and Café due to open in early 2012.

The character of the Bowden development will be enhanced by the adaptive reuse of old signage and recycled materials in reserves, public spaces and streetscapes. Interpretive signage, public art, preserved facades and heritage trails will also be used to reference the past. Other buildings, including saw-tooth roof warehouses from the 1950s and 1960s, will be renovated for market and community spaces.