News.

The location of the new Oaklands Green development has a long and proud military connection. The neighbouring Warradale Barracks were formerly the Oaklands Camp and training grounds for the 3^rd and 9^th Australian Light Horse Regiments.

Both of our local regiments served with outstanding valour in numerous campaigns during the Boer war and throughout the Middle East during WW1, including the infamous Gallipoli offensive of 1915.

The sacrifices made during this period of history are well-documented – including both the staggering human loss and the tens of thousands of horses lost. In fact, of the 130,000 horses that Australia sent overseas during WW1, just a single horse returned – Sandy, the mount of Major General Sir William Bridges.

By far, the majority of Australia’s war horses were Walers. This incredible breed (named after their New South Wales origins) was sturdy, hardy and able to travel great distances in the heat with very little water.

Sadly, fewer than 12,000 of the Walers survived the war. And of these, none (except for Sandy) were allowed to return home due to quarantine reasons. However, such were the breed’s remarkable qualities, most of the Walers were eagerly bought up by the British Army to serve in India – with many of these horses having belonged to our 3^rd and 9^th Light Horse Regiments.

In honour of these horses, who saw out their days in India, The City of Marion memorialised an Oaklands Park road intersection with the names Rangoon Street and Rajah Street. Other streets were also so named – Madras, Bombay and Lucknow – along with the Bombay Street Reserve and Rajah Reserve, which now sit within Oaklands Green.  

It almost goes without saying, that the Oaklands Green management group is intensely proud of its neighbourhood’s connection to the light horse regiments that once called the area home. This is why, we have decided to name the Stage Releases of the development after the Walers that served in WW1. These names include, Karingal, Marais, Dardanelle, Talara and Flanders.

Therefore, we are extremely proud to announce that the Stage 1 Release at Oaklands Green will be called ‘Beersheba’.

For all enquiries regarding Oaklands Green, contact Tom McVann: tom@connektup.com.au. To keep up to date with the Oaklands Green news, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram.